The Celts in Europe

The term 'Celt' is often associated with Scotland, Ireland and Wales. However 'Celt' actually refers to a race or races that originated in central Germany, near the Danube, and migrated south, invading the whole of western Europe and making their way to Britain. This migration took place in the first millennium B.C. and no doubt absorbed many indigenous peoples. The Celts conquered Gaul, Spain and Northern Italy.

Greek writings from 517 B.C. state that the Celts lived in the land of the Ligurians (a nation west of Italy) and in 445 B.C. Herodotus writes of the River Danube having its source in the land of the Celts. There seemed to be no stopping this powerful people when they conquered Rome itself in 390 B.C.

The Celts, often referred to as Gauls, had in fact been allied with Rome against the Etruscan inhabitants of Northern Italy. However the Romans seem to have decided that they would rather have the Etruscans for neighbours than the warlike Celts. The Celts recognised Romans fighting with the Etruscans and applied to Rome for judgement on the 'traitors'. When they did not receive satisfaction, they marched on Rome. They defeated the Roman army and entered the city. The Celts remained in possession of Rome for a year until a Roman leader, Camillus, arrived with an army. The Celts received financial retribution and left with their need for revenge satisfied.

In 280 B.C. the Celts and their allies, descended on Greece, sacking the temple of Apollo at Delphi. They were eventually defeated. This was their last major campaign and thereafter their powers and territories declined. This was partially due to their being made up of a number of independent tribes and the frequent occurrence of fierce tribal rivalry.

Warring with not only the Romans, but also the Germanic tribes of the Cimbri and the Teutones, the Celts began to retreat. By the first century B.C., they were being attacked in three ways: intertribal warfare between the Aedui, the Sequani and the Averni, advancing Roman armies from the south and advancing Germanic armies from the north. The Celts took refuge in Britain. There had, of course, been previous Celtic migrations to Britain but this was a fight for survival. Some sources have theorised that this retreat led to the Roman invasion of England as they pursued the Celts.

In the last article I mentioned the Hallstatt and La Tene peoples. These are the names given to the two major sub-divisions of Celtic culture in Europe.

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