B ordered to the north by the River Garonne and to the south by the Pryenees, Aquitania was a corner of Gaul considered somewhat apart from the rest of the 'country' (as was Belgic Gaul). Aquitania may well have spoken a non-Celtic language (the region went by the name of Vasocnia in late antiquity and Basque would likely have been more extensively spoken in the early historical period.

The tribes described as Aquitani included the Vastones, Volcates, Elusates, Sotiates and Ausci. Other tribes of the western Pyrenees either described as Aquitani or Vasconi were the Tarbelli on the coast of Landes, the Sibuzates (Siburates?), the Bigerriones, and the Conveni. The Boii (Boiates?) Tarusates and Tolosates were also on or abround the borders of Aquitania

According to Strabo, the Aquitani were a wealthy people. There is ample archaeological evidence to show that the Aude - Carcassonne Gap - Garonne route was a major channel for trade and communication in the late fourth centruy BC when the Greek explorer Pytheas of Massillia described a journey from the bay of Biscay to Britain and islands even further north. It is probable that he was folloing a tin trading route possibly one avoiding the straights of Gibraltar then under the control of the Carthaginians who discouraged Greek shipping.

Luerius, the King of the Arverni and the father of Bituitus who warred against Maximus Aemilianus and Dometius, is said to have been so exceptionally rich and extravagant that he once rode on a carriage through a plain, scattering gold and silver coins here and there.[3]

The Romans called the tribal groups pagi. These were organized into larger super-tribal groups that the Romans called civitates. These administrative groupings were later taken over by the Romans in their system of local control. Following the Roman conquest of Gaul Augustus extended the northern boundary od the Province of Aquitania to the River Loire (Gallic - Liger, silt alluvium).



Please pardon all the mess. We're in the process of reorganizing our Region of "Gaul" so that it will work with the Neighborhood Project. Yes, you will soon be able to buy a home in Gaul... just as in the rest of Celtia.