Iazyges - Nomads or Not?

[Nathan Ross]

The sarmatians in general are often described as an essentially nomadic people - but was this also true of the Iazyges, those living between the Danube and Dacia? They seem to have occupied the same rather constrained area for several centuries, despite an often fractious relationship with the Dacians to the east and the Romans to the south and west. They also had links (alliances, and presumably trade) with the Suebic Quadi and Marcomanni to the north-west. The land east of the Danube is mainly open plains, I believe, so well suited to a 'nomadic' herding lifestyle - but would the Iazyges still be living in this traditional way, travelling about in 'yurts', during the first two centuries AD, when they came into close contact with Rome? If not, what sort of society and settlement might there have been? Is there any evidence for agriculture or village communities in the region? The ability of Iazyge groups to relocate elsewhere (Pannonia, Italy, even Britain) suggests mobility, but does this imply that they were still fully nomadic during this period?

Thanks - Nathan

[Epictetus]

Interesting question. I always assumed they were nomads, but Ptolemy lists eight towns for them.

The towns in this Iazyges Metanastae region are

Uscenum 43*15 48°20
Bormanum 43*40 48°15
Abieta 43*40 48°00
Trissum 44*10 47°45
Parca 43*30 47°40
Candanum 44*00 47°20
Pessium 44*40 47°00
Partiscum 45*00 46°40

Ptolemy 3,7

[Alanus]

It might be best to describe the Iazyges (as opposed to My-sausages :lol: ) as pastoralist, rather than "nomadic." Ptolomy referred to "towns." Towns-- trading centers-- were also used by the earlier Scythians and again by the Bosphorus Kingdom Sarmatians. The Iazyges fall into Sarmatian Culture 4, the last one before the movements of Alani. There's a difference between pastoralists, who move short distances to find new grass for their livestock, and migratory tribes which range over greater distances in search of a new "homeland." Today's Monguls are typical pastoralists.

The Iazyges were culturally related to two other tribes, the names escape me, one of which comprised freed "slaves" (according to Roman sources) which were probably no more than "clients." (You probably already know this.) Iazyge culture changed at the end of the 2nd century when the Roxolani moved onto the Hungarian Plain; and both tribes, now intermixed, were given the designation of "Sarmatians," a name which lasted into the latter 4th century. According to Harmatta, the Roxolani introduced the longer Alanic sword.

We'd hardly know anything about them if it hadn't been for the famous case of Marcus Aurelius sending 5,500 defeated Iazyges into Britain, thus creating the movie King Arthur, where the Iazyge descendants miraculously had names like Bors, Lancelot, and Tristan (who looked like a Hun). hock:

[Nathan Ross]

Thanks David and Alan - 'pastoralist' would make sense. Although I wonder how large these towns or 'trading centres' would have been, and who would have actually lived in them?

- Nathan

[Alanus]

Nathan,

I imagine they were as described-- "towns." Not cities. As trading centers, they probably had a mixed population, including Romans and whomever else had wares and wine for barter. No doubt a taberna or two. :lol:

[john m roberts]

Perhaps "market site" is a better term than "town." Such places are common in pastoral (and even some farming) societies. They usually have a tiny permanent population, then fill up several times per year as caravans arrive or people come in from the surrounding countryside to trade. In places like Scotland and Iceland (the Thing sites) the market sites would often have permanent stone walls, but the inhabitants would carry their roofing materials with them.

[Astiryu1]

Most definitely there would be a Metal worker or many on site as the required tools and material would be very cumbersome.
The skilled tradesman would find an excellent place to be hired out there. Maybe a seasonal campsite would be there?

[Alanus]

Yes, these are all good points. The trading center or market town was a permanent fixture with traders coming in periodically and erecting awnings for selling wares. Some of them were famous, like the Stone Tower on the Silk Road. Almost all the Roman forts from Vindolana to Drobeja had this type of place outside their gates. A little wine, few loose women, and the Iazyges were in Heaven :lol:

[Nathan Ross]

Hmm, interesting! But if these towns or market sites were seasonal - or partly so - in which season would they reach their greatest size? The Iazyges and other Sarmatians are described, I think, moving about in winter - Ovid mentions the Roxolani crossing the frozen Danube in wagons, and there's the attack by the Iazgyes across the (again frozen) river in the mid second century. The latter, however, could have been a raiding party (lack of winter forage, proximity of Roman grain stores and settled communities in Pannonia, lot of men with not much to do...).

So would these 'towns' be summer markets, or winter retreats? Is there evidence from other comparable pastoralist societies (Mongol, Native American?) to suggest the pattern of seasonal movement?

Another, related, point - the Romans fought the Iazyges on several occasions throughout the first three centuries AD. How would a military campaign be conducted against a highly mobile pastoralist people? The usual Roman tactic - conquest and occupation of cities, pitched battles, destruction of crops, building of roads and forts - would surely not be very effective against an enemy without large fixed settlements, able to move with their herds and families. This might, of course, explain why the various Sarmatian campaigns tended to end in truces rather than outright victory, but Marcus Aurelius for one managed to force the Iazyges to a negotiated surrender. Might we imagine something like the US Plains Wars of the 19th century? The early Roman garrison of Pannonia did include, I believe, a large number of cavalry units, and at least one ala of middle-eastern horse archers...

- Nathan

[Alanus]

I would imagine the towns were permanent, and most likely also used by the Germanic tribes that assosicated with the Jaz.

Ice? Tacitus mentions a battle of Romans vs Roxolani, also on the ice but melting ice where the Romans got the atvantage. The Roxolani finally moved up onto the Hungarian Plain and eventually mixed with the Jaz and introduced the long Alanic sword. Both tribes were subsequently referred to by Roman writers as "Sarmatians." To get a better picture of how some Roman vs Sarmatian wars were fought, try Ammianus Marcellinus.

No doubt the Romans were using cavalry against these tribes-- they had to! And some of these Roman auxilliaries were probably Jaz and Roxolani. The Marcus Aurelius peace is famous, 5500 Iazyges sent into Britain etc, etc. Littleton & Malcor wrote some speculative (and balderdashly entertaining) ideas on this unit and their leader, Lucius Arthorius Castus. But don't believe everything you read. :roll:

[Robert Vermaat]

To get a better picture of how some Roman vs Sarmatian wars were fought, try Ammianus Marcellinus.

But be careful, Ammianus just loves using archaising language (Parthians instead of Sassanid Persians, gladii instead of spathae, antesignani that we can't find elsewhere, that sort of thing) just to show his audience that he read the ancients.

[Nathan Ross]

Tacitus mentions a battle of Romans vs Roxolani, also on the ice but melting ice where the Romans got the atvantage.

The Tacitus reference is the battle in 69 (Histories I.79), the Roxolani against Legio III, in the melting ice as you say. There's also Cassius Dio's description (72.12.7) of a battle on the river with the Iazyges. He actually says that they were being pursued back across the river at the time. Ovid (Tristia III.10) has 'Sarmatian herdsmen (driving) creaking carts' on the frozen Danube, but this is probably the Roxolani again, since he was writing from Tomis on the Black Sea. Later he has 'the barbarian host attack on swift horses [when the river freezes] / strong in horses and strong in far-flung arrows / laying waste the neighbouring lands far and wide. / Some men flee: and, with their fields unguarded, / their undefended wealth is plundered, / the scant wealth of the country, herds / and creaking carts' (ibid) - which might imply that the carts mentioned before were intended to be plunder taken back across the river, rather than a migration by the Sarmatians themselves.

Littleton & Malcor wrote some speculative (and balderdashly entertaining) ideas on this unit and their leader, Lucius Arthorius Castus. But don't believe everything you read. :roll:

In that particular case, I prefer to believe nothing :wink: . Malcor's Castus thesis (as I'm sure you know!) is based on a woeful misunderstanding of the Roman equestrian cursus, and a lot of wishful thinking - there's absolutely nothing to connect Castus to the Sarmatians in Britain. But let's not get into that hoary old heap of pseudohistory...

To get a better picture of how some Roman vs Sarmatian wars were fought, try Ammianus Marcellinus.

Good idea - I will, thanks. Bearing Robert's caveats in mind!

- Nathan

[Alanus]

As to Ammianus Marcellinus, it's three Loeb volumes and worth every penny. Beyond his typical Roman "tunnel vision," we find a man well-versed in militaria, a former soldier; but at his time the Jaz and Roxolani had melded into "the Sarmatians," if I recall correctly. My other favorite author is Herodotus although he speaks only of earlier tribes, the Scythians (progenitors of the Jaz) and Massagetae (progenitors of the Alanic tribes). It's all difficult, because it was a gens/clan thing, constantly evolving under new leaders, not really new "people" or "cultures." The only differences I've noticed between the eastern and western entities is the longer siyahs on the bows and the "two-handed sword." This is depicted on the Orlot battle plaque, and all the swords are cookie-cutter alike-- an M-shaped guard, wide and short pommel, and distal tapering blade. I have several (costly) reproductions. They were mass-produced in Longquan during the late Warring States and early Han periods. Beautiful swords, often known as the Emperor Wu-di pattern. The long grip tapers like a baseball bat. A second style of jian had the same grip and a ring pommel which also shows up with the "Sarmatians." It developed into the Han dao (knife-saber) and the later Japanese Samauri sword. The bows are close to those used by the Magyars (the "Hungarian bow"). Weapons are interesting buggers.

[Michael Kerr]

Hi, sorry to get in on this thread so late but in regard to towns or trading centres for nomads. I read that in Kazakhstan they still have an annual horse trading fair near Semipalatinsk in eastern Kazakhstan. The book is from Times Life Series The Emergence of Man The First Horsemen which describes the history, lifestyle & customs of steppe nomads & in Kazakhstan they still observe some of these ancient traditions. These annual fairs or markets were for a practical purpose where people can barter their excess stock, furs, skins & goods to buy or trade stallions & mares to maintain the integrity of their herds, to nomads mares were valued for their milk, an important part of their diet. In general a good reason to interact with others of a similar mind & celebrate life. In Kazakhstan these annual get togethers usually occur in spring or early autumn as the rains brought relief & there was plenty of fodder for their herds. Maybe coincides with breeding seasons but you would think that to a lonely nomad/pastoralist family travelling in small groups, never staying in one place for more than a few days putting up with heat & cold for most of the year that markets or fairs would be something to look forward to, talking about breeding techniques, new weapons, fashions or maybe a pastoralist simply wanted to barter goods to get a faulty wheel or axle repaired or replaced etc. as well as where marriages & treaties or alliances were made & reaffirmed & in the case of Iazyges discussing where the next winter raids will occur. Traders & merchants would know where & when they were happening & flock there themselves for business. In regard to locations you would assume it would have to have access to plenty of water & of course grazing land for their herds as well as plenty of room for wagons & encampments. Possibility of being near banks of Danube because one of the conditions although temporary, of Marcus Aurelius was that the Iazyges could not trade less than roughly a day's ride from bank of Danube. During these annual fairs the Kazakhs, when the business is done enjoy races, equine games that show off their riding skills, archery contests as well as boxing, wrestling fencing & maybe hunts to hone military like skills. I have read where Iazyges were mainly cattle herders so maybe they ran cattle fairs as well or in conjunction with horse fairs so possibility of permanent structures for merchants & probably some portable fencing for selling livestock.
In regards to how Romans fought Iazyges & if they fought winter campaigns, maybe disrupting these markets would be a good start to isolating Iazyges into smaller groups as I think these markets played an important role in their lives. I also think there would have been a lot of hostage taking of important Iazyges families to ensure good behaviour. I think winter campaigns were the norm for Iazyges as it was easier to cross Danube through island hopping as another of Marcus conditions for peace was that Iazyges could not occupy any islands on Danube or use their own boats. If the Iazyges kept their promises Marcus would ease restrictions but not those affecting the right of assembly unless under Roman supervision or using their own boats.
Winter raids also made sense in that farmers would have their food supplies and livestock close to their farms for practical reasons & Iazyges could round up captured horses & livestock & gather food supplies quickly. The Roman army would not be out in force in winter either at least early on in the Marcomannic wars. although Frank McLynn in his book Marcus Aurelius a life says that Roman army became quite expert at ambushes of returning raiders at river crossings both Iazyges & Germans.

Here are some images from the book. Forgive quality as I used my ipad to take images.The third image is of a Kazakh family packing up & leaving the fair & being Kazakhstan they use Bactrian camels which can carry up to 600 pounds each & are the Kazakhs' primary beasts of burden.


[attachment=7995]kazakhhorsefair1.jpg[/attachment]


[attachment=7996]kazakhhorse2.jpg[/attachment]


[attachment=7997]kazakhfair.jpg[/attachment]
Apologies for rambling on & after reading back my post sorry for all the I thinks as well.

Regards
Michael Kerr

[Michael Kerr]

I just wanted to add on possible winter campaigns/raids of both Iazyges crossing Danube into Pannonia & Roxolani crossing Lower Danube into Lower Moesia. I was reading in Maurice's Strategikon Book XI Chacteristics and Tactics of Various Peoples Chapter 4. Dealing with the Slavs, the Antes and the like & he states that when fighting these people the army should

“Bring materials for building bridges, the kind called floating, if possible. In this way you may cross without effort the numerous & unfold able rivers in their country. Build them in Scythian manner, some men erecting the framework, others laying down the planks."

He then adds

“You should also have ox-hide or goatskin bags to make rafts, and for use in helping the soldiers swim across for surprise attacks against the enemy in the summer."

I only have the English translation by George T. Dennis so possibility of translation discrepancies & Dennis adds “Scythian" is a general term employed by Byzantine writers to designate the nomadic tribes from Ukraine through to Central Asian steppes. Maurice just makes an obscure reference “build them in Scythian manner."
Is he talking about a method of bridge construction that a general reading Maurice's treatise be expected to know about or is it a reference to how a workforce is organised in the construction of this bridge?
Is it a reference to a special type of sturdy bridge erected for taking horse traffic on ice that enabled Steppe raiders to cross & carry back their loot & spoils & being winter I suppose Danube river fleets would be iced in & raiders would easier evade detection & have that element of surprise? Or is it as simple as laying a bed of reeds or twigs on ice & the laying planks on top to carry weight of horses &/or wagons etc. could this have been one of the reasons that Marcus insisted that Iazyges could not occupy islands on the Danube to deny them the resources to assemble such a structure?
If there was a special way of constructing floating bridges to cross icy rivers would it be possible that Iazyges & Roxolani used these methods in crossing Danube for their raids?
Could the Scythians/Sarmatians be an early version of “specialist bridging engineers"?
Would someone have more information or sources on this term? I am curious & have never heard of this term before.
Apologies for straying off topic of market towns but someone mentioned winter campaigns of Sarmatians earlier & maybe revelant.
Regards
Michael Kerr