Elusates

The Elusates were an Aquitani tribe dwelling in the modern Gers department, around present-day Eauze, France during the Iron Age and the Roman period.

Aquitani tribes at both sides of the Pyrenees.

Coins of the Elusates 5th-1st century BC.

They were subjugated in 56 BC by the Roman forces of Caesar's legatus P. Licinius Crassus.

Name

They are mentioned as Elusates by Caesar (mid-1st c. BC) and Pliny (1st c. AD),^[1] and as Elusa on the Tabula Peutingeriana (5th c. AD).^[2]

The etymology of the ethnonym Elusates remains uncertain, but the root elus(a)- is generally presumed to be of Aquitanian origin. Alternatively, a connection with the Celtic root *elu(o)- ('numerous') has also been proposed.^[2]

The city of Eauze, attested in the 4th century AD as civitas Elusa, is named after the tribe.^[3]

Geography

The Elusates dwelled south of the Sotiates, north of the Onobrisates, east of the Tarusates, west of the Lactorates, and northwest of the Ausci.^[4]

The pre-Roman oppidum of Esbérous was located 3km northwest of Eauze.^[5]

During the Roman period, their chief town was known as Elusa (modern Eauze). Made a Roman colonia in the early 3rd century AD, Elusa is documented as the capital of the province of Novempopulana by the Notitia Galliarum in the 4th century.^[5][6] The settlement of Tasta, mentioned by Pliny, may be identified with the city since the field that partly covers the ancient Elusa is called La Taste.^[5]

See also

• Aquitani
• Gallia Aquitania
• Elusa (ancient capital)