Veliocasses


The Veliocasses were a Belgic or Gallic tribe of the La Tène and Roman periods, dwelling in the south of modern Seine-Maritime and in the north of Eure.

Name

They are mentioned as Veliocasses by Caesar and Pliny, as Ou̓éliokásioi by Ptolemy, and as Velocasses by Orosius.
The meaning of the name Veliocasses is uncertain. The first part is the Gaulish root uelio-, which could either stem from Proto-Celtic *wēliyo, or from Proto-Celtic *wello-. The second etymology is semantically more probable in a tribal name, but the unknown length of the vowel e in uelio- makes it difficult to conclude on its origin with certainty. The meaning of the element -casses is likewise unclear. It possibly means 'hair, hairstyle', perhaps a particular warrior coiffure, or 'tin, bronze '.
The county of Vexin, attested as pagus Veliocassinus in 617, is named after the Belgic tribe.

Geography

The territory of the Veliocasses was located in the north and, limited extent, also in the south of the lower reaches of the Sequana river. Their territory was situated between that of the Caletes and Bellovaci. Wooded heights constituted a natural frontier with the Bellovaci, where the latter dominated.
During the pre-Roman period, their capital was probably the oppidum of Camp de Calidou, named Rotomagu after the reign of Augustus.

History

During the Gallic Wars, the Veliocasses participated in the tribal coalition of the Belgae that resisted the Romans in 57 BCE. In 52 they raised 3,000 men to support Vercingetorix, and fought alongside the Bellovaci in the final rebellion against Roman hegemony.

Culture

As for the neighbouring Calates, whether the Veliocasses should be regarded as Gallic or Belgic is debatable.