Cananefates

Cananefaten ( obsolete spelling: Kaninefaten, Can ( n ) inefaten ) were a West Germanic tribe that lived to the west of the Batavians, in the area of present-day Holland. The interpretation of the name as " rabbit setter " or " catcher " is popular etymology and very doubtful. They gave their name to the Dutch territory of Kennemerland.

The City Forum Hadriani (today Voorburg ) lay at the heart of their residential area. She was part of the Civitas Cananefaten, as is apparent from the official name of the city: municipium Aelium Cananefatium.

History

The Cananefaten were their allies in the Bataveraufstand under Julius Civilis ( AD 69 ). The earliest mention of the tribe refers to an ala Caninefas, a cananefatische rider unit in Roman service. This unit fought 28 AD against the Frisians, who had risen because of excessive taxes against the Roman Empire. From the report of Tacitus about the fighting can be concluded that the Cananefaten suffered heavy losses; many died in the vicinity of the fortified Roman port facility Flevum ( Velsen ) and the Forest of Baduhenna. The Frisians were able to fend off the attack of the Cananefaten, including the fact that the Romans could not properly coordinate the deployment of troops.

The latest report on the Cananefaten dates from the 4th century; they are mentioned in an encyclopaedic writing, the Cosmographia of Julius Honorius. However, this mention has little significance for the history of the Netherlands, because it is probably taken from other, earlier sources. Thus, the recent proof of use of the name of Cananefaten by the milestone of Rijswijk is delivered. This comes from the middle of the 3rd century and termed as caput viae ( " distance Commencement Date"): [C ( IVITAS ) ] CANANEFATV (m) AB [ (HADR iani ) ] F ( oro ).

These examples are not an exhaustive list of sources in which the Cananefaten be mentioned. The name comes not only from in literary and historical and encyclopedic writings, but also in military diplomas. About a dozen of these diplomata militaria not only provide clear that mentioned by Tacitus Rider Department at least to the early 3rd century remained in function, but also that the Cananefaten were object of the screening of a cohort (unit of infantry). It may be assumed that the men of these two units were actually Cananefaten and that the units were named after the ethnic origin of their members. Until Bataveraufstand they were even aristocratic members of their own tribe.

For the 2nd and 3rd centuries the cananefatische ancestry is far less secure, because even in the regions where the units were actually stationed men were enlisted. For the units originally cananefatischen these were after Bataveraufstand far away from their homeland: in the provinces Germania superior, Porolissensis Dacia, Pannonia Superior and Mauretania Caesariensis ( in North Africa).