It is generally understood today that there are seven separate though related Celtic nations and tribes, all of which who are connected to one another by common history and culture. Many of these nations are resulting settlements of Celtic tribes in a history of diaspora. These seven nations respectively are:

 

Though we today consider these primary seven Celtic nations, it is generally understood that the Celtic peoples lived in looser formations such as tribes. Throughout Celtic history tribes have been known to embark on great migrations sweeping across vast territories in pursuit of better settlement opportunities out of situations of tribal rivalry, war, increasing need for more space, famine, disease, etc. So far, some 14 different Celtic tribes have been identified, primarily by Roman writers. These tribes respectively are:

Aedui	Helvetii	Boii	Nervii	Venetii	Averni	Scordisci
Durotriges	Iceni	Trinovantes	Eravisci	Volcae	Brigantes	Parisii

You may want to check out a map of Celtic tribes throughout Europe and the Mediterranean

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There is a great confusion among many people in that they confuse or equate different peoples of the past with various terms or use their names interchangeably. Consider this: All pears are fruit. -- No doubt. But are all fruit pears? -- Not necessarily. And this: Pears and grapes are both fruit, yet they are different and cannot be used interchangeably. The same applies to different ancient cultures and peoples. So who were the ancient peoples of the past?

Please click here to find out. (learn and know the differences)

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The Celts, at their peak, ranged from Ireland and Spain to Turkey; brief rundown, though incomplete, is given on some of the regions below:

The Celts and the Germans

The Greek traveller Pytheas mentions the Germans about 300 BC, but they do not enter history until the Teutons descend on Italy to be defeated by Marius at the end of the second century. The ancient Greeks before Pytheas assigned all lands now known as Germanic to the Celts. It is probable that at this time the Germans were a subject people of the Celts and had no separate political existence. The German language borrowed many words from Celtic. But two things the Germans would not take from the Celts were language and religion. This race-pride gave rise to the German uprising and fall of the Celtic Empire hundreds of years later. The German and Celtic deities have different names, and the burial rites were markedly different. The Germans burned their illustrious dead on pyres, the Celts (who buried their dead) regarded such as a humiliation to be used on criminals or slaves.

England, Scotland and Ireland

The name Britain derives from Celtic. The Greek author Pytheas called them the "Pretanic Isles" which derived from the inhabitants name for themselves, Pritani. This was mistranslated into Latin as "Brittania" or "Brittani". The Celts migrated to Ireland from Europe, conquering the original inhabitants. In clashes with the Romans around the River Clyde a tribe called the "Scotti" came to prominence. Later the Scotti moved from Northern Island to establish the Kingdom of Dalriada in Argyll, on the West coast of Scotland. From here the Scots expanded and supplanted the Picts, an Celtic people who arrived in Scotland earlier. Ireland was never invaded by the Romans and retains what is probably the language closest to the original Celtic, Irish Gaelic.

France

Modern France is a composite of many earlier peoples. The Celts settled there and the largest tribe, called the "Galli" by the Romans, gave their name to the region and people, the Gauls. The Gauls were heavily involved in the invasions of Northern Italy. When the Roman Empire expanded many of the Gaullish tribes fled, but some stayed and became Romanised, losing the Celtic language. Later a Germanic tribe, the Franks, invaded the area and settled. The Franks gave their name to the region but adopted the language and customs of the people. Thus France is a Celtic people, speaking a Romance language in a country with a Germanic name.

Belgium

Belgium is similar in situation to France. The dominant tribe, the Belgae, gave their name to the region. They were later conquered by the Romans.

Galatia

The Galatians of the New Testament of the Bible were a Celtic tribe that migrated through the Balkans. They pillaged as they moved and attacked, but were defeated by, the Greeks and eventually moved into Turkey, founding Galatia. They were destroyed and assimilated by the Turks early in the first millenium AD.

If you would like to visit some other websources that deal with Celtic Nations etc., please jump to my Celtic Nations links page.

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This webpage was created by Steven A. Culbreath E-mail me at saculbre@tampabay.rr.com Last revised: April 24, 2004