Cantabrian Wars
The Cantabrian Wars (29–19 BC) (Bellum Cantabricum), sometimes also referred to as the Cantabrian and Asturian Wars (Bellum Cantabricum et Asturicum), were the final stage of the two-century long Roman conquest of Hispania, in what today are the provinces of Cantabria, Asturias and León in northwestern Spain.
| Cantabrian Wars Bellum Cantabricum Cantabrian and Asturian Wars Bellum Cantabricum et Asturicum | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Roman conquest of the Iberian Peninsula | |||||||||
Territories of the Iberian Peninsula where the Cantabrian Wars took place | |||||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
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Astures Cantabri Gallaeci | Roman Empire | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
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Corocotta (Cantabri) Gausón (Astures) |
Caesar Augustus Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa Gaius Antistius Vetus Gaius Firmius | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
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70,000–100,000 (Based on pop. estimate) | 70,000–80,000 | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| Total | Heavy | ||||||||
| The casualties are unusual in that both the Roman army did not take prisoners, nor did the Celts allow themselves to be taken alive as slaves. The result was a massive slaughter of Cantabri and Astures at the end of the conflict. | |||||||||
During the reign of Emperor Augustus, Rome waged a bloody conflict against the Cantabri, the Astures and the Gallaeci still resisting Roman occupation, the last independent Celtic nations of Hispania. These warlike peoples fiercely resisted Roman domination; ten years of war and eight legions with their auxiliary troops – more than 50,000 soldiers in total – were needed to subdue the region.
Augustus moved to Segisama (modern Sasamon, Burgos) in 26 BC to supervise the campaign in person. The major fighting was completed in 19 BC, although there were minor rebellions until 16 BC and the Romans had to station two legions there for seventy more years.