Silvanectes

The Silvanectes were a small Belgic tribe dwelling around present-day Senlis during the Roman period.

Name

Attestations

They are mentioned as Ulmanectes by Pliny, as Soubánektoi by Ptolemy, and as Siluanectas in the Notitia Dignitatum.
The Silvanectes are also attested under the name Sulbanectes in an inscription, and their capital was mentioned as civitas Sulbanectium in 48 AD.

Etymology

The etymology of the ethnonym remains unclear. It could be a Latinized form of Gaulish *Seluanecti, corrupted under the influence of Latin silva. A comparison with Old Irish sulbair has also been proposed.
The city of Senlis, attested ca. 400 AD as civitas Silvanectum is named after the Gallic tribe.

Geography

The Silvanectes dwelled southwest of the Suessionnes, near the Meldi and the Bellovaci. Their small territory, a depression surrounded by wooded heights, could be easily dominated by the more powerful Bellovaci, to which they were probably tributary.