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Lugdunensis's District of
Lutetia
Ceann mor:
Position is currently vacant
Lutetia... home of the Parisii, for which the modern city of Paris is named.
 Capitol of the Parisii Lutetia, as it is called on the Roman Maps, is believed to be the capitol (or one of the capitols) of the Parisii tribe. Located on what is known today as the Île de la Cité, this Celtic settlement appears to have been connected to both banks of the Seine by wooden bridges. Most likely, it was surrounded by wooden palisades and possibly an earthen embankment. The island itself was little more than a sandbar in the middle of the river. According to contemporary descriptions, it and the right bank of the river were low and marshy areas. On the left bank was a gentle rise, between two small tributaries which fed into the Seine. It is also quite probable that the proto-historic island looked quite different from what it does today. When the Romans arrived, in 58 BCE, the population of the city was estimated at 25,000. The upper classes consisted of the leaders and warriors, and a group of Merchant-aristocrats. There was also a large group of "Boatmen", who provided the transportation of people and goods upon the river. Excavations in 1711, below the foundations of Notre Dame Cathedral, uncovered what is known as "The Boatmen’s Pillar". The faces of the pillar bear liknesses of both Gallic and Roman gods, as well as pictures of the "boatmen". Based on archaeological finds in the general area, trade goods came from other parts of Gaul, Iberia, Italy and Greece. Fragments of Italian amphorae have been discovered in an old well near the French Senate. The well also contained the remains of a warrior or cavalry man who may have been in the service of Rome near the end of the Republic. His costume has a strange mixture of Gallic and Roman elements. Another find from the well was a Gallic gold coin with the inscription "VENEXTOS". These artifacts are dated between 60 and 30 BCE. The Battle of Lutetia The first real mention of Lutetia in the histories occurs in Caesar’s De Bello Gallica. This was the place where Caesar had called a meeting of all the tribes of the Parisii. What came of the meeting is not reported. However, we do know that the Parisii sent some 8,000 troops to alesia, in support of Vercingetorix. These and other Gallic groups harried Caesar’s troops from the rear, while the Aedui (under Vercingetorix) sallied from the oppidum to attack the front. Meanwhile, Labenius, one of Caesar’s lieutenants took four legions downstream, to attack Lutetia. Camulogenus, the leader of the Parisii and other area tribes, set up a camp in the marshes, to block the advance of the Romans. We may assume this was the marshy area to the north (on the right bank) of the Seine. Unable to cross the marshes in the face of the enemy, Labenius turned back upstream and captured Melun. Using the boats from this city, he ferried his troops to the other side of the river and once more advanced on Lutetia. The Gauls burned Lutetia and cut the bridges. Camulogenus and his warriors watched from the opposite side as Labenius set up camp. Under cover of darkness, Labenius moved most of his troops a few miles up river and recrossed, using the boats they had left there. Advancing quietly down the nort side of the river, he caught Camulogenus unaware and the battle was soon over. The Romans won, and the Parisii were subjegated. Sources: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854) Harry Thurston Peck, Harpers Dictionary of Classical Antiquities (1898) The Princeton Encyclopedia of Classical Sites Paris (Wikipedia) PARIS, A Roman City Paris not the capital of the Parisii? The Relocation of Paris (by Sarah Dalglish) Map, text and graphics by MacMorna Niafer Guide to Celtia
The Discussions of Lutetia:
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