Ambicatus

Ambicatus, also Ambigatus, according to the Roman historian Livy, was a Celtic king of the tribe of Bituriges ( " world king " ), said to have been overall King of Gaul at the same time.

Migrations of Bituriges

According to Livy's Ab urbe condita libri work CXLII Ambicatus prevailed at the time of the legendary Roman king Lucius Tarquinius Priscus in the early 6th century BC Livy mentions Ambicatus in the founding legend Mediolanums and reported that Ambicatus because of the overcrowding of his territory to the gods for advice 've interviewed. After the arbitration order, the two sons of his sister Bellovesus Segovesus and then were each sent a part of his own as well as some of friendly tribes to conquer new residential areas. Bellovesus had moved to Italy, in the later so-called province of Cisalpine Gaul, Segovesus in the territory of the Hercynian forest.

In addition to the Bituriges the Aulerker and Cenomani should have left their homes. A tribal cross kingship is not attested outside of this narrative in Livy otherwise.

The emission of both maternal nephew by Ambicatus is sometimes seen as a sign of a matrilineal among the Celts (see Celtic Women # matrilineal ).

The origin of this story is probably a myth of the northern Italian Celts, a historical background for this could not be determined yet.

Etymology of the name

The first part of the name comes from the Gallic ambi ( " around " ), the second element - catus is identical with Old Irish cath ( "struggle" ) and corresponds to the Germanic name element hathu, hadu - etc. The whole name with the approximate meaning " round fight " has an etymologically exact counterpart in ailtirisch Imchath.