The Atrebates (Gaulish: Atrebatis, meaning "dwellers, land-owners, possessors of the soil") were a Belgic tribe during the Iron Age and Roman period, originally living in the Artois region.

After the tribes of Gallia Belgica were defeated by Julius Caesar in 57 BC, 4,000 Atrebates joined the Battle of Alesia in 52 BC, led by their chief, Commius. They rebelled again in 51 BC, but afterward, they formed a friendly relationship with Rome. Commius was granted control over the neighboring Morini tribe. The quality of their wool products was noted in 301 AD in Diocletian’s Price Edict.

A group from the Belgic tribe likely moved to Britain before 54 BC. This group was ruled by kings named Commius, Tincommius, Eppillus, and Verica. After 43 AD, only parts of the region remained under the rule of King Claudius Cogidubnus. Eventually, the area came under Roman control.

Name

The Atrebates are named by several ancient writers. Caesar wrote about them in the middle of the 1st century BC, and Pliny mentioned them in the 1st century AD. Strabo, writing in the early 1st century AD, called them Atrebátioi (in Greek: Ἀτρεβάτιοι). Ptolemy, in the 2nd century AD, wrote Atribátioi (in Greek: Ἀτριβάτιοι). Cassius Dio, in the 3rd century AD, used the name Atrébas (in Greek: Ἀτρέβας). The Notitia Dignitatum, a document from the 5th century AD, referred to them as Atrabatis.

The name "Atrebates" comes from the Latin version of a Gaulish word, Atrebatis, which meant "dwellers, land-owners, or possessors of the soil." This name is based on a Proto-Celtic word, attreb-, meaning "settlement," combined with the ending -atis, which means "belonging to." The attreb- part likely changed from an earlier form, ad-treb-, which is connected to the Proto-Indo-European root treb-, also meaning "settlement." Examples of similar words in other languages include the Old Osco-Roman word trííbúm, the Germanic Þurpa, and the Lithuanian word trobà, all meaning "house."

The name Atrebates is similar to the Modern Irish word áitreabhach, meaning "inhabitant." This word uses a Celtic ending, -ākos, which also means "belonging to, having." The *atreb- part of the name is related to Old Irish words like ad-treba, meaning "dwells, cultivates," and attrab, meaning "possession or dwelling." It is also connected to the Middle Welsh word athref, meaning "dwelling-place or abode."

Later names for places and regions were influenced by the Atrebates. The city of Arras was called civitas Atrabatum around 400 AD, meaning "city of the Atrebates." It was later known as Atrebatis in 881 and Arras in 1137. The region of Artois was called pago Atratinse in 799, meaning "area of the Atrebates." It was later called Atrebatense castrum in 899 and eventually Arteis. The Arrouaise Forest was named Atravasia silva around 1050, meaning "forest of the Atrebates." It was later called Arwasia in 1202.

Geography

The Belgic Atrebates lived in the area now known as Artois, within the area where the Scarpe river flows. They controlled two hill forts: a large and central one near Arras, and another on the edge of their territory along the Escaut river. The Atrebates were separated from the Ambiani people by the Canche river.

In the middle of the first century BC, a group from the Atrebates lived in Britain, where they occupied an area between the Thames and Test rivers, extending into West Sussex.

During the Roman period, the Atrebates moved their main settlement from the hill-fort of Étrun to Nemetocennae, which is now known as Arras. This location was important because it was a major road intersection. The name Nemetocennae in Gaulish language likely means "far from the sacred wood" or "born from the sacred wood, the sanctuary." It comes from the root "nemet(o)-" meaning "sacred wood" or "sanctuary," combined with the suffix "-cenna" meaning "far" or possibly "-genna" meaning "born from." Later, the name was recorded as Metacon by Ptolemy around 170 AD, and as Nemetacum or Nemetaco around 300 AD and 365 AD, using the same root with the Gaulish suffix "-acos."

Before 54 BC, a group from the Gallic tribe likely settled in Britain. After the Roman invasion of Britain, three civitates were established in the late first century BC: one for the Atrebates, with its capital at Calleva Atrebatum (Silchester); one for the Belgae, with its capital at Venta Belgarum (Winchester); and one for the Reg(i)ni, with its capital at Noviomagus Reginorum (Chichester).

History

In 57 BC, they were part of a Belgic military alliance because of Julius Caesar’s actions in other parts of Gaul. They sent 15,000 soldiers to help. Caesar saw this as a threat and marched toward them. However, the Belgae had better positions, and no battle happened. Without a fight, the Belgic alliance ended, and the tribes decided to unite to defend against Caesar’s attacks. Caesar then fought other tribes and made them surrender.

The Atrebates later joined the Nervii and Viromandui to attack Caesar at the Battle of the Sabis, but they lost. After this, Caesar made Commius, a leader from the Atrebates, their king. Commius helped Caesar during his two trips to Britain in 55 and 54 BC. He negotiated the surrender of Cassivellaunus. For his loyalty, Caesar gave him control over the Morini. However, Commius later fought against the Romans in the revolt led by Vercingetorix in 52 BC. After Vercingetorix’s defeat at Alesia, Commius made peace with Mark Antony and fled to Britain with followers. Coins from after the Roman conquest show his name, possibly with Garmanos or Carsicios, who might have been his sons or helpers.

Commius became king of the British Atrebates, a group that may have been created by him. Their lands included modern Hampshire, West Sussex, and Berkshire, with Calleva Atrebatum (now Silchester) as their capital. They were bordered by the Dobunni and Catuvellauni to the north, the Regni to the east, and the Belgae to the south.

The Atrebates did not move to Britain in large groups. Archaeologist Barry Cunliffe said they likely included local tribes and some Belgic people, brought together by Commius. The name “Atrebates” might have referred only to the ruling family, not an entire group. Commius and his followers may have built a powerful group over time, forming a kind of early government. Before Caesar’s first trip to Britain in 55 BC, Commius sent some horsemen to help the Romans, suggesting he had family in Britain already. After this, the Atrebates became a Roman client kingdom.

Coins with Commius’s name were made in Calleva from about 30 BC to 20 BC. Some coins say “COM COMMIOS,” which might mean “Commius son of Commius.” This has led some to think there were two kings with the same name, father and son.

Later Atrebate kings, including Tincomarus, Eppillus, and Verica, claimed to be sons of Commius on their coins. Tincomarus ruled with his father from about 25 BC until Commius’s death in 20 BC. After that, Tincomarus controlled the northern part of the kingdom from Calleva, while Eppillus ruled the south from Noviomagus (Chichester). Evidence suggests Tincomarus supported Rome more than his father, and some believe he was raised in Rome as a diplomatic hostage.

Augustus’s writings mention two British kings who asked for help around 7 AD. One was likely Tincomarus, the other Dubnovellaunus. It seems Tincomarus was replaced by his brother, and Eppillus’s coins later showed “Rex,” meaning he was recognized as king by Rome.

In about 15 AD, Eppillus was succeeded by Verica. Around the same time, another Eppillus ruled the Cantiaci in Kent. Verica’s kingdom faced pressure from the Catuvellauni, led by Cunobelinus. Calleva was taken by Cunobelinus’s brother, Epaticcus, around 25 AD. After Epaticcus died in 35 AD, Verica recovered some land but was later defeated by Cunobelinus’s son, Caratacus, by the early 40s. Verica fled to Rome, giving Emperor Claudius a reason to conquer Britain.

After the Roman conquest, parts of the Atrebates’ lands became the pro-Roman kingdom of the Regni, led by Tiberius Claudius Cogidubnus, who may have been Verica’s son. Later, the area was divided into Roman administrative regions called civitates, including the Atrebates, Regni, and possibly the Belgae.