Bituriges Cubi


The Bituriges Cubi were a Gallic tribe dwelling around their oppidum Avaricum. Their territory corresponds to the former province of Berry.

Name

They are mentioned as Bituriges by Caesar, as Bitoúriges oi̔ Kou͂boi and Koúbois Bitoúrixi by Strabo, as Bituriges... qui Cubi appellantur by Pliny, and as Bitoúriges oi̔ Kou͂boi by Ptolemy.
The name Bituriges means 'kings of the world', stemming from the Gaulish root bitu- attached to riges.
The city of Bourges, attested as civitas Biturigum ca. 400 CE, and the region of Berry, attested as pagus Biturigus in 860, are named after the Gallic tribe.

History

Early in the 1st century BCE, they had been one of the main Gallic tribes, especially in terms of druids and their political influence. But they soon declined in power as the druids were an important target for Julius Caesar in his conquest of Gaul. What is more, the fact that Avaricum was the only Celtic city that Vercingetorix did not burn, contrary to his scorched earth strategy, upon the approach of Caesar's legions is another proof of the political importance of the Bituriges.
Eventually, the town was to be buried by the Roman legions.
Besides Avaricum or Mediolanum on the road from Paris and Orléans to Arvernum, Argentomagus, Déols or Levroux on the road from Toulouse to Paris were other oppidums of the Bituriges.
This is one of several tribes which seem to have split, with the Bituriges Cubi lived near Bourges/Berry and the Bituriges Vivisci near Burdigala.
They joined Bellovesus' migrations towards Italy, together with the Aedui, Ambarri, Arverni, Aulerci, Carnutes and Senones.

Motto

A passage from Livy,, "summa imperii penes Biturges", meaning "all the power in the hands of the Bituriges", has become the motto of the city of Bourges.