View source for Bracari

{{Short description|Ancient Celtic tribe}}
{{No footnotes|date=July 2023}}
[[File:Gallaeci_peoples_300BC.svg|thumb|Map of [[Gallaecia]] at about 300 BCE, with the Bracari at the bottom left.]]
[[File:Fonte do Ídolo Braga.jpg|thumb|upright=1.35|The ''[[Idol's Fountain|Fonte do Ídolo]]'', in [[Braga]].]]

The '''Bracari''' or '''Callaeci Bracari''' were an ancient [[Celt]]ic tribe of [[Gallaecia]], living in the northwest of modern [[Portugal]], in the province of [[Minho Province|Minho]], between the rivers [[Tâmega river|Tâmega]] and [[Cávado River|Cávado]]. After the conquest of the region  beginning in 136BC, the Romans established the [[Caesar Augustus|Augustan]] citadel of ''Bracara'',<ref>Plini, Natural History, book III, 28 “ Simili modo Bracarum XXIIII civitates CCLXXXV capitum, ex quibus praeter ipsos Bracaros, Bibali, Coelerni, Callaeci, Equaesi, Limici, Querquerni citra fastidium nominentur. “</ref> modern [[Braga]], in 20 BC. 

Neighbouring this people or tribe, to the south were the [[Gallaeci (Proper)|Gallaeci Proper]] or [[Gallaeci (Proper)|Callaeci]] (that gave the name to the larger tribal confederation of the same name - the [[Gallaeci]]) and the [[Narbasi]], to the north were the [[Luanci]], [[Nebisoci]] and [[Seurbi]], to the east were the [[Nemetati]] and the [[Lubaini]], to the west were the Atlantic coast. It is possible that the Celtic [[Nemetati]] were an allied tribe of the ''Bracari''. 

[[Appian]] wrote they were a very warlike people. According to him, The Bracari  [[Timeline of women in ancient warfare|women warrior]]s fought defending their town "never turning, never showing their backs or uttering a cry."<ref>[[Appian]], Iber. 73-74.</ref>

It has long been known that they spoke a [[Celtic languages|Celtic language]], as can be seen in the inscription dedicated to the goddess [[Nabia]] at Braga's ''Fonte do Ídolo'' ([[Portuguese language|Portuguese]] for the ''[[Idol's Fountain|Fountain of the Idol]]''), or in the name of their town ''[[Pre-Historic and Roman Ruins of Tongobriga|Tongobriga]]'' (in [[Marco de Canaveses]]).

The region was home to some native and notable citadels that fiercely resisted Roman rule and were besieged by the Romans. These were ''Lambriaca'', ''Avobriga'', and ''Cinania''. ''Lambriaca'' and ''Avobriga'' were located near the coast, probably near the river mouth of the [[Ave river]] where some citadels ruins are known.<ref>Ferreira da Silva, Armando Coelho (1999). «A Cultura Castreja no Norte de Portugal». ''Revista de Guimarães''. Volume especial - Actas do Congresso de Proto-História Europeia. pp. 111–132</ref> At the beginning of the 1st century, the [[Citânia de Briteiros]] was one of their main citadels and seat of the "consilium gentis". [[Cividade de Terroso]], near the Ave river mouth, shows archaeological signs of the Roman siege and conquest.  
[[File:Castro de Briteiros.jpg|thumb|Panoramic of [[Citânia de Briteiros]]]]
It was suggested that [[Citânia de Briteiros]] could be ancient ''Cinania''. However, this is not certain, as there were other citadels nearby, including [[Citânia de Sanfins]]. It is known that ''Cinania'' had luxuries and an iron ore mine, used for a surprise attack on the Roman camp.  

The goddess [[Nabia]] was very popular in the territory of the Callaici Bracari with several inscriptions, like the one at Braga's Fonte do Ídolo (Portuguese for Fountain of the Idol).<ref>Matos da Silva, Maria de Fátima (2019). «Decoração e simbolismo das pedras formosas dos balneários-sauna castrejos da Idade do Ferro: leituras possíveis». ''Vínculos de Historia''. '''8'''. pp. 191–215. ISSN 2254-6901</ref>

==See also==
* [[Castro culture]]
* [[Citânia de Briteiros]]
* [[Citânia de Sanfins]]
* [[Nemetati]]
* [[Pre-Roman peoples of the Iberian Peninsula]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}
*Coutinhas, José Manuel (2006), ''Aproximação à identidade etno-cultural dos Callaici Bracari'', Porto.
*Queiroga, Francisco (1992), ''War and Castros'', Oxford.
*Silva, Armando Coelho Ferreira da (1986), ''A Cultura Castreja'', Porto.

==External links==
{{Spoken Wikipedia|En-Bracari-article.oga|date=2018-11-10}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20040611215344/http://www.arqueotavira.com/Mapas/Iberia/Populi.htm Detailed map of the Pre-Roman Peoples of Iberia (around 200 BC)]

{{Pre-Roman peoples in Portugal}}
{{Portal bar|Portugal|Spain|Europe|Civilizations|History}}

[[Category:Tribes of Gallaecia]]
[[Category:Galician Celtic tribes]]
[[Category:History of Braga]]
[[Category:Ancient peoples of Portugal]]


{{Europe-ethno-group-stub}}
{{Portugal-hist-stub}}