The Remi (Gaulish: Rēmi, "the first, the princes") were a Belgic tribe living in the valleys of the Aisne, Vesle, and Suippe rivers during the Iron Age and Roman period. Their territory covered parts of the modern Marne and Ardennes regions, as well as sections of the Aisne and Meuse departments.

Name

The Remi were named in Latin by Caesar (mid-first century BC), Pliny (first century AD), and Tacitus (early second century AD). In Greek, they were called Rhē̃moi (Ῥη̃μοι; var. Ῥημοὶ) by Strabo (early first century AD), Ptolemy (second century AD), and Cassius Dio (third century AD). The Notitia Dignitatum (fifth century AD) refers to them as Nemorum.

The Gaulish name for the group, Rēmi (singular: Rēmos), means "the first ones," or "the princes." This name is believed to come from a Proto-Celtic form, reimos, meaning "first, prince, chief." This word is connected to other ancient languages, such as Old Irish rem ("in front of"), Welsh rwyf ("prince, chief"), and Middle Cornish ruif ("king"). These words are thought to originate from Proto-Indo-European prei-mos, meaning "first, leader," similar to the Latin word prīmus ("furthest in front, foremost").

The city of Reims was first recorded around 400 AD as civitas Remorum (later called Rems in 1284). Its name comes from the Belgic tribe known as the Remi.

Geography

The Remi lived in the Aisne, Vesle, and Suippe valleys, with many people in the middle Aisne valley. Their land was located south of the Suessiones. However, because their area was surrounded by forests, their territory did not share borders with nearby tribes.

Before the Romans arrived in 57 BC, Remi villages were built along natural paths and land routes, such as Nizy-le-Comte, Thugny-Trugny, and Acy-Romance. These places were occupied from the early 200s BC until the 100s AD. The rural areas of the Aisne valley had many people living there, and trade with merchants from the Mediterranean shaped the region. Large farms owned by local leaders were surrounded by small villages.

In the late 200s to early 100s BC, several oppida (fortified settlements) were built at Bibrax (Vieux Laon, Saint-Thomas), Nandin (Château-Porcien), Moulin à Vent (Voncq), La Cheppe, and Vieux Reims (Condé-sur-Suippe / Variscourt).

At the start of the Roman period, the Remi moved away from villages and oppida that were not helpful in the new economic system of the Roman Empire. For example, the oppidum at Saint-Thomas (Bibrax) was abandoned by the middle of the 100s BC. However, Moulin à Vent, near a trade route between Reims and Trier, grew into the town of Voncq, which was called Vongo vicus in the 300s AD.

Durocortorum, now known as Reims, was likely built in the late 200s to early 100s BC. Julius Caesar mentioned it in the mid-100s BC. It became the capital of the Remi’s civitas (a Roman administrative region) by the end of the 100s BC. The name comes from the Gaulish word duron, meaning "gates" or "enclosed town, market town."

Other Roman-period settlements include Vervins, Chaourse, Nizy-le-Comte, Laon, and Coucy-les-Eppes. Nizy-le-Comte was occupied at least until the end of the 300s AD and may have covered about 80 hectares at its largest.

History

According to archaeologist Jean-Louis Brunaux, large groups of people moved to the northern part of Gaul between the late 4th century and early 3rd century BC. This movement may be connected to the arrival of the Belgae. However, changes in culture, such as new burial practices (shifting from burying bodies to burning them), appeared later among the Remi. These changes were first noticed between 250 and 200 BC in areas controlled by the Ambi or Bellovaci tribes. In the Aisne valley, burning of bodies did not begin until 200–150 BC. Because of this, the Remi were likely not seen as fully connected to the Belgae culture when Julius Caesar conquered the region.

By the mid-1st century BC, the Remi had developed an organized economic system that included using money. They had grown wealthy through farming and trade between northern Gaul and the Mediterranean region. After a decline in trade between the 4th and 3rd centuries BC, trade connections improved again in the second half of the 2nd century BC. A local group of wealthy landowners, based on farming and mining, later appeared in the Aisne valley. The Remi leaders were influenced by Roman culture through their interactions with Roman merchants. Before the Roman conquest, the Remi elite imported large amounts of wine from southern Europe.

During the Gallic Wars (58–50 BC), the Remi, a Belgic tribe closest to Gaul, sent Iccius and Andecombogius as representatives to Julius Caesar. They told Caesar that the Remi were willing to support Rome, had not joined the other Belgae in opposing Rome, and were ready to send hostages, follow Caesar’s orders, and provide supplies. They also reported that most of the Belgae and German tribes near the Rhine were preparing to fight against Rome, and even the Suessiones, who were closely related to the Remi, had joined the rebellion.

The Remi remained loyal to Rome throughout the war and were among the few Gallic groups that did not support Vercingetorix’s rebellion. When the Belgae attacked the fortified town of Bibrax (Saint-Thomas), defended by the Remi and their leader Iccius during the Battle of the Axona in 57 BC, Caesar sent soldiers from Numidia, Crete, and the Balearic Islands to help protect the stronghold.

A story created or recorded by Flodoard of Reims (died 966) claims that Remus, the brother of Romulus, was the namesake of the Remi people. According to this myth, Remus escaped a conflict with his brother instead of dying in Latium.

Political organization

Before the Gallic Wars (58–50 BC), the Remi and the neighboring Suessiones shared a similar culture. They had the same laws, the same leaders, and a single main leader who commanded both tribes. However, this shared unity likely favored the Suessiones more than the Remi. In 57 BC, when Julius Caesar arrived in Gallia Belgica, the Remi asked the Romans for protection. This request helped the Remi gain independence from a relationship that may have been unequal.

Economy

During the second half of the 2nd century BC, because of early trade with the Mediterranean world and encouraged by a political desire to build economic ties with Rome, the Remi became the first people in Gallia Belgica to produce coins. Their towns were responsible for making coins during the late 2nd and early 1st centuries BC.

Religion

Two pre-Roman places of worship at La Soragne (Bâalons – Bouvellemont) and Flavier (Mouzon) show evidence of religious offerings, including small model weapons. Another site, Nepellier in Nanteuil-sur-Aisne, contained Celtic sun crosses, broken weapons, coins, and human remains. Nepellier was used between 250 and 200 BC and remained active during the Roman period until it was destroyed in the late ancient period.

During the Roman period, Mars Camulus was likely the main god worshipped by the Remi people. Gallo-Roman places of worship have been found at Nizy-le-Comte, Versigny, and Sissonne. A small statue of Jupiter with a wheel was discovered in Landouzy-la-Ville. Though it has unique features from the Gauls, the inscription honors the Roman god Jupiter and the divine presence of the Roman Emperor. Another inscription from Nizy-le-Comte was dedicated to the god Apollo.