Ancalites refers to a Celtic tribe living in and around the Thames Valley area. There is little evidence for their ever having existed, beyond the writings of Julius Caesar's "De Bello Gallico" (The Gallic War)[[1]]. There is some small evidence that the Ancalites inhabited the area around Henley, Oxfordshire;[[2]], and the Wiltshire tourist board claim them amongst their own ethnic ancestory, which would significantly increase their territory, but without archeaological evidence, none of this can really be quantified. A Celtic cross. ... The Thames Valley is generally the region that drains into the River Thames, England, but is used in a more specific term by the government. ... A bust of Julius Caesar. ... De Bello Gallico (literally On the Gallic Wars in Latin) is an account written by Julius Caesar about his nine years of war in Gaul. ... De Bello Gallico (literally On the Gallic Wars in Latin) is an account written by Julius Caesar about his nine years of war in Gaul. ... Map sources for Henley-on-Thames at grid reference SU7682 Henley-on-Thames from by the playground near the Rail Station A Hill near Henley-on-Thames Henley-on-Thames is a town on the north side of the River Thames in South Oxfordshire, England, about 10 miles downstream and... Oxfordshire (abbreviated Oxon, from Latin Oxonia) is a county in south-east England, bordering on Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, and Warwickshire. ... Wiltshire (abbreviated Wilts) is a large southern English county. ... Importance and applicability Most of human history is not described by any written records. ...

Invasion and Surrender

Julius Caesar made his second invasion of Britannia in 54bc, although seen as a success, the Roman army only reached as far as modern day Greater London and did not really impose their authority. The Roman army had invaded on a pretext of offering aide to their ally, King Mandubracius of the Trinovantes, after King Cassivellaunus had deposed him. King Cassivellaunos of the Catuvellauni was the main opposition to Roman occupation, organising guerilla raids and open battles. This split the Thames Valley in two, as Caesar records. Principal sites in Roman Britain Roman Britain refers to those parts of the island of Great Britain controlled by the Roman Empire between 43 and 410 CE. The Romans referred to their province as Britannia. ... Events October 13 - Roman Empire emperor Claudius dies after being poisoned by Agrippina, his wife and niece. ... See also Roman Republic (18th century) and Roman Republic (19th century). ... Greater London is the top level administrative subdivision covering London, England. ... Mandubracius or Mandubratius was a king of the Trinovantes of south-eastern Britain in the 1st century BC. His father, named Imanuentius in some manuscripts of Julius Caesars De Bello Gallico, was overthrown and killed by the warlord Cassivellaunus some time before Caesars second expedition to Britain in... The Trinovantes or Trinobantes were one of the Celtic tribes that dwelt in pre-Roman Britain. ... Cassivellaunus was a historical British chieftain who led the defence against Julius Caesars second expedition to Britain in 54 BC. He also appears in British legend as one of Geoffrey of Monmouths kings of Britain, and in the Mabinogion and Welsh Triads as Caswallawn, Caswallon or Kaswallawn, son... The Catuvellaunii (meaning probably good in battle) were one of the Celtic tribes living in the British Isles, before the Roman invasion of Britain. ...

Five emissaries arrived at the Roman camp with proposals of peace, though how much of a distiction the Romans made between peace and surrender is unclear. The Romans did demand hostages, this would ensure the loyalty of the tribes, but the Ancalites are recorded as providing none.

Julius Caesar notes the other tribes as Cenimagni (later identified with the Iceni), Segontiaci (identifiable with a Welsh tribe), Cassi (thought to be a rebel constituent of the Catuvellauni; which may have originally been named the Cassi) and the Bibroci, who are as yet unknown. These tribes all surrendered at the same time as the the Ancalites, which displays the factionalism inherent in Celtic Britain. The Iceni or Eceni were a Brythonic tribe who inhabited roughly modern-day Norfolk circa 1st century BC to 1st century AD. The territory of the Iceni approximated to the borders of modern-day Norfolk. ... The Welsh are a Celtic ethnic group primarily associated with Wales and the Welsh language. ... A political faction is presently an informal grouping of individuals, especially within a political organisation, such as a political party, a trade union, or other group with some kind of political purpose (referred to in this article as the “broader organisation”). It may also be referred to as a...

Absorbsion

When the Romans left Britannia after defeating the Cattuvallauni around present Central London, the Ancalites would have found themselves without allies. Their homeland was on the border with Catevaullauni, Trinovantes and Atrebates' territories; arguably three of the most powerful Celtic kingdoms in Britain and it is highly likely that they were absorbed by one of them, probably the Cattuvellauni after Cassivellaunos great drive for exapansion after 55bc. After this time there is certainly no mention of them. Principal sites in Roman Britain Roman Britain refers to those parts of the island of Great Britain controlled by the Roman Empire between 43 and 410 CE. The Romans referred to their province as Britannia. ... Charing Cross is taken as Londons most central place when measuring distances. ... The Atrebates (meaning settlers) were a Belgic tribe of Gaul and Britain before the Roman conquests. ... For other uses, see number 55. ...

Name

The Ancalites' name is interesting and, like many other names, may shed light on them as a people. It possibly refers to the preferred type of defensive shield for the people of the south-east in particular, perhaps especially noticed in the emissaries of this tribe. Ancali refers to a small, round buckler.- Statue showing a Gallic shield with a butterfly boss. ... A buckler (French bouclier shield, from old French bocle, boucle boss) is a small shield gripped in the fist -- it was generally used in hand-to-hand combat during the Middle Ages, as its size made it poor protection against missile weapons (e. ...

See also

List of Celtic tribes This is a list of Celtic tribes with their geographical localization. ...