Caeracates


The Caeracates were small tribe dwelling in Gallia Belgica during the Roman period. Like the Aresaces, they were probably a sub-tribe of the larger Treveri, since they were too small to form their own civitas.

Name

They are mentioned by Tacitus as Caeracatium and Caeracatibus.
The ethnonym Caeracates is a latinized form of Gaulish *Caeracatis. It derives from a stem, meaning 'ewe' or a similar animal, attached to the suffix -atis. It thus means 'those of the sheep', that is to say 'the shepherds' or 'sheep-folk'. Caeracates is cognate with other Celtic tribal names such as the Belgic Caeroesi, the Brittonic Caereni, and the Pictish Kairênoi.

History

Tacitus mentioned them in his account of the Batavian revolt of 69–70 AD. They were called up, along with the Vangiones and the Triboci, to reinforce a Treveran force:

Primary sources

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