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'Pictones' was, in ancient times, a region of western France along the Bay of Biscay named after the inhabiting tribe, the Pictones (or Pictavi). The region extended north past the Liger River to the Andes Mountains, east to the region of Turons (Touraine), and south to the border with Lémovices (Limousin) and the Guirande River in the region of Santones. During the reign of Augustus (27 BC – 14 AD), the region Pictones became part of a larger providence in Gaul known as Aquitania. It should be noted--in comparison to the figure--that Augustus extended this region's boundaries to include most of western Gaul.

Contents

Prior to Roman Rule

During and After Roman Rule

See also

References

Prior to Roman Rule

According to sources from the first century BC, the name Pictaves is given to the merchants and sailors that lived north of the river Forth of antique Scotland. They populated the region during the first half of the first-century BC, before Roman conquest. Their chief town Lemonum, the Celtic name of modern day Poitiers (Poitou), is located on the south bank of the Liger River. Other tribes neighboring and among the Pictones were the Ambiliates, Agésinates, and the Agnutes.
The political organization of the region modeled the royal Celtic system. Duratios was king of Pictones during the Roman conquest, who lacked authoritative power due to the lacking skill of his army generals. However, they frequently aided G. Julius Caesar in naval battles, particularly with the navel victor of Veneti on the Brenton peninsula.

During and After Roman Rule

The Pictones were threatened by the migration of the Helvetians toward the territory of Santones and had support for the intervention of Caesar in 58 BC. They were fiercely independent yet collaborative with Caesar--who noted them as one of the more civilized tribes. Nevertheless, 8000 men were sent to aid Vercingétorix, the chieftain who led the Gaulish rebellion in 52 BC. This act divided the Pictones and the region was location of incredible uprising, especially in the area near Lemonum. This was later quelled by legate C. Coninius Rebilus and finally by Caesar himself.
The Pictones benefited from Roman peace, notably by many urban constructions such as aqueducts and temples. A thick wall built in the second century AD encircles the city of Lemonum and is one of the distinguishing architectural forms of antique Gaul. However, the Pictones were not Romanized in depth. Lemonum quickly adopted Christianity within the first two centuries AD.
The region was known for its timber resources and occasionally traded with the Roman province of Transalpine Gaul. Additionally, the Pictones traded with the British islands from the harbor of Ratiatum (today Rezé), serving as an important port between Gaul and Britain.

See also

★ Gaul

★ Poitevin-Saintongeais language

★ Roman Republic

References

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★ Caesar in Gaul and Rome: War in Words, , Josiah, Osgood, American Historical Review, 2007