Santones

The Santones (Latin SANTONES ) were a Celtic tribe in the region of the Lower Charente. Their tribal name is still in the name of the town of Saintes to find today ( in Roman times Mediolanum Santonum ). Strabo emphasizes the Celts and the Santones Bituriges midst of unkel matic " iberoiden " Aquitanian ethnic group ( Strabo IV, 2.1 ).

In Caesar ( bellum gallicum I, 10 ) an indication is found that the Helvetii in 58 BC were planning to immigrate to the "Land of SANTONES "

Also when setting up the Gallic relief army in 52 BC, which would free Vercingetorix in Alesia, the Santones were with a troop of 12,000 to Vice warriors called ( bellum gallicum VII, 75).

The cuculla or sagum, the Gallic hooded cloak, later Roman legionary costume, was called by the Santones birrus (the " Short " to me. Berr, mkymr. Byrr "short" ), from which French béret, " ( Basque ) Hat " and our beret come.

A Greek -influenced santo African gold coin and a similar silver coin from the 5th to the 1st century BC prove a local coinage of Santones.

Gold coin lapel

Silver coin