Autonomy, martial culture and empire in eastern Gaul during the first century c.e

The case of the Helvetians

Bibliographic Data

ID10988381
AuthorsJohn Ma (0009-0006-3237-296X, Columbia University, corresponding author)
Year2026
Pages1-40
Publication date2026-02-11
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueThe Journal of Roman Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0075-4358 • E-ISSN: 1753-528X
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s0075435825100907
OpenAlexW7128549013
LanguageEN
References cited26

Thanks to the rich findings of Swiss archaeological practice, Tacitus’ narrative for the violent encounter between the Vitellian army and the Helvetians in 69 c.e. ( Hist. 1.67–9) can fruitfully be embedded in different material contexts from the late first century b.c.e. and the early first century c.e. (funerary practice, numismatic finds, military architecture, consumption, social relations). The resulting picture is that of the Helvetian civitas as a political community endowed with autonomy and state-like capacities within the Roman empire: militaria are the index of local militarism rather than auxiliary service. This model might be applied more widely within the western provinces and the Roman empire in general

Autonomy · Empire · Index (typography · Militarism · Narrative · Politics · Roman Empire · Twenty-First Century · Ancient and Medieval Archaeology Studies · Historical and Architectural Studies

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