Germani (Oretania)


The Germani were an obscure pre-Roman ancient people of the Iberian Peninsula which settled around the 4th century BC in western Oretania, an ancient region corresponding to the south of Ciudad Real and the eastern tip of Badajoz provinces.

Origins

Roman authors believed that a people of mixed Belgic and Germanic descent had somehow migrated to the Iberian Peninsula around the fourth Century BC. They also included people of Celtiberian and native Iberian-Tartessian affiliation.

Culture

Archeological evidence retrieved from local Iron Age hillforts such as Alarcos and Cerro de las Cabezas confirm that the material culture of the Germani did not differ from their southeastern Iberian neighbours nor the Celtiberians.

Location

Located to the west of the Olcades, they are credited of founding on western Oretania the towns of Mirobriga, their Capital Orissia or Oria, also designated Oretum Germanorum, Gemella Germanorum, Lacurris, Sisapo and Mentesa Oretana.

History

Whether the Germani were clients or allies of the wealthy Iberian Oretani people during the 3rd century BC remains unclear, though they certainly supported the powerful Oretanian King Orison at the Battle of Helicen in 228 BC against the Carthaginians under Hamilcar Barca. Orison’s defeat in 227 BC and the Oretani's subsequent alliance with Carthage, however, caused a major friction with their Germani allies, who continued to resist Punic expansion until being subdued by Hannibal in 221 BC; the latter were certainly amongst the Oretani troops sent to Africa at the outbreak of the Second Punic War.
The Germani appear to have adopted a less hostile stance towards Rome and in 156 BC they were included into Hispania Citerior Province, being gradually assimilated by the Oretani.