Caraceni (tribe)
Encyclopedia
The Caraceni or Caricini or Carricini (Greek
: or ) were a tribe of the Samnites. According to Ptolemy
, they inhabited the most northern part of Samnium, bordering on the Peligni and the Frentani
; but more especially the upper valley of the Sagrus (modern Sangro). The only city that he assigns to them is Aufidena. Zonaras
describes them as possessing a town or stronghold, which was taken by the Roman
consuls Q. Gallus and C. Fabius with difficulty. Aufidena has been identified with the modern Castel di Sangro
, which seems, from the inscriptions and other remains discovered there, to have been an ancient town.
Their territory was delimited to north from that of the Frentani, to south from that one of the Pentri
, to east from that one of the Lucani
and, finally, to the west from that one of the Peligni. The tribe divided itself in two groups: the "Caricini supernates" (Carricini supernates), which occupied the northern part of their eastern region centered on the city of Juvanum
(whose remains are visible in the territory between the communes of Torricella Peligna
and Montenerodomo
) and the "Caricini infernates" (Carricini infernates), in the southern part, whose main center was Cluviae (whose ruins have been identified with those at Piano Laroma, a frazione
of the commune of Casoli
). This small community comprised part of the Samnite Confederation, the great antagonist of the Roman Republic
, against which it participated in the Samnite Wars
and the Social War. The territory of the Caraceni probably came to be occupied by the Romans in the course of the Second Samnite War (c. 310 BCE), and the people were gradually assimilated into the Roman state.
Pliny
(iii. 12. s. 17), describes a tribe called Carentini which that author seems to place among the Frentani, with the Caraceni, but distinct from them.
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
: or ) were a tribe of the Samnites. According to Ptolemy
Ptolemy
Claudius Ptolemy , was a Roman citizen of Egypt who wrote in Greek. He was a mathematician, astronomer, geographer, astrologer, and poet of a single epigram in the Greek Anthology. He lived in Egypt under Roman rule, and is believed to have been born in the town of Ptolemais Hermiou in the...
, they inhabited the most northern part of Samnium, bordering on the Peligni and the Frentani
Frentani
The Frentani were an ancient people of central Italy, occupying the tract on the east coast of the peninsula from the Apennines to the Adriatic, and from the frontiers of Apulia to those of the Marrucini. They were bounded on the west by the Samnites, with whom they were closely connected, and from...
; but more especially the upper valley of the Sagrus (modern Sangro). The only city that he assigns to them is Aufidena. Zonaras
Joannes Zonaras
Ioannes Zonaras was a Byzantine chronicler and theologian, who lived at Constantinople.Under Emperor Alexios I Komnenos he held the offices of head justice and private secretary to the emperor, but after Alexios' death, he retired to the monastery of St Glykeria, where he spent the rest of his...
describes them as possessing a town or stronghold, which was taken by the Roman
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....
consuls Q. Gallus and C. Fabius with difficulty. Aufidena has been identified with the modern Castel di Sangro
Castel di Sangro
Castel di Sangro is a city and comune of 6,109 people in the Province of L'Aquila, in Abruzzo, southern Italy. It is the central city of the Alto Sangro e Altopiano delle Cinque Miglia.-Geography:...
, which seems, from the inscriptions and other remains discovered there, to have been an ancient town.
Their territory was delimited to north from that of the Frentani, to south from that one of the Pentri
Pentri
The Pentri were a tribe of the Samnites, and apparently one of the most important of the subdivisions of that nation. Their capital city was Bovianum Undecumanorum The Pentri (Greek: ) were a tribe of the Samnites, and apparently one of the most important of the subdivisions of that nation. Their...
, to east from that one of the Lucani
Lucani
Lučani is a town and municipality located in the Dragačevo region within the Moravica District of Serbia . The population of the town is 3,425, while population of the municipality was 20,855....
and, finally, to the west from that one of the Peligni. The tribe divided itself in two groups: the "Caricini supernates" (Carricini supernates), which occupied the northern part of their eastern region centered on the city of Juvanum
Juvanum
Juvanum or Jovanum was one of the chief cities of the Caraceni, a tribe of Samnites, the ruins of which are located in the communes of Montenerodomo and Torricella Peligna, in province of Chieti, region of Abruzzo, Italy...
(whose remains are visible in the territory between the communes of Torricella Peligna
Torricella Peligna
Torricella Peligna is a comune and town in the Province of Chieti in the Abruzzo region of Italy.-External links:*...
and Montenerodomo
Montenerodomo
Montenerodomo is a comune and town in the Province of Chieti in the Abruzzo region of Italy, south-east of Rome....
) and the "Caricini infernates" (Carricini infernates), in the southern part, whose main center was Cluviae (whose ruins have been identified with those at Piano Laroma, a frazione
Frazione
A frazione , in Italy, is the name given in administrative law to a type of territorial subdivision of a comune; for other administrative divisions, see municipio, circoscrizione, quartiere...
of the commune of Casoli
Casoli
Casoli is a comune and town in the Province of Chieti in the Abruzzo region of Italy: it is situated on a foothill of the Majella mountain, at the base of which runs the Aventino River, tributary of the Sangro...
). This small community comprised part of the Samnite Confederation, the great antagonist of the Roman Republic
Roman Republic
The Roman Republic was the period of the ancient Roman civilization where the government operated as a republic. It began with the overthrow of the Roman monarchy, traditionally dated around 508 BC, and its replacement by a government headed by two consuls, elected annually by the citizens and...
, against which it participated in the Samnite Wars
Samnite Wars
The First, Second, and Third Samnite Wars, between the early Roman Republic and the tribes of Samnium, extended over half a century, involving almost all the states of Italy, and ended in Roman domination of the Samnites...
and the Social War. The territory of the Caraceni probably came to be occupied by the Romans in the course of the Second Samnite War (c. 310 BCE), and the people were gradually assimilated into the Roman state.
Pliny
Pliny the Elder
Gaius Plinius Secundus , better known as Pliny the Elder, was a Roman author, naturalist, and natural philosopher, as well as naval and army commander of the early Roman Empire, and personal friend of the emperor Vespasian...
(iii. 12. s. 17), describes a tribe called Carentini which that author seems to place among the Frentani, with the Caraceni, but distinct from them.