Cantabrian Wars
The
Cantabrian Wars (
29 BC-
19 BC) occurred during the
Roman conquest of the ancient province of
Cantabria. They were the final completion of the conquest of
Hispania.
The first appearances of the
Cantabri on the historical scene were in the context of earlier wars in
Iberia, where they served as
mercenaries on various sides. In this way, in the years preceding the wars in Cantabria and
Astures, the Roman military became familiar with the warlike characteristics of the peoples of northern Hispania. We have accounts, for instance, of Cantabrians in the army of
Hannibal during the
Second Punic War. Additionally, there is evidence that they fought alongside the
Vacceos in
151 BC, and helped break the Roman
siege of
Numantia. It's also believed that there were Cantabrian troops present in the
Sertorian Wars. According to Julis Caesar's own testimony, there were Cantabrians at the battle of
Lerida in
49 BC.
With all these antecedants, the Cantabrians began to be known throughout the
Roman Empire. Roman troops even lost one of their standards to them, something inexplicable and humiliating in those days. Such were the disasters and the embarrassments that, although the Roman historians justified the campaigns as retribution for Cantabrian incursions on the Roman-controlled
Meseta Central, there must have been a certain lust after
Austurian gold and Cantabrian iron as well. Finally, in
26 BC, the emperor himself,
Caesar Augustus, went to
Hispania, establishing his base in
Segisama (
Burgos)
 |
Roman Cantabria during the Cantabrian Wars. The map shows the borders of the ancient province in relation to today's Cantabria, along with the tribes that lived there, the neighboring peoples, towns and geographical features, accoding to classical sources. |
According to the Roman historian
Dio Cassius, the tactics of the Cantabri and
Astures were of
guerrilla warfare, avoiding direct attacks on the Roman forces because of their inferior numbers. Their better knowledge of the difficult and mountainous terrain allowed them to conduct quick surprise strikes with
ranged weapons, with ambushes followed by quick retreats causing great damage to the Roman columns and supply lines.
According to what remains from representations on coins and steles, the Cantabri were well skilled in light arms. This explains what
Lucan means when he says:
Cantaber exiguis et longis Teutonus armis (The Cantabrian with his small arms and the
Teuton with his long ones). They went equipped with small
swords,
daggers, small
spears or
javelins,
lances, round or oval
shields of wood, and leather chest protection. They also used a weapon like the Iberian
falcata, and the
bipinnis, a type of double-headed axe particular to the peoples of Northern Hispania. There is no proof of their use of
archery or
slings, although it is quite probable that they knew and used them.
The Cantabri were able at the time to ride horses, as reflected in the fact that some of their cavalry tactics would be used by the Roman army. Examples include the 'circulus cantabricus', which was a formation of cavalry in a semicircle, and the 'cantabricus impetus', a massive frontal attack against the enemy lines with the goal of breaching them, as described by
Flavius ArrianusThe quality of the Cantabrian enemy was such that it obliged
Augustus to deploy a number of legions in the conflict:
*
Legio I Augusta *
Legio II Augusta *
Legio IV Macedonica *
Legio V Alaudae (operated in
Asturias)
*
Legio VI Victrix (operated in Asturias)
*
Legio IX Hispana *
Legio X Gemina (operated in Asturias)
*
Legio XX Valeria Victrixto which he added various auxiliary troops;
* Ala II Gallorum,
* Cohors II Gallorum,
* Ala II Thracum Victrix Civium Romanorum,
* Cohors IV Thracum Aequitata,
* Ala Parthorum
* Ala Augusta
The
Roman navy also participated, arriving at the Cantabrian coast after being sent from
Gallia Aquitania. It was an important determinate of the conflict's resolution, since it completed the encirclement of the Cantabri begun by the deployed ground troops. It's calculated that, in total, the
Roman Army deployed 70,000 men, although these calculations vary amongst authors, due to the fact that they used a 5,000 men per legion base. In reality, the figure should surpass 80,000 men counting auxileries since, through the reforms of
Gaius Marius, the legion had more than 6,000 soldiers. However, in
Augustus' time, although a legion was officially composed of 6,200 men, for various reasons the number usually oscilated between 5,000 and 8,000.
In
25 BC,
Augustus gave to the
Astures Brigantum, the camp of Augustan Asturica, as a prize for their help. Additionally he shared out land in the plains to the allies. However, the Astures later joined with the Cantabri for the common defense. The emperor Augustus, a year after his arrival, had to retire to
Tarragona, presumably because of sickness. The conflict, however, lasted more than 10 years (it serves as a reference that the
Roman Empire conquered all of
Gallaecia in less than seven years) and it was, besides the campaign against the
Illyrians from
35 BC to
33 BC, the only directed personally by Augustus against barbarian groups.
|
Lábaro cántabro. Standard used by the Cantabrian forces to send orders or signal to troops during battle and which the Romans would adopt as their own. |
Different from similar conflicts, the
Roman Empire chose not to take prisoners, which supposes the elimination of Cantabri of military age. Moreover, there was a tradition among the Cantabri soldiers to commit suicide rather than be taken into slavery. They did this by sword, by fire, or, primarily, through poisoning themselves with potions made for the purpose. According to
Silius Italicus they used a conconction made from the seeds of the
yew tree, a plant with mythic significance for the
Celts.
Strabo said that they belittled death and pain, to the point of singing hymns of victory while being
crucified. For them, according to Strabo, to die as soldiers and free men was a victory.
The major fighting was completed in
19 BC, although there were minor rebellions until
16 BC.
Rome, as was their practice with other territories, began to impose their reforms. They did not have too much success due to the strong character of the Cantabri people. Despite being massacred, their resistance was such that the Romans had to station two legions (
X Gemina and
IV Macedonica) there for seventy more years.
Through the Cantabrian War and the surrender of the Cantabri to Rome, the Roman legions adopted from them the solar symbol of twin crosses and lunar symbols, such as the Cantabri
lábaro pictured. They would still be carrying this standard 300 years later. The Roman army would also copy from the Cantabri the calvalry tactics
circulus cantabricus and
cantabricus impetus as already mentioned.
*
Los Cántabros antes de Roma, 2ª edición: Dr. Eduardo Peralta Labrador, Real Academia de la Historia. (2003)
*
Las Guerras Cántabras: Angel Ocejo Herrero y vv.aa.
*
Estelas Cántabras: Símbolos de un pueblo: Juan Carlos Cabria Gutiérrez, editorial Brenes XXI.
*
Onomástica de Cantabria - Los Nombres de Persona Cántabros: Jesús J. Maroñas.
(All of the following in
Spanish)
*
The Cantabrian War Association*
The Cantabri*
The Cantabrian Wars in Celtiberia.net*
History of the Cantabrian Wars in Celtiberia.net*
The formidible Cantabri soldiers.
