Celtic tribes of Northern England
From Hadrian's Wall as far south as the rivers Humber and Mersey. For
England north of Hadrian's Wall, see Southern Scotland and North East England.
For an introduction to the Celtic tribes of Britain, see the main page for Celtic Tribes of the British Isles. For
archaeological coverage see: Catherine Rosemary Ross, ‘Tribal
Territories’ from the Humber to the Tyne: An analysis of artefactual and
settlement patterning in the Late Iron Age and Early Roman Periods, BAR,
vol. 540 (2011).
- Brigantes: Lived south of the Selgovae and Votadini, extending to both seas. Their towns were Epiacum [Whitley Castle], Vinovia [Binchester], Camulodunon [Slack], Catouractonion [Catterick], Calacon [Casterton], Isurium [Aldborough], Rigudunon, Olicana and Eboracon [York] of Legion VI Victorious.1Claudius Ptolemy, The Geography, II.2; J. T. Koch, An Atlas for Celtic Studies (2007), map 15. The cult of the goddess Brigantia was strong in Northern Britain.2J. T. Koch, Celtic Culture: a historical encyclopedia (2006), p. 287. At the time of the Roman conquest, the Brigantes were ruled by Queen Cartimandua by right of birth, with her consort Venutius. She supported Rome. When the British leader Caractacus fled to her, she delivered him to the Romans in chains. Basking in Roman favour, she became wealthy and self-indulgent. Spurning her husband, she made Vellocatus, his armour-bearer, the partner of her bed and throne. Venutius at once took arms against the queen, whose savage temper had not endeared her to her people. The Romans intervened, but had to be content with rescuing her person. Venutius retained the kingdom. However the region was brought under Roman control later by Agricola.3Cornelius Tacitus, The Annals, 12.36, 40; Tacitus, The Histories, 3.45; Tacitus, Agricola, 19-23. Stanwick Camp has been classed as an oppidum since its defences enclosed 850 acres in its largest form, but at its centre was a 17-acre hillfort. The enlargement is thought to date to the time of Cartimandua's rule as client of Rome.4National Monuments Record: NZ 11 SE 2. What is now Aldborough seems to have acted as the civitas capital, since it appears as both Isurium and Isubrigantum (Isurium Brigantium) in the the Antonine Itinerary.5T. Codrington, The Roman Roads in Britain (1903), introduction. Further reading: Brian R. Hartley and Leon Fitts, The Brigantes (Peoples of Roman Britain series) (1988).
- Carvetii: This tribe is known from inscriptions
found at Old Penrith and Temple Sowerby, Cumbria, so they may have lived
south of the west end of Hadrian's Wall.6RIB
933, 2285a. The tribal name means
stag people
ordeer people
. Further reading: Nick Higham and Barri Jones, The Carvetii (Peoples Of Roman Britain series) (1991). - Gabrantovices: Ptolemy gives a place-name
Gabrantuicorum Bay, meaning
bay of the Gabrantovices
, with coordinates which identify it as the present Bridlington Bay.7Claudius Ptolemy, The Geography, II.2. Place-names can linger long after the people they commemorate depart. This appears to be an instance, for the Arras Culture linked to the Parisii extends over the region west of Bridlington Bay, suggesting that the Parisii succeeded the Gabrantovices. The tribal name may meangoat-fighters
. - Parisii: Lived near the Brigantes on Opportunum bay. Their town was Petuaria [Brough].8Claudius Ptolemy, The Geography, II.2. The Arras Culture of the Yorkshire Wolds combines La Tène material with chariot burials, and burials within a square ditch, similar to those of the Marne Valley, France. So we can deduce that the British tribe was an offshoot of the Continental Parisi, who gave their name to Paris.9J.T. Koch, Celtic Culture: a historical encyclopedia (2006), pp. 87-88; C. Morely, Chariots and migrants in East Yorkshire: dismantling the argument, Movement, Mobility and Migration, Archaeological Review from Cambridge, vol. 23.2 (November 2008), pp. 69-91. Further reading: Herman Ramm, The Parisi (Peoples of Roman Britain series) (1978).
- Setantii: Ptolemy names a Portus Setantiorus to
the north of Moricambe Aestuarium [Morecombe Bay], which can only mean
Seaport of the Setantii
.10Claudius Ptolemy, The Geography, II.2. The name may be a relic of a tribe absorbed by the Brigantes. - Textoverdi: This tribe adjoining Vindolanda on Hadrian's Wall may have been a sept of the Brigantes. It is known from an inscription found at Vindolanda.11B. Collingwood and R.P. Wright (eds.), The Roman Inscriptions of Britain (1965), no. 1695.
Notes
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- Claudius Ptolemy, The Geography, II.2; J. T. Koch, An Atlas for Celtic Studies (2007), map 15.
- J. T. Koch, Celtic Culture: a historical encyclopedia (2006), p. 287.
- Cornelius Tacitus, The Annals, 12.36, 40; Tacitus, The Histories, 3.45; Tacitus, Agricola, 19-23.
- National Monuments Record: NZ 11 SE 2.
- T. Codrington, The Roman Roads in Britain (1903), introduction.
- B. Collingwood and R.P. Wright (eds.), The Roman Inscriptions of Britain (1965), nos. 933, 2285a.
- Claudius Ptolemy, The Geography, II.2.
- Claudius Ptolemy, The Geography, II.2.
- J.T. Koch, Celtic Culture: a historical encyclopedia (2006), pp. 87-88; C. Morely, Chariots and migrants in East Yorkshire: dismantling the argument, Movement, Mobility and Migration, Archaeological Review from Cambridge, vol. 23.2 (November 2008), pp. 69-91.
- Claudius Ptolemy, The Geography, II.2.
- B. Collingwood and R.P. Wright (eds.), The Roman Inscriptions of Britain (1965), no. 1695.
