Ancient Italian Tribes — Ligurians

The Ligurians inhabited north-western Italy in the regions of current day Liguria and parts of Piedmont. They also extended into the part of current day France, Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur.

They were short of stature and known to be brave, strong and energetic. There is an open question as to were they, or did they mix with the Celts. They were a loose confederation of several peoples, the Inguani, Intemelii, Commoni, Euganei, Salyes, Tergesti and Trumplini ( I kid you not, but fascinating ).

To name but a few. To find all the Liguri tribes, or get more information I suggest you find the Ligurians here.

From about 2000 BC they controlled much of the Alpine areas in Italy, but were not prevalent in today’s Ligurian coastal strip. ( Interesting fact that my fatherline DNA points to the Italian Alpine Area ).

About 1000 BC The Orobii Tribe inhabit Bergamo, Como and Lecco and also Licini Forum and Parra. 

Around 600 BC it is thought they merge with Celtic immigrants from the Rhine and Danube parts of Eastern Europe, as they begin to migrate south across the Alps and into Italy.

In 400 BC the Celts are beginning to invade more of Northern Italy to gain the fertile lands.

In 205, Hannibal’s brother Mago lands in Liguria. And by 185 the Iguani tribe is at war with Rome. They lose six towns to Appius Claudius. Four years later they are attacked by Aemilius Paullusm. 

For the next 100 years or so, they are in constant battles with Rome. Eventually, during several campaigns in 25 BC, 16 BC and 15 BC forty-four Ligurian tribes are defeated by Augustus and in 5 BC a Roman monument is erected to mark the defeat and mark the boundary between Gaul and Italy.