Legatus Legionis Posted October 16, 2005 Report Share Posted October 16, 2005 was helvetia ever a province of Rome. A website on the said it was formed in 15 BC. But is this true? I can't find a reference to it in Carry and Scullard's History of Rome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viggen Posted October 16, 2005 Report Share Posted October 16, 2005 Helvetia was an ancient region of central Europe occupying a plateau between the Alps and the Jura Mountains. It was named by the Romans for its predominantly Celtic inhabitants. Helvetia corresponded roughly to the western part of modern Switzerland. The area of Helvetia was part of the roman province Raetia regards viggen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tobias Posted October 16, 2005 Report Share Posted October 16, 2005 Didnt it refer more to the former territory of the Helvetii, the gallic tribe that Caesar defeated? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legatus Legionis Posted October 16, 2005 Author Report Share Posted October 16, 2005 Didnt it refer more to the former territory of the Helvetii, the gallic tribe that Caesar defeated? Yeah it did but i was at my high school latin convention and a firend and i were having a dispute if it was ever a real porvince. i didnt believe it wasbut he was convinced that is was. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Primus Pilus Posted October 17, 2005 Report Share Posted October 17, 2005 Helvetia was not a 'province' it was just a name of a geographic region based on the tribal inhabitants. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FLavius Valerius Constantinus Posted October 17, 2005 Report Share Posted October 17, 2005 It was just referred to as the place where the nomadic Helvetii plundered the most and where the major conflicts occurred between the legions and them is one way to think of it. I think it's just north of Cisalpine Gaul and west of Rhaetia.(Correct me, bc I think I'm really far off) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tobias Posted October 17, 2005 Report Share Posted October 17, 2005 Yep, that's what i thought. That's pretty much correct. it's where Caesar and his men rushed to stop them during their migration, just north of Cisalpine Gaul as you said. I suppose it's pretty lucky that they did migrate, or Caesar may never have started his famous Gallic Campaign eh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Favonius Cornelius Posted October 17, 2005 Report Share Posted October 17, 2005 Seems the only Roman provinces in the general area near Helvetia would have been Alpes Poeninae, Alpes Cottiae, Cisalpine Gaul, Germania Superior, Rhaeta or Agri Decumates. Seems there was never specifically a Helvetia province but the actual land of Helvetia was distributed between the above mentioned provinces. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stefan Kruithof Posted October 24, 2005 Report Share Posted October 24, 2005 Yep, that's what i thought. That's pretty much correct. it's where Caesar and his men rushed to stop them during their migration, just north of Cisalpine Gaul as you said. I suppose it's pretty lucky that they did migrate, or Caesar may never have started his famous Gallic Campaign eh? I wonder how many people actually believed that...does anyone here think Caesar actually believed this was a valid reason for his campaigns? Concerning the 15 BC...it does seem to be about the right period in which this area became permanently Roman territory. However, it never was an official province to my knowledge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Primus Pilus Posted October 24, 2005 Report Share Posted October 24, 2005 I wonder how many people actually believed that...does anyone here think Caesar actually believed this was a valid reason for his campaigns? It may be the only actual truth regarding Caesar's ultimate conquest. Consider that his initial goal was to spread Roman influence in Illyria, Pannonia and beyond. With the disposition of the legions prior to his moving towards Gaul, it seems logical to me that the Helvetti were indeed causing problems. Now with that said, I agree 100% that Caesar used this situation to further his own agenda, but I do believe that the Helvetti were initially problematic for Gallic allies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stefan Kruithof Posted October 25, 2005 Report Share Posted October 25, 2005 Yes, of course I meant him abusing it as a reason for his further campaigns. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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