The Saevates were an ancient tribe living in the Alpine province of Noricum in Roman times. Together with the Laianci, they formed a joint administrative unit known as Civitas Saevatum et Laiancorum.

Name

The name Saevates is attested in two ancient forms: Seoúakes (Σεούακες) in Ptolemy's Geography (2, 13, 2) and civitas Saevatum et Laioncorum on the Iulium Carnicum tablet (CIL 5, 1838).^[1] These two forms are considered incompatible with one another.^[1] They also appear in an inscription from Magdalensberg (Carinthia) honouring members of the family of the emperor Augustus, dedicated by the Noric peoples between 10 and 9 BC.^[2]

G. R. Isaac analyses the Ptolemaic form as deriving from *seuo-ak-, but offers no further elucidation. The etymology therefore remains obscure.^[1]

Territory

The original settlement area of the Saevates was located in the Puster Valley, extending into the Aurina Valley and Val Badia. The Civitas Saevatum et Laiancorum as a whole encompassed the Drava valley as far as Oberdrauburg, the valley floor around Lienz, the Puster Valley, and its lateral valleys up to the heights above the Rienza and Isarco rivers.^[2]

History

Prior to Roman annexation of Noricum, traders and their descendants from northern Italy may already have settled in trading posts (emporia) on the territory of the Laianci and Saevates.^[3] By the time of Roman annexation, a sufficient number of inhabitants of the joint territory already possessed an adequate level of Romanisation and at least Italic rights, from whom Aguntum could draw its town council and magistrates.^[4]

Following annexation, the Roman settlement archaeologically documented near S. Lorenzo, identified as Sebatum in the Antonine Itinerary, served as the principal settlement area of the Saevates.^[2]

Epigraphic evidence indicates that Aguntum held the rank and title of municipium Claudium. Following the foundation of this city, the civitas Saevatum et Laiancorum ceased to exist as an autonomous administrative entity. The entire settlement territory of both tribes was assigned as an administrative district to the newly constituted municipium. The territory of the Saevates was thus administratively subordinated to Aguntum, though Sebatum is not considered to have been reduced to the status of a mere road station (mansio).^[5]

References