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The Lingones: Allies on the Watershed

History & Finds The Lingones: Allies on the Watershed placeholder

The Lingones were a Celtic people in eastern Gaul, on the plateau around today's Langres, near the watershed between the Seine, Meuse and Rhône/Saône.

At Rome's side

In the Gallic War the Lingones largely held to Rome and supported Caesar with supplies. Unlike many neighbours they did not join the great revolt of 52 BC.

Year of the Four Emperors and the Batavian revolt

In AD 69/70 the Lingones were drawn into the Batavian revolt under Julius Civilis and the dream of a "Gallic separate empire" – which, however, failed. Their name lives on in Langres.

"The Lingones had supplied the army with plenty of grain."after Caesar, The Gallic War VII (public domain, own translation)
What is documented: Lingones as Rome's allies (Caesar, The Gallic War), their role in the Batavian revolt of 69/70 (Tacitus, Histories) and Andematunnum/Langres as their capital.
What is interpretation: How unified the Lingones acted is interpretation – in the revolt groups stood on different sides. The "Gallic separate empire" was more a short-lived alliance of convenience than a planned state.

The Lingones belong to the allied peoples of eastern Gaul. Continue with the Aedui and Bituriges.

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The Aedui · The Senones · The Treveri · The Bituriges · The Celtic Warriors.

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