Origins

Lujan (2007) says that some names of the Vettones clearly show features similar to the western Hispano-Celtic language. Some scholars also suggest the Vettones may have origins connected to the Celtiberians. Beginning in the 3rd century BC, the Vettones formed a group of tribes working together, though the size and strength of this group are not fully known. While the names of some tribes, such as the Calontienses, Coerenses, Caluri, Bletonesii, and Seanoci, have been identified through study of local inscriptions, the names of other tribes are still unknown.

Culture

Archaeologists have identified a group of people who mostly raised horses and cattle and practiced transhumance, which is the seasonal movement of livestock between different areas. This group is linked to the local 2nd Iron Age "Cogotas II" Culture, also called the "Culture of the Verracos" (verracos de piedra), named for the rough granite sculptures of pigs, wild boars, and bulls that remain in their former region. These sculptures are one of their most lasting legacies. Another legacy may be the game of Calva, which dates back to the time of their influence. Archaeological sites and cemeteries such as Las Cogotas, El Raso de Candeleda, La Mesa de Miranda, Yecla la Vieja, El Castillo, Las Merchanas, and Alcántara have uncovered items like weapons, shields, belt buckles, bronze cauldrons, and pottery from Campania and Greece. These findings show that the group had strong connections with the Pellendones of the eastern Meseta region, the Iberian south, and the Mediterranean.

Location

The Vettones lived in the western part of the meseta, which is the high central plain of the Iberian Peninsula. This area includes the modern Spanish provinces of Ávila and Salamanca, as well as parts of Zamora, Toledo, Cáceres, and the eastern border regions of modern Portugal. The name of their capital city is not known, and it has not yet been discovered. However, other towns mentioned by Ptolemy were located in this region, such as Capara (Ventas de Cápara), Obila (Ávila?), Mirobriga (Ciudad Rodrigo?), Turgalium (Trujillo, Extremadura), Alea (Alía – Cáceres), and possibly Bletisa/Bletisama (Ledesma, Salamanca). Other towns likely inhabited by the Vettones include Tamusia (Villasviejas de Tamuja, near Botija, Cáceres; Celtiberian-type mint: Tamusiensi), Ocelon/Ocelum (Castelo Branco), Cottaeobriga (Almeida), and Lancia (Serra d’Opa).

History

The Vettones, who were traditional allies of the Lusitani, helped them fight against the Carthaginians led by Hasdrubal the Fair and Hannibal in the late 3rd century BC. At first, the Vettones were under the control of the Carthaginians during the Second Punic War, but they gained independence after 206 BC. However, some Vettones joined Hannibal’s army during his march to Italy, led by their leader, Balarus. In the 2nd century BC, during the Lusitanian Wars, the Vettones fought alongside the Lusitani under leaders named Punicus, Caesarus, and Caucenus. They attacked regions such as Baetica, Carpetania, and the Cyneticum, and also tried to invade the North African town of Ocilis (modern Asilah, Morocco) in 153 BC.

Although the Vettones were officially included in the Roman province of Hispania Ulterior around 134–133 BC, they continued to attack Roman-controlled areas in the south. During the Roman civil wars in the early 1st century BC, the Vettones supported Quintus Sertorius. In 79 BC, the Roman leader Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius built fortified bases in central Hispania, including Metellinum (Medellín), Castra Caecilia (Cáceres el Viejo), and Viccus Caecilius (somewhere in the Sierra de Gredos), to control the region. Despite this, the Vettones still sent soldiers to help Sertorius’ army between 77–76 BC. In 61 BC, the Vettones were defeated by Julius Caesar, but later supported Pompey’s side and fought at the Battle of Munda in Baetica.

In the 1st century BC, the Romans established military colonies in Vettonia, including Kaisarobriga (Talavera de la Reina–Toledo) and Norba Caesarina (near Cáceres). Later, Metellinum (Medellín) was also developed. Around 27–13 BC, the Vettones were added to the newly created Roman province of Lusitania, with Emerita Augusta (Mérida) as its capital.

Even as they became more integrated into the Roman world, the Vettones kept their traditions of warfare. They provided the Roman Army with a cavalry unit called the Ala Hispanorum Vettonum Civium Romanorum, which helped during Emperor Claudius’ invasion of Britain from AD 43 to 60.

Namesake

The Vettones should not be confused with the Vettonenses, who were the people living in Vettona (modern-day Bettona) in the region of Umbria.