Chauci
The
Chauci were a populous
Germanic tribe inhabiting the extreme northwestern shore of
Germany during
Roman times - basically the stretch of coast between
Frisia in the west to the
Elbe estuary in the east.
The
Chauci, like the Frisii, inhabited
terpen, artificial mounds, which serve to protect the farms from the floods. A fact which, combined with the presence of large floodplains, mystified the romans. A lively, first hand account is delivered by
Pliny the Elder, who writes that the Chauci live off fishing and hunting. Archeological evidence, however, shows that Pliny isn't quite accurate, since the Chauci also raise cattle and support cavalry-troops.
The
Chauci according to Tacitus are highly respected among germannic tribes. He also describes them as peaceful , calm and levelheaded, despite the reports in the
Annales of piracy.
The political position of the
Chauci, early in the
1st century, was essentially a pro-roman one. The provided, for instance, auxiliaries during the seconf campaign of
Germanicus against the
Cherusci. The evidence for this is not just the description of
Tacitus, but also finds of typical equestrian parafernalia near the Praetorium on the Kops-plateau near
Oppidum Batavorum (
Nijmegen), which served as the roman headquarters in
Germania Inferior.
In
47 the
Chauci, with the
Frisii raid
Germania Inferior, lead by
Gannascus a
Canninefat and a deserter from the legions. They use small boats to raid the coast of Gaul (Probably
Belgica) but are defeated by Corbulo. Corbulo in turn starts plotting against Gannascus, who is ultimately killed. This however, leads to great unrest amongst the Chauci and the situation is about to escallate when Corbulo is ordered by Claudius to retreat behind the
Rhine River, which is subsequently declared the border of the roman empire.
During the
Batavian Rebellion in
69, detachments of Frisii and Chauci fight on the side of
Julius Civilis.
By the end of the
3rd century CE, they had merged with the
Saxons : whether this conjunction was amicable or forced is not clear.
P. Cornelius Tacitus,
de situ et origine germanorum. XXXV.
P. Cornelius Tacitus,
annales, XI 18-19, XIII 55.
P. Cornelius Tacitus,
historiae IV 79, V 19.
Gaius Plinius Secundus maior,
naturalis historia, XVI, 2-4.
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