![Potin_aux_croisettes,_coiffure_aux_globules_frappé_par_les_Durocasses](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6a/Potin_aux_croisettes%2C_coiffure_aux_globules_frapp%C3%A9_par_les_Durocasses.jpg)
The Durocasses were a
Gallic tribe dwelling around present-day
Dreux during the
Roman period.
Name
They are mentioned ''Durocasis'' (
var. ''durocacasis'') on the ''
Itinerarium Antonini
The Antonine Itinerary ( la, Itinerarium Antonini Augusti, "The Itinerary of the Emperor Antoninus") is a famous ''itinerarium'', a register of the stations and distances along various roads. Seemingly based on official documents, possibly ...
'' (early 3rd c. AD), as ''Durocassio'' on the ''
Tabula Peutingeriana
' (Latin for "The Peutinger Map"), also referred to as Peutinger's Tabula or Peutinger Table, is an illustrated ' (ancient Roman road map) showing the layout of the '' cursus publicus'', the road network of the Roman Empire.
The map is a 13th-ce ...
'' (4–5th c. AD), and as ''Dorocas'' on
Merovingian
The Merovingian dynasty () was the ruling family of the Franks from the middle of the 5th century until 751. They first appear as "Kings of the Franks" in the Roman army of northern Gaul. By 509 they had united all the Franks and northern Gauli ...
coins.
['']Tabula Peutingeriana
' (Latin for "The Peutinger Map"), also referred to as Peutinger's Tabula or Peutinger Table, is an illustrated ' (ancient Roman road map) showing the layout of the '' cursus publicus'', the road network of the Roman Empire.
The map is a 13th-ce ...
'', 1:3.[, s.v. ''Durocasses''.]
The etymology of the
ethnonym ''Durocasses'' remains unclear. The meaning of the second element ''-casses'', attested in other Gaulish ethnonyms such as ''
Bodiocasses
The Bodiocasses or Baiocasses were an ancient Gallic tribe of the Roman period. They were a tribal division of the ''civitas'' of the Lexovii, in the Roman province of Gallia Lugdunensis.
Name
They are mentioned as ''Bodiocasses'' by Pliny (1 ...
'', ''
Sucasses'', ''
Tricasses
The Tricasses were a Gallic tribe dwelling on the upper Seine and the Aube rivers during the Roman period. Until the first century AD, they were probably reckoned among the Senones.
Name
They are mentioned as ''Tricasses'' by Pliny (1st c. AD ...
'', ''
Veliocasses
The Veliocasses or Velocasses (Gaulish: *''Weliocassēs'') were a Belgic or Gallic tribe of the La Tène and Roman periods, dwelling in the south of modern Seine-Maritime and in the north of Eure.
Name
They are mentioned as ''Veliocasses'' by ...
'', or ''
Viducasses
The Viducassēs (Gaulish: *''Uiducassēs/Widucassēs'') were a Gallic tribe dwelling in the modern Calvados department during the Iron Age and the Roman period.
Name
They are mentioned as ''Viducasses'' by Pliny (1st c. AD), and as ''Bidoukesà ...
'', has been debated, but it probably signifies '(curly) hair, hairstyle' (cf. Old Irish ''chass'' 'curl'), perhaps referring to a particular warrior coiffure.
The city of
Dreux, attested ca. 930 AD as ''Drocas'' (''Drewes'' in the 12th c.), is named after the Gallic tribe.
Economy
The production of coins by the Durocasses suggests that they benefited from some economic autonomy. Their wealth probably came from tolls collected on the inland water shipping on the
Eure river.
References
Bibliography
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{{Gallic peoples
Gauls