Pre Roman peoples of the Iberian Peninsula

Updated on Jan 20, 2024

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This is a list of the Pre-Roman people of the Iberian peninsula (the Roman Hispania, i. e., modern Portugal, Spain and Andorra). Some closely fit the concept of a people, ethnic group or tribe. Others are confederations or even unions of tribes.

Aquitanians

Airenosini/Arenosii

Iacetani

Vascones

Iberians

Andosini - in the mountains of East Pyrenees southern slopes, in the high Segre river basin, area of modern Andorra.

Ausetani - in the Osona region (old County of Osona), in the middle Ter river basin. Ausa (today's Vic) was their main centre.

Bastetani/Bastitani/Bastuli - The biggest iberian tribal confederation in area, they dwelt in a territory that included large areas of the mediterranean coast and the Sierra Nevada, in what are today parts of the modern provinces of Murcia, Albacete, Jaén, Almería, Granada and Málaga. Basti (today's Baza) was their main centre.

Mastieni - in and around Mastia territory (Cartagena).

Bergistani/Bergusii - in the high Llobregat river basin, roughly in today's Barcelona province. Berga was their main centre. North of the Lacetani.

Castellani - in the high Ter river basin, East Pyrenees southern slopes. North of the Ausetani.

Cessetani/Cossetani - in the Tarraco region (roughly in today's central and east Tarragona province), in the mediterranean coastal region. Kese (Tarraco in Roman times, that would become the Hispania Tarraconensis capital), was their main centre.

Ceretani/Cerretani - in Cerretana (today's Cerdanya/Cerdaña) and other East Pyrenees mountains southern slopes, also in the high Segre and Noguera rivers basins (tributaries of the Iberus - Ebro river), in the east part of Ribagorça. Libyca or Julia Libyca (today's Llivia) was their main centre. North of the Ilergetes and the Bergistani.

Contestani - South of the Sucro (Xúquer) river and north of the Thader (Segura) river, in an area that today is roughly part of the Alicante/Alacant, Valencia, Murcia and Albacete provinces. A tribal confederation. East of the Bastetani.

Deitani - in and around Ilici territory (today's Elx/Elche)

Edetani - North of the Sucro (Xúquer/Júcar) river and south of the Millars river, roughly in today's Valencia province. One of the biggest iberian tribes or tribal confederations. Edeta (Roman times Lauro, today's Lliria), to the northwest of Valencia, was their main centre, Arse (Saguntum in Roman times, today's Sagunto/Sagunt) was also in their territory. North of the Contestani and the Bastetani and south of the Ilercavones.

Elisyces/Helisyces - a tribe that dwelt in the region of Narbo (Narbonne) and modern northern Roussillon. May have been either Iberian or Ligurian or a Ligurian-Iberian tribe.

Ilercavones - in the low Iberus (Ebro) river basin to the Millars river along the mediterranean coast and to the inland towards the Sierra de Gúdar, in Ilercavonia. One of the biggest iberian tribes or tribal confederations. Hibera (Roman time Dertusa or Dertosa, modern time Tortosa) was their main centre. North of the Edetani, south of the Ilergetes, east of the Sedetani and west of the Cessetani.

Ilergetes/Ilergetae - in the plains area of the middle and low Segre and Cinca rivers towards the Iberus (Ebro) river margins. One of the biggest Iberian tribes or tribal confederations. Iltrida (Ilerda in Roman times, today's Lérida/Lleida) was their main centre.

Indigetes/Indigetae - in the low Ter river basin, East Pyrenees southern slopes, they occupied the far north east area of the Iberian Peninsula known as Hispania Tarraconensis, in the gulf of Empodrae (Empúries) and Rhoda (Roses), stretching up into the Pyrenees though the regions of Empordà, Selva and perhaps as far as Gironès, in what is roughly today's Girona Province. Indika/Indiga or Undika was their main centre. A tribal confederation: they was formed by four tribes.

Lacetani - in the middle Llobregat river basin and surrounding hills. Northwest of the Laietani.

Laietani - in the low Llobregat river basin, along a part of the Mediterranean coast roughly in what is today a part of the Barcelona province and Barcelona city. Laieta (Barcino in Roman times and Barcelona in modern times) was their main centre.

Oretani - In the high Baetis (Guadalquivir) river valley, eastern Marianus Mons (Sierra Morena) and southern area of today's La Mancha. They could have been an Iberian tribe, a Celtic one, or a mixed Celtic and Iberian tribe or tribal confederacy (and hence related to the Celtiberians). The Mantesani/Mentesani/Mantasani of today's La Mancha and the Germani (of Oretania) in eastern Marianus Mons (Sierra Morena) and west Jabalón river valley, sometimes are included in the Oretani but it is not certain if they were Oretani tribes.

Sedetani - south of the Iberus (Ebro) river and west of the Guadalope river, roughly in the middle basin of the Iberus (Ebro). Salduie (Roman time Salduba and Caesaraugusta and modern time Zaragoza) was in their territory and they were possibly closely related to the Edetani. West of the Ilercavones.

Sordones - in the Roussillon territory (Pyrénées Orientales Départment, France), Ruscino (today's Château-Roussillon near Perpignan) was their main centre.

Vescetani/Oscenses - In today's northern Aragon, east of Gállego river, in Sobrarbe, in and around Bolskan, later Osca (Huesca), and high Cinca River valley, Spain. They could also be related to the Vascones and therefore be related to the Aquitani speaking the Aquitanian language, or a mixed Iberian-Aquitanian tribe or tribal conderacy.

Unknown named tribe or tribes in the Balearic Islands (formed by the Pityusic Islands and Gymnesian islands), may have been Iberians.

Indo-European speakers

Proto-Indo-Europeans

Celtic

Allotriges – Northwestern La Rioja (Spain).

Astures — Asturias and northern León (Spain), and east of Trás os Montes (Portugal), (tribal confederation).

Cismontani

Amaci

Cabruagenigi

Gigurri

Lancienses

Lougei

Orniaci

Superatii

Susarri/Astures Proper

Tiburi

Zoelae – Eastern Trás-os-Montes (Portugal), (Miranda do Douro).

Transmontani

Baedunienses

Brigaentini

Cabarci

Iburri

Luggones/Lungones

Paenii

Paesici

Saelini

Vinciani

Viromenici

Autrigones – north-west Burgos (Spain).

Bebryaces/Berybraces – unknown location, may have been related to the Bebryces (gauls) or the Berones, there is also the possibility that it was an old name of the Celtiberians.

Berones – La Rioja (Spain).

Cantabri – Cantabria, part of Asturias and part of Castile-Leon (Spain); some consider them not Celtic, but rather Pre-Celtic Indo-European as could have been the Lusitani and Vettones [1], If their language was not Celtic it might have been Para-Celtic like Ligurian (i.e. an Indo-European language branch not Celtic but more closely related to Celtic). (tribal confederation).

Avarigines

Blendii/Plentusii/Plentuisii

Camarici/Tamarici

Concani

Coniaci/Conisci

Moroecani

Noegi

Orgenomesci

Salaeni/Selaeni

Vadinienses

Vellici/Velliques

Caristii/Carietes – today's west Basque Country, they might have been Celtic (see Late Basquisation), they were later assimilated by the Vascones in the 6th and 7th centuries; some consider them not Celtic, possibly a Pre-Celtic Indo-European people as the Lusitani and Vettones could have been. [2]. If their language was not Celtic it might have been Para-Celtic like Ligurian (i.e. an Indo-European language branch not Celtic but more closely related to Celtic).

Carpetani – Central Iberian meseta (Spain), in the geographical centre of the Iberian Peninsula, in a large part of today's Castilla-La Mancha and Madrid regions. A tribal confederation with 27 identified tribes.

Aelariques -

Aeturiques -

Arquioci - in Iplacea, roman named Complutum (today's Alcalá de Henares) region.

Acualiques -

Bocouriques -

Canbarici - in Toletum (Toledo) region.

Contucianci - in Segobriga region.

Dagencii -

Doviliques -

Duitiques -

Duniques -

Elguismiques -

Langioci -

Longeidoci -

Maganiques -

Malugeniques -

Manuciques -

Maureici -

Mesici -

Metturici -

Moenicci -

Obisodiques - in Toletum (Toledo) region

Pilonicori -

Solici -

Tirtaliques - in Segobriga region.

Uloques -

Venatioques -

Celtiberians – Eastern Iberian meseta (Spain), mountains of the headwaters of the rivers Douro, Tagus, Guadiana (Anas), Júcar, Jalón (river), Jiloca (river) and Turia (river), (tribal confederation). Mixed Celtic and Iberian tribes or Celtic tribes influenced by Iberians, the majority of Celtic tribes in the Iberian Peninsula were not Celtiberians.

Arevaci

Belli

Cratistii

Lobetani

Lusones – Western Zaragoza (province), Eastern Guadalajara (Spain).

Olcades

Pellendones/Cerindones, in high Duero river course (Numantia) and neighbouring mountains, might also have been related to the Pelendi/Belendi that dwelt in the middle Sigmatis river, today's Leyre (river).

Titii (Celtiberian)

Turboletae/Turboleti

Uraci/Duraci

Celtici – Portugal south of the Tagus River and north of Guadiana River (Anas), Alentejo and Algarve (Portugal), western Extremadura (Spain), (tribal confederation).

Cempsi

Conii – according to some scholars, Conii and Cynetes were two different peoples or tribes and the names were not two different names of the same people or tribe; in this case, the Conii possibly dwelt along the northern banks of the middle Anas (Guadiana) river, in today's western Extremadura region of Spain, and were a Celtici tribe wrongly confused with the Cynetes of Cyneticum (Algarve) that dwelt from the west banks of the Low Anas (Guadiana) river further to the south (the celticization of the Cynetes by the Celtici confused the distinction between the two peoples or tribes).

Mirobrigenses

Sefes/Saefes

Celtici of Arunda (Ronda) – southernmost Celtic tribe, in south Turdetania, later Baetica Roman province, (in today's western Málaga Province), Andalucia region.

Cynetes – Cyneticum (today's Algarve region) and Low Alentejo (Portugal); originally probably Tartessians or similar, later celtized by the Celtici; according to some scholars, Cynetes and Conii were two different peoples or tribes [3].

Gallaecians or Callaici – Gallaecia (Spain & Portugal), (tribal confederation).

Addovi/Iadovi

Aebocosi

Albiones/Albioni – western Asturias (Spain).

Amphiloci

Aobrigenses

Arroni/Arrotrebi

Arrotrebae/Artabri – Northern Galicia (Spain).

Aunonenses

Baedi

Banienses – around Baião Municipality, Eastern Porto District, (Portugal).

Biballi

Bracari/Callaeci/Gallaeci Proper – Southeastern Braga District, Braga, Western Porto District, Oporto, (Portugal).

Brigantes (Callaici tribe) – Northern Bragança District, Bragança, (Portugal).

Caladuni

Capori

Celtici Praestamarici

Celtici Supertamarici

Cibarci

Cileni

Coelerni/Aquaflavienses – Braga District, Vila Real District (Chaves), (Portugal) and Ourense (Spain).

Egi

Egovarri

Equaesi – Minho and Trás-os-Montes (Portugal).

Grovii – Minho (Portugal) and Galicia (Spain).

Iadones

Interamici/Interamnici – Trás-os-Montes (Portugal).

Lapatianci

Lemavi

Leuni – Minho (Portugal).

Limici – Lima River banks, Minho (Portugal) and Galicia (Spain).

Louguei

Luanqui – Trás-os-Montes (Portugal).

Naebisoci/Aebisoci

Namarii

Namarini

Narbasi – Minho (Portugal) and Galicia (Spain).

Nemetati – Minho (Portugal).

Nerii

Poemani

Quaquerni/Querquerni – Minho (Portugal).

Seurbi – Minho (Portugal).

Seurri – Sarria Municipality, East Central Galicia (Spain)

Tamagani – Chaves (Portugal).

Turodi – Trás-os-Montes (Portugal) and Galicia (Spain).

Varri

Gauls (Galli) – Some Gaulish tribes might have migrated southwards and crossed the Pyrenees (by the north, the central or the south areas of the mountains) in a second or a third Celtic wave to the Iberian Peninsula. These tribes were different from the Hispano-Celtic/Iberian Celtic tribes.

Galli (tribe) – along Gallicus (Gállego) river banks, see place names (toponyms) like Forum Gallorum, Gallur, a different tribe from the Suessetani; might have been a tribe related to the Galli (Gauls) and not to the Hispano-Celts/Iberian Celts.

Mantesani/Mentesani/Mantasani – La Mancha Plateau, Castilla-La Mancha (Spain); were a different people from the Oretani.

Oretani – northeastern Andalusia, northwest Murcia and southern fringes of La Mancha, (Spain), mountains of the headwaters of the Guadalquivir (ancient Baetis river); Some consider them not Celtic [4].

Plentauri – Northwestern La Rioja (Spain).

Suessetani – Aragon/Navarra

Turduli – Guadiana valley (Portugal) and Extremadura (Spain); might have been related to Lusitanians, Callaeci or Turdetani.

Turduli Baetici- Baeturia/Baeturia Turdulorum, south of the Anas (Guadiana) river and northern slope of Marianus Mons (Sierra Morena), Southern Extremadura region, Badajoz Province, Portugal Southeastern corner, Beja District.

Turduli Bardili – Setubal Peninsula (Portugal); might have been related to Lusitanians, Callaeci or Turdetani.

Turduli Oppidani – Estremadura (Portugal); might have been related to Lusitanians, Callaeci or Turdetani.

Turduli Veteres – Southern Douro banks, between Douro and Vouga River, Aveiro District, (Portugal); might have been related to Lusitanians, Callaeci or Turdetani.

Turmodigi or Turmogi – Central Burgos.

Vaccaei – North Central Iberian meseta (Spain), middle Duero river basin.

Cauci (Vaccaei) – in Cauca (Coca, Segovia)

Varduli – today's East Basque Country, they might have been Celtic (see Late Basquisation), they were later assimilated by the Vascones in the 6th and 7th centuries; Some consider them not Celtic, possibly a Pre-Celtic Indo-European people as the Lusitani and Vettones could have been. If their language was not Celtic it might have been Para-Celtic like Ligurian (i.e. an Indo-European language branch not Celtic but more closely related to Celtic). [5].

Volcae

Volciani – might have been a tribe related to the Volcae and not to the Hispano-Celts/Iberian Celts (i.e. the Celts of the Iberian Peninsula). They have been located north of the Iberus (Ebro) river but not very precisely.

Lusitanians-Vettones

Lusitanians (Lusitani/Bellitani) – Portugal south of the Douro River and north of Tagus River, and northwestern Extremadura (Spain); are not generally considered Celtic and might have been a pre-Celtic Indo-European people, closely related to the Vettones. Hence Lusitanian language was possibly a Para-Celtic Indo-European branch like Ligurian (i.e. an Indo-European language branch not Celtic but more closely related to Celtic). (tribal confederation). However, some scholars, most notably John T Koch and Barry Cunliffe, have proposed that they spoke an archaic Proto-Celtic language and were Proto-Celtic in ethnicity.

Arabrigenses

Aravi

Coelarni/Colarni

Interamnienses

Lancienses

Lancienses Oppidani

Lancienses Transcudani

Ocelenses Lancienses

Meidubrigenses

Paesuri – Douro and Vouga (Portugal).

Palanti (according to some scholars, these tribes were Lusitanians and not Vettones)

Calontienses

Caluri

Coerenses

Tangi

Elbocori

Igaeditani

Tapori/Tapoli – River Tagus, around the border area of Portugal and Spain.

Talures

Veaminicori

Vettones – Ávila and Salamanca (Spain), possibly a Pre-Celtic Indo-European people, closely related to the Lusitani. If their language was not Celtic it might have been Para-Celtic like Ligurian (i.e. an Indo-European language branch not Celtic but more closely related to Celtic). A tribal confederation.

Bletonesii – Bletisama (today's Ledesma) was their main centre, Salamanca Province, Spain.

Calontienses? (according to some scholars, these tribes were Lusitanians and not Vettones)

Caluri?

Coerenses?

Turdetani

Turdetani – Today's Western Andalucia (Hispania Baetica), Baetis (Guadalquivir) River valley and basin, Marianus Mons (Sierra Morena), some consider them Celtic., possibly a pre-Celtic Indo-European people as the Lusitani and Vettones. If their language was not Celtic it might have been Para-Celtic like Ligurian (i.e. an Indo-European language branch not Celtic but more closely related to Celtic). They might otherwise have been a non-Indo-European people related to the Iberians, but not the same people), (tribal confederation but with a much more centralized power, and had formed an early Kingdom or a Proto-civilisation, see Tartessos)

Cilbiceni – approximately in today's Cádiz Province

Elbisini/Eloesti/Olbisini – in today's Huelva Province

Etmanei – in the middle area of Baetis river (Guadalquivir) course and surrounding region, approximately in today's Córdoba Province

Gletes/Galetes/Ileates – in Marianus Mons (Sierra Morena), approximately in today's northern areas of the provinces of Huelva, Seville and Córdoba

Turdetani/Tartessii Proper – in the low course of Baetis river (Guadalquivir) and surrounding region, approximately in today's Seville Province

Allegedly Germanic Peoples

Germani (Oretania)

References

Pre-Roman peoples of the Iberian Peninsula Wikipedia

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