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The Development of Celtic Mercenaries
An Anthropological Approach
Series: - Mnemosyne, Supplements, Volume: 502
- Mnemosyne, Supplements, History and Archaeology of Classical Antiquity, Volume: 502
Author:
This book explores the determining factors of Celtic mercenarism through a multidimensional approach, going beyond traditional stereotypes. Through a rigorous analysis of ancient sources and an anthropological perspective, it sheds light on the warrior culture and patronage system of Celtic societies. Contrary to the idea of mercenarism linked to poverty, the engagement of warriors was often motivated by elitist aspirations and the quest for prestige. By also examining property structures, succession, the ver sacrum, migrations, and political crises, the book offers new perspectives on the social and economic dynamics influencing the development of mercenarism.
Luc Baray, research director at the CNRS, has published several syntheses on armed conflicts in Celtic societies, including De Carthage à Jéricho. Mythes et réalités du mercenariat celtique (2017), Les Celtes dâHannibal (2019) et Les guerres celtiques (2024).
Acknowledgments
1 Introduction
â1âResearch Objectives
â2âMethodology
â3âInternal Structure of the Study
â4âCelts and Germans
â5ââCeltsâ, âGaulsâ, or âGalatiansâ
â6âCeltic Societies
â7âAncient Literary Sources
â8âArchaeological Sources
Introduction to Part 1
2 Celtic Societies, Warrior Societies
â1âWar as a structuring phenomenon
â2âCelts as âwar kingsâ
3 The Celtic âThirst for Spoilsâ or the Social Importance of Wealth
â1âThe Celts at war, or âwarring for bootyâ
â2âBooty and tribute as the main sources of aristocratic enrichment
Introduction to Part 2
4 Gift and the Aristocracyâs Client Policy or the Manifestation of its Omnipotence
â1âGifts and social hierarchisation
â2âA multipolar sovereignty or the omnipotence of patrons as against the weakness of the state
5 The Client System and Warrior Comradeship
â1âClients more Gallorum and Celtic warrior comradeship
â2âDomestic warriors and private armies
â3âFrom domestic warriors to mercenaries
Introduction to Part 3
6 What was the Role of Poverty and Overpopulation in the Phenomenon of Mercenarism?
â1âWas poverty the triggering factor of mercenarism?
â2âWas overpopulation at the origin of migrations and mercenary enlistments?
â3âVer sacrum as a possible source of mercenarism?
7 The Migrations
â1âStaseis and proscriptions
â2âNegotiated migrations
â3âMigrations and geostrategic relationships
â4âWas mercenarism the cause of migratory movements?
Introduction to Part 4
8 A Critical Approach
â1âThe two hypotheses used in the classic interpretation of Celtic land ownership
â2âLooking for a compromise with an insignificant heuristic impact: the French case
â3âCollective and individual land ownership: the Spanish case
â4âA critique of classic interpretations: collectivism versus individualism or the idea that the notion of collective ownership was linked to primitivism
â5âNew proposals for a reading of ancient sources: a theoretical approach
9 Modes of Access to Land and the Celtic Client System
â1âThe foundations of the client system
â2âThe implications of the client system
â3âMigrations and the quest for new lands
Introduction to Part 5
10 Patrilinear Filiation from the Seventh to the Fourth century BCE: The Meaning of an Evolution
â1âThe impact of socioeconomic and sociopolitical contexts on the mobility of goods and peoples
â2âThe Impact of Inheritance Practices on the Mobility of Goods and Peoples
11 Undifferentiated Filiation, Inheritance and Matrimonial Practices in the Last Three Centuries BCE
â1âKinship and undifferentiated filiation
â2âThe impact of equal inheritance practices on the mobility of goods and peoples
12 The Sociological Implications of Celtic Mercenary Enlistments Abroad
â1âTowards a typology of Celtic mercenaries
â2âA rather limited demographic impact: the impossible reckoning
â3âThe improbable return of mercenaries to their homeland
13 Conclusions
Appendix 1: âCelticaâ/âCeltsâ, âGalatiansâ, âGaulsâ
Appendix 2: Literary Sources
Bibliography
Index
1 Introduction
â1âResearch Objectives
â2âMethodology
â3âInternal Structure of the Study
â4âCelts and Germans
â5ââCeltsâ, âGaulsâ, or âGalatiansâ
â6âCeltic Societies
â7âAncient Literary Sources
â8âArchaeological Sources
Part 1 A Culture of Warfare
Introduction to Part 1
2 Celtic Societies, Warrior Societies
â1âWar as a structuring phenomenon
â2âCelts as âwar kingsâ
3 The Celtic âThirst for Spoilsâ or the Social Importance of Wealth
â1âThe Celts at war, or âwarring for bootyâ
â2âBooty and tribute as the main sources of aristocratic enrichment
Part 2 Warlike and Socioeconomic Genesis of Celtic Mercenarism
Introduction to Part 2
4 Gift and the Aristocracyâs Client Policy or the Manifestation of its Omnipotence
â1âGifts and social hierarchisation
â2âA multipolar sovereignty or the omnipotence of patrons as against the weakness of the state
5 The Client System and Warrior Comradeship
â1âClients more Gallorum and Celtic warrior comradeship
â2âDomestic warriors and private armies
â3âFrom domestic warriors to mercenaries
Part 3 Mercenarism and Population Movements
Introduction to Part 3
6 What was the Role of Poverty and Overpopulation in the Phenomenon of Mercenarism?
â1âWas poverty the triggering factor of mercenarism?
â2âWas overpopulation at the origin of migrations and mercenary enlistments?
â3âVer sacrum as a possible source of mercenarism?
7 The Migrations
â1âStaseis and proscriptions
â2âNegotiated migrations
â3âMigrations and geostrategic relationships
â4âWas mercenarism the cause of migratory movements?
Part 4 The Celtic Structure of Land Ownership
Introduction to Part 4
8 A Critical Approach
â1âThe two hypotheses used in the classic interpretation of Celtic land ownership
â2âLooking for a compromise with an insignificant heuristic impact: the French case
â3âCollective and individual land ownership: the Spanish case
â4âA critique of classic interpretations: collectivism versus individualism or the idea that the notion of collective ownership was linked to primitivism
â5âNew proposals for a reading of ancient sources: a theoretical approach
9 Modes of Access to Land and the Celtic Client System
â1âThe foundations of the client system
â2âThe implications of the client system
â3âMigrations and the quest for new lands
Part 5 Kinship, Filiation System, Inheritance, and Matrimonial Practices
Introduction to Part 5
10 Patrilinear Filiation from the Seventh to the Fourth century BCE: The Meaning of an Evolution
â1âThe impact of socioeconomic and sociopolitical contexts on the mobility of goods and peoples
â2âThe Impact of Inheritance Practices on the Mobility of Goods and Peoples
11 Undifferentiated Filiation, Inheritance and Matrimonial Practices in the Last Three Centuries BCE
â1âKinship and undifferentiated filiation
â2âThe impact of equal inheritance practices on the mobility of goods and peoples
12 The Sociological Implications of Celtic Mercenary Enlistments Abroad
â1âTowards a typology of Celtic mercenaries
â2âA rather limited demographic impact: the impossible reckoning
â3âThe improbable return of mercenaries to their homeland
13 Conclusions
Appendix 1: âCelticaâ/âCeltsâ, âGalatiansâ, âGaulsâ
Appendix 2: Literary Sources
Bibliography
Index
This book will be of interest to researchers, postgraduate students, and libraries in history, archaeology, anthropology, and Celtic studies, as well as specialists in socioeconomic systems and warrior cultures.