Veliocasses

The Veliocasses or Velocasses (Gaulish: *Weliocassēs) were a Belgic or Gallic tribe of the La Tène and Roman periods, dwelling in the south of modern Seine-Maritime and in the north of Eure.^[1]

Name

They are mentioned as Veliocasses by Caesar (mid-1st c. BC) and Pliny (1st c. AD),^[2] as Ou̓éliokásioi (Οὐέλιοκάσιοι; var. οὐενελιοάσιοι) by Ptolemy (2nd c. AD),^[3] and as Velocasses by Orosius (early 5th c. AD).^[4][5]

The meaning of the Gaulish ethnonym is uncertain. The first part is certainly the Gaulish stem uelio-, which could either derive from Proto-Celtic *wēliyā- ('modesty'; cf. OIr. féle, OBret. guiled 'honestas'), or else from Proto-Celtic *wēlyo- ('better'; cf. Welsh gwell 'better').^[6][7] The second etymology is semantically more probable for a tribal name, but the unknown length of the vowel e in uelio- makes it difficult to conclude with certainty.^[6][8] The meaning of the second element -casses, attested in other Gaulish ethnonyms such as Bodiocasses, Durocasses, Sucasses, Tricasses, or Viducasses, has been debated, but it probably signifies '(curly) hair, hairstyle' (cf. Old Irish chass 'curl'), perhaps referring to a particular warrior coiffure.^[9][7] Patrizia de Bernardo Stempel has proposed to interpret the name as 'those with better helmets'.^[10]

The county of Vexin, attested in 617 as pagus Veliocassinus ('pagus of the Veliocasses'; Vilcassinum in 1092, Vulesin in 1118), is named after the ancient tribe.^[11]

Geography

The Veliocasses occupied territory primarily north of the lower Sequana (Seine) river, with a smaller portion extending south of it.^[1] Their territory was situated between that of the Caletes and Bellovaci. Wooded highlands formed a natural boundary with the Bellovaci, who held sway in that region.^[12]

During the pre-Roman period, their capital was probably the oppidum of Camp de Calidou (near Caudebec), then Rotomagus (present-day Rouen) after the reign of Augustus (27 BC–14 AD).^[1] In the 2nd century AD, the settlement served as a significant harbor for exports bound for Britain.^[13]

History

During the Gallic Wars (58–50 BC), the Veliocasses participated in the tribal coalition of the Belgae that resisted the Romans in 57 BC. In 52 they raised 3,000 men to support Vercingetorix, and fought alongside the Bellovaci in the final rebellion against Roman hegemony.

Culture

As for the neighbouring Calates, whether the Veliocasses should be classified as Gallic or Belgic is debatable.^[12]