The Oretani or Oretanii (Greek: Orissioi) were a pre-Roman ancient people from Iberia, located on the Iberian Peninsula, which the Romans called Hispania. They lived in northeastern Andalusia, in the upper Baetis (Guadalquivir) river valley, on the eastern side of Marianus Mons (Sierra Morena), and in the southern part of present-day La Mancha.

Origins

They may have been an Iberian tribe, a Celtic tribe, or a group that combined both Iberian and Celtic people, possibly related to the Celtiberians. The Mantesani, also known as Mentesani or Mantasani, who lived in present-day La Mancha, and the Germani, who lived in eastern Marianus Mons (Sierra Morena) and the west Jabalón river valley, are sometimes linked to the Oretani. However, it is unclear whether these groups were actually part of the Oretani tribes.

Territory

Oretania, the land of the Oretani people, was located in the eastern part of the Sierra Morena mountain range. This area included most of the province of Ciudad Real, except its western part, the northern portion of the province of Jaén, and the western half of the province of Albacete. The Roman writer Pliny the Elder recorded 14 cities in this region, such as Tuia/Tugia (possibly Toya), Salaria (possibly Úbeda/Baeza), Biatia, Castulo/Castulum (likely the capital, later a religious center during the Visigothic period; known as Cazlona in Jaén during medieval times), Luparia, Cervaria, and Salica. Another Roman writer, Diodorus Siculus, listed 12 towns in the same area.

Other sources mention additional towns, including Libissosa (possibly Lezuza), Amtorgis, Ilorci, Helicen/Helike (possibly Elche de la Sierra or Elche), Baecula/Bekor (Bailén in Jaén), Ilucia, Nobila, and Cusibi.

Culture

Some people think the Oretani spoke an Iberian language, while others believe they spoke a Celtic language similar to the Celtiberians. The northern Oretani were also called Germani and Mantesani. Important archaeological sites in the Oretanian area include Linares, La Carolina, Montiel, Valdepeñas, Almagro, Oreto, Zuqueca, Cerro de las Cabezas.

History

The Oretani stayed independent until the late 3rd century BC, when their king, Orison, was defeated at the Battle of Helicen in 228 BC. Orison’s defeat in 227 BC and the following alliance with Carthage caused problems with the Oretani’s Germani allies, who resisted Carthaginian expansion until they were defeated by Hannibal in 221 BC. These Germani were likely part of the Oretani forces sent to Africa when the Second Punic War began.

Like the Germani, the Oretani seemed to take a less hostile approach toward Rome. In 156 BC, both groups were included in the Hispania Citerior Province, but they kept their Iberian cultural traditions for many more years.