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Can anyone offer a translation of the name of the northern Gallic tribe the Catalauni? That is the Catalauni of Gaul not the Catuvellauni of Britain although i am interested to see there is a similarity in the meaning of these tribes names.
Thank you!
I must say, given the similarity and the fact that they lived in Belgica, I wouldn't be surprised if the Catuvellauni were their emigrated kinsmen...
Kat- stands for battle, launos should mean plain, so something like "Those of the battlefield" or "Plain-dwelling Warriors" I assume, but really I have no linguistic degree :P
I fear, my friend, you are walking very close to a trap which has blighted British archaeology since the late 1800s; that the Catuvellauni may be Belgic invaders. I would be tempted to see the Catuvellauni as related kinsmen also but likely arriving in Britain alot earlier, possibly as a component of the Marnian culture. Alas my knowledge is not sufficient say anything more on the subject than this.Quote:
Originally Posted by Arjos
Thank you though for your proposed translation.
Yes, I wouldn't know how closely related in time, even though Kat- (battle) ual/gual (strong/ruler), means something completely different as "Battle Leaders", unless it's related to the god Uellaunos meaning "Warriors of Vellaunus" or "Battle (blood) Pourers/Shedders"...
With their "confederative/high king" status, Catuvellauni could be just the name of a bigger entity, formed by many tribes...
Actually the Catalauni, could be bearing the same name: Kat- (battle) -la- (ual/gual) -unoi (ones) "The Battle Leaders" :P
In the end, with their name remaining in geography to mark those flatlands, I'd lean for "Those of the battlefield"...
so britain gaul anyone wants to take it to the next level ande say catallunã :? very similar names i must say (altough i´m not aware of any conection but lets play conspiracy theory)