The Boii were a mighty, far-flung Celtic tribe. Their traces reach from northern Italy (around Bologna, whose ancient name Bononia goes back to them) via the Alpine region into central Europe. Best known is their name as the origin of "Bohemia" (Latin Boiohaemum, "home of the Boii").
"Wits must he have who wanders wide, but all is easy at home."Hávamál 5, after Henry A. Bellows 1923 (public domain)
The Boii were a great Celtic people who in antiquity covered vast distances – from Central Europe through northern Italy to Bohemia and Pannonia. Hardly any tribe has left so many traces on the map of Europe.
Their name lives on twofold: in northern Italy they founded settlements around Bononia (Bologna), and their name in the east shaped Boiohaemum – the "home of the Boii" – from which the name Bohemia came.
In northern Italy the Boii came into long wars with Rome. After several defeats they were subdued in the 2nd century BC, and many moved north – part of the great Celtic migrations.
Later the land of the Boii in Central Europe was taken over by Germani like the Marcomanni; the Romans spoke of the deserta Boiorum, the "wilderness of the Boii". Thus the people vanished – but its name remained.
The Boii show how far the Celtic world reached – a people whose name echoes from Bologna to Bohemia, long after it itself vanished. Related in the world of the Celts are the Helvetii.
The Helvetii · The Celtic Warriors · The Marcomanni · Celtic Religion · Celtic Princely Graves.
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