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.

Antecedents

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)

Armies and Strategies

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 Arrianus

The quality of the Cantabrian enemy was such that it obliged Augustus to deploy a number of legions in the conflict:

to 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.

The End of the Conflict

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.

Bibliography

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.

External links

(All of the following in Spanish)

History of Spain | Wars of the Roman Empire | Cantabria

Guerres càntabres | Guerras Cántabras | Kantabraj militoj | Guerres cantabres

Gourt Home::Gourt :: Cantabrian Wars

Antecedents

Armies and Strategies

The End of the Conflict

Bibliography

External links