bga_633015 - VENETI (Area of Vannes) Statère d'argent, classe IV

Veneti (Region Vannes)

(Second - first century BC)

The Veneti were a people who lived in Armorican current department of Morbihan and whose capital was Vannes. They were also good sailors than excellent traders and controlled both the tin trade its export between Britain and Rome. They had a powerful fleet and many coastal ports. The Venetians took the lead in the Armorican coalition that opposed Caesar in 57 BC They were submitted by Crassus. The following year, 56 BC, the Venetian fleet encountered that of Caesar, in the estuary of the Loire or in the Gulf of Morbihan and was completely destroyed. They sent a contingent of emergency to help clear besieged in Alesia Vercingetorix during the second revolt. After the War, the Venetians lost their political power, but retained an economic role, especially in trade relations with Britain. Caesar (Bg. II 34, III, 7, 9, 11, 16, 17, VII, 75). Livy (Ep. 104). Strabo (G. IV, 4, 1). Pliny (HN. IV, 107), Ptolemy (G. II, 8).