The Rucinates ( Gaulish: *Rucinatis) or Rucantii (Gaulish: *Rucantioi) were a Gallic tribe dwelling in near the confluence of the Isar and Danube rivers during the Roman period.
They are mentioned as R̔oukántioi (Ῥουκάντιοι) by Strabo (early 1st c. AD), [1] as Rucinates (var. irucina-) by Pliny (1st c. AD), [2] as R̔ounikátai (Ῥουνικάται) by Ptolemy (2nd c. AD), [3] and as Rucinates on an inscription. [4] [5]
The meaning of the name remains uncertain. It has been translated as 'the blushing (i.e. shameful or shaming) people', by connecting the first element to the Gaulish *rucco- ('shame, blush of shame'). [5] Alternatively, Patrizia de Bernardo Stempel has proposed to derive the name from a form *roukkina (cf. Welsh rhuchen 'jerkin, jacket, coat'), itself from *roukka (cf. Welsh rhuch 'garment, cloak, mantle'). In this view, the variant R̔oukántioi handed down by Strabo could be explained as 'those who wear a roukka'. [6] The form given by Ptolemy (Runicates) is a metathesis of the original form (Rucinates). [5]
The Rucinates lived near the confluence of the Isar and Danube rivers. Their territory was located north of the Catenates, east of the Raetovarii, south of the Iuthungi. [7] They were part of the Vindelici. [8]
They are mentioned by Pliny the Elder as one of the Alpine tribes conquered by Rome in 16–15 BC, and whose name was engraved on the Tropaeum Alpium. [2]
The Rucinates ( Gaulish: *Rucinatis) or Rucantii (Gaulish: *Rucantioi) were a Gallic tribe dwelling in near the confluence of the Isar and Danube rivers during the Roman period.
They are mentioned as R̔oukántioi (Ῥουκάντιοι) by Strabo (early 1st c. AD), [1] as Rucinates (var. irucina-) by Pliny (1st c. AD), [2] as R̔ounikátai (Ῥουνικάται) by Ptolemy (2nd c. AD), [3] and as Rucinates on an inscription. [4] [5]
The meaning of the name remains uncertain. It has been translated as 'the blushing (i.e. shameful or shaming) people', by connecting the first element to the Gaulish *rucco- ('shame, blush of shame'). [5] Alternatively, Patrizia de Bernardo Stempel has proposed to derive the name from a form *roukkina (cf. Welsh rhuchen 'jerkin, jacket, coat'), itself from *roukka (cf. Welsh rhuch 'garment, cloak, mantle'). In this view, the variant R̔oukántioi handed down by Strabo could be explained as 'those who wear a roukka'. [6] The form given by Ptolemy (Runicates) is a metathesis of the original form (Rucinates). [5]
The Rucinates lived near the confluence of the Isar and Danube rivers. Their territory was located north of the Catenates, east of the Raetovarii, south of the Iuthungi. [7] They were part of the Vindelici. [8]
They are mentioned by Pliny the Elder as one of the Alpine tribes conquered by Rome in 16–15 BC, and whose name was engraved on the Tropaeum Alpium. [2]