Bituriges Vivisci


The Bituriges Vivisci were one of the tribes of Gaul. The tribe's capital was in Burdigala, modern-day Bordeaux. The Vivisci traded wine which they produced themselves. Whether there was any link to the Bituriges Cubi of the Berry region is not known.

Name

They are mentioned as Bitourígōn te tō͂n Ou̓iouískōn by Strabo, as Bituriges liberi cognomine Vivisci by Pliny, and as Bitoúrges oi̔ Ou̓ibískoi by Ptolemy.
The name Bituriges means 'kings of the world', stemming from the Gaulish root bitu- attached to riges.

Geography

According to Strabo their territory was surrounded by that of the Aquitanian people, but the Bituriges Vivisci were not themselves Aquitanian and took no part in their political affairs.

History

Some believe that the Bituriges Vivisci and the Bituriges Cubi once made up one single tribe, but seemed to have fallen apart, with the Vivisci staying in Burdigala, and the Cubi founding a new capital, Avaricum in the Berry region. The latter defended Avaricum against the Roman armies under Julius Caesar, who destroyed the town and its inhabitants.