Olcades
Encyclopedia
The Olcades were an ancient stock-raising pre-Roman
people from Hispania
that lived to the west of the Turboletae
in the southeastern fringe of the Iberian system mountains.
and Carpetani
, the Olcades appear to have been a mix of indigenous Iberians
under the rule of an aristocracy
of Gallic
origin. It is believed that the latter sprang out from the Volcae Tectosages of southern Gaul
, who arrived to Iberia
in the wake of the Celtic migrations of the 4th Century BC.
province, along the southern tip of Guadalajara
and the western fringe of Valencia provinces, where their capital Cartala (Los Villares
, near Caudete de las Fuentes
; Iberian
-type mint: Kelin) – also designated Althea, Altaia or Altia by some Greek
authors – was sited. Other Olcades’ towns were Caesada (Hita de Guadalajara; Iberian-type mint: Kaisesa?) and Laxta (Iniesta?).
, Phoenicia
n, Etruscan
and Greek
traders; indeed, they are considered to have been responsible for the cultural ‘Iberianization’ of neighbouring Celtiberia and Carpetania
during the 2nd Iron Age
.
troops to his army; the Greek
historian Polybius
lists them among the Iberian troops sent by him as reinforcements to Africa
in 218 BC. After Hannibal’s departure to Italy
, however, they switched sides and fought as roman allies for the remainer of the conflict. Despite being included in Hispania Citerior
province in 156–154 BC by the Romans, the Olcades nonetheless seemed to have remained loyal allies of Rome
, subsequently fighting off successfully the attacks of the Lusitani under Viriathus
in the mid-2nd Century BC.
colony
of Valeria
(Las Valeras
– Cuenca
) in 92 BC on Olcadian territory but they also divided it among its own Edetani
and Celtiberian
allies, forcing the Olcades to merge with the latter.
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
people from Hispania
Hispania
Another theory holds that the name derives from Ezpanna, the Basque word for "border" or "edge", thus meaning the farthest area or place. Isidore of Sevilla considered Hispania derived from Hispalis....
that lived to the west of the Turboletae
Turboletae
The Turboletae or 'Turboleti' were an obscure pre-Roman people from ancient Spain, which lived in the northwest Teruel province since the early 3rd Century BC.- Origins :...
in the southeastern fringe of the Iberian system mountains.
Origins
Related with both the CeltiberiansCeltiberians
The Celtiberians were Celtic-speaking people of the Iberian Peninsula in the final centuries BC. The group used the Celtic Celtiberian language.Archaeologically, the Celtiberians participated in the Hallstatt culture in what is now north-central Spain...
and Carpetani
Carpetani
The Carpetani were one of the Celtic pre-Roman peoples of the Iberian Peninsula , akin to the Celtiberians, dwelling in the central part of the meseta - the high central upland plain of the Iberian peninsula.-Location:They inhabited since the 5th Century BC the Toledo and Alcaraz highland ranges...
, the Olcades appear to have been a mix of indigenous Iberians
Iberians
The Iberians were a set of peoples that Greek and Roman sources identified with that name in the eastern and southern coasts of the Iberian peninsula at least from the 6th century BC...
under the rule of an aristocracy
Aristocracy
Aristocracy , is a form of government in which a few elite citizens rule. The term derives from the Greek aristokratia, meaning "rule of the best". In origin in Ancient Greece, it was conceived of as rule by the best qualified citizens, and contrasted with monarchy...
of Gallic
Gauls
The Gauls were a Celtic people living in Gaul, the region roughly corresponding to what is now France, Belgium, Switzerland and Northern Italy, from the Iron Age through the Roman period. They mostly spoke the Continental Celtic language called Gaulish....
origin. It is believed that the latter sprang out from the Volcae Tectosages of southern Gaul
Gaul
Gaul was a region of Western Europe during the Iron Age and Roman era, encompassing present day France, Luxembourg and Belgium, most of Switzerland, the western part of Northern Italy, as well as the parts of the Netherlands and Germany on the left bank of the Rhine. The Gauls were the speakers of...
, who arrived to Iberia
Iberia
The name Iberia refers to three historical regions of the old world:* Iberian Peninsula, in Southwest Europe, location of modern-day Portugal and Spain** Prehistoric Iberia...
in the wake of the Celtic migrations of the 4th Century BC.
Location
They occupied since the 4th century BC most of the modern CuencaCuenca (province)
Cuenca is a province of central Spain, in the eastern part of the autonomous community of Castile-La Mancha.-Guide to the area:Located in a natural setting of beauty, the Old Town of Cuenca occupies a superb site between two river gorges. Famous are its 15th Century "hanging houses" , that appear...
province, along the southern tip of Guadalajara
Guadalajara
Guadalajara may refer to:In Mexico:*Guadalajara, Jalisco, the capital of the state of Jalisco and second largest city in Mexico**Guadalajara Metropolitan Area*University of Guadalajara, a public university in Guadalajara, Jalisco...
and the western fringe of Valencia provinces, where their capital Cartala (Los Villares
Los Villares
Los Villares is a city located in the province of Jaén, Spain. According to the 2005 census , the city has a population of 5289 inhabitants....
, near Caudete de las Fuentes
Caudete de las Fuentes
Caudete de las Fuentes is a municipality in the comarca of Requena-Utiel in the Valencian Community, Spain....
; Iberian
Iberians
The Iberians were a set of peoples that Greek and Roman sources identified with that name in the eastern and southern coasts of the Iberian peninsula at least from the 6th century BC...
-type mint: Kelin) – also designated Althea, Altaia or Altia by some Greek
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
authors – was sited. Other Olcades’ towns were Caesada (Hita de Guadalajara; Iberian-type mint: Kaisesa?) and Laxta (Iniesta?).
Culture
Archeological evidence recovered from local cemeteries such as Buenache and Olmedilla de Alarcán indicates that the Olcades´ culture was strongly influenced by contacts with southern IberianIberians
The Iberians were a set of peoples that Greek and Roman sources identified with that name in the eastern and southern coasts of the Iberian peninsula at least from the 6th century BC...
, Phoenicia
Phoenicia
Phoenicia , was an ancient civilization in Canaan which covered most of the western, coastal part of the Fertile Crescent. Several major Phoenician cities were built on the coastline of the Mediterranean. It was an enterprising maritime trading culture that spread across the Mediterranean from 1550...
n, Etruscan
Etruscan civilization
Etruscan civilization is the modern English name given to a civilization of ancient Italy in the area corresponding roughly to Tuscany. The ancient Romans called its creators the Tusci or Etrusci...
and Greek
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
traders; indeed, they are considered to have been responsible for the cultural ‘Iberianization’ of neighbouring Celtiberia and Carpetania
Carpetania
Carpetania was an ancient region of what is today Spain, located between the Guadarrama, the mountains of Toledo, the river Guadiana and the mountain range of Alcaraz, including approximately, the present independent communities of Madrid and Castile. It was inhabited by the Carpetanos, a pre-Roman...
during the 2nd Iron Age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
.
History
Submitted to Carthaginian rule by Hannibal just prior to the 2nd Punic War, the Olcades were subsequently forced to contribute mercenaryMercenary
A mercenary, is a person who takes part in an armed conflict based on the promise of material compensation rather than having a direct interest in, or a legal obligation to, the conflict itself. A non-conscript professional member of a regular army is not considered to be a mercenary although he...
troops to his army; the Greek
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
historian Polybius
Polybius
Polybius , Greek ) was a Greek historian of the Hellenistic Period noted for his work, The Histories, which covered the period of 220–146 BC in detail. The work describes in part the rise of the Roman Republic and its gradual domination over Greece...
lists them among the Iberian troops sent by him as reinforcements to Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
in 218 BC. After Hannibal’s departure to Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, however, they switched sides and fought as roman allies for the remainer of the conflict. Despite being included in Hispania Citerior
Hispania Citerior
During the Roman Republic, Hispania Citerior was a region of Hispania roughly occupying the northeastern coast and the Ebro Valley of what is now Spain. Hispania Ulterior was located west of Hispania Citerior—that is, farther away from Rome.-External links:*...
province in 156–154 BC by the Romans, the Olcades nonetheless seemed to have remained loyal allies of Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, subsequently fighting off successfully the attacks of the Lusitani under Viriathus
Viriathus
Viriathus was the most important leader of the Lusitanian people that resisted Roman expansion into the regions of Western Hispania , where the Roman province of Lusitania would be established...
in the mid-2nd Century BC.
Romanization
They kept themselves independent until the late 2nd or early 1st Centuries BC when, for unclear reasons, they were dispossessed of their tribal lands by Rome. Not only the romans set up the militaryMilitary
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
colony
Colony
In politics and history, a colony is a territory under the immediate political control of a state. For colonies in antiquity, city-states would often found their own colonies. Some colonies were historically countries, while others were territories without definite statehood from their inception....
of Valeria
Valeria
Valeria or Valéria is a female given name dating back to the Latin verb valere. The male version is Valerius, Valerio or Valery. Valeria is also connected to the same root with the name, "Valentine," and "Valerian," or "Valeriana officinalis," the herb...
(Las Valeras
Las Valeras
Las Valeras is a municipality located in the province of Cuenca, Castile-La Mancha, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 1,399 inhabitants....
– Cuenca
Cuenca, Spain
-History:When the Iberian peninsula was part of the Roman Empire there were several important settlements in the province, such as Segóbriga, Ercávica and Gran Valeria...
) in 92 BC on Olcadian territory but they also divided it among its own Edetani
Edetani
The Edetani were an ancient Iberian people of the Iberian peninsula . They are believed to have spoken a form of the Iberian language.-External links:*...
and Celtiberian
Celtiberians
The Celtiberians were Celtic-speaking people of the Iberian Peninsula in the final centuries BC. The group used the Celtic Celtiberian language.Archaeologically, the Celtiberians participated in the Hallstatt culture in what is now north-central Spain...
allies, forcing the Olcades to merge with the latter.