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The Menapii were a Belgic tribe of north-eastern Gaul in pre-Roman and Roman times. Their territory corresponds more or less with the region around the modern city of Gent (the modern Belgian province of Oost-Vlaanderen) but extended up to the Schelde estuary. Their civitas was Cassel (northern France), near Terouanne.

Neighbours were:

west: Morini
east: Nervii
south: Atrebates
north (beyond the Schelde estuary): Batavi

The Menapii were persistent opponents of Julius Caesar's conquest of Gaul, resisting until 54 BC. They were part of the Belgic confederacy defeated by Caesar in 57 BC, contributing 9,000 men.^[1] The following year they sided with the Veneti against Caesar.^[2] Caesar was again victorious, but the Menapii and the Morini refused to make peace and continued to fight against him. They withdrew into the forests and swamps and conducted a hit-and-run campaign. Caesar responded by cutting down the forests, seizing their cattle and burning their settlements, but this was interrupted by heavy rain and the onset of winter, and the Menapii and Morini withdrew further into the forests.^[3] In 55 BC the Menapii tried to resist a Germanic incursion across the Rhine, but were defeated.^[4] Later that year, while Caesar made his first expedition to Britain, he sent two of his legates and the majority of his army to the territories of the Menapii and Morini to keep them under constrol.^[5] Once again, they retired to the woods, and the Romans burned their crops and settlements.^[6] The Menapii joined the revolt led by Ambiorix in 54 BC. Caesar says that that they, alone of all the tribes of Gaul, had never sent ambassadors to him to discuss terms of peace, and had ties of hospitality with Ambiorix. For that reason he decided to lead five legions against them. A renewed campaign of devastation finally forced them to submit, and Caesar placed his ally Commius of the Atrebates in control of them.^[7]

During the Roman Empire, cohorts of Menapian auxiliaries are attested in Britain.^{[citation needed]} Carausius, the 3rd century commander of the Roman fleet who declared himself emperor of Britain and northern Gaul, was a Menapian.^[8]

The Menapii are attested in Ptolemy's 2nd century Geography, situated between the Tungri and the Nervii.^[9] He also mentions a tribe called the Manapi living in south-eastern Ireland.^[10] Place-names such as Fermanagh are thought to reflect their presence in north-western Ireland.^[11]

Etymology

A suggested etymology of Menapii: *Meen + *ape. Meen = main house, large house in a village where people met, justice was spoken, descisions proposed and voted. ape = follower, low ranking farmer, imitator (a German substrate word), later, because of imitator -> the animal. The name is generic. It refers to a (Celtic) social organisation.^{[citation needed]}

References

^ Julius Caesar, Commentarii de Bello Gallico 2.4
^ Julius Caesar, Commentaries on the Gallic War 3.9
^ Julius Caesar, Commentaries on the Gallic War 3.28-29
^ Julius Caesar, Commentaries on the Gallic War 4.4
^ Julius Caesar, Commentaries on the Gallic War 4.22
^ Julius Caesar, Commentaries on the Gallic War 4.38
^ Julius Caesar, Commentaries on the Gallic War 6.2-6
^ Aurelius Victor, Liber de Caesaribus 39.20
^ Ptolemy, Geographia 2.8
^ Ptolemy, Geographia 2.1
^ Ireland's History in Maps: Ptolemy's Ireland

[1] Julius Caesar, Commentarii de Bello Gallico 2.4

[2] Julius Caesar, Commentaries on the Gallic War 3.9

[3] Julius Caesar, Commentaries on the Gallic War 3.28-29

[4] Julius Caesar, Commentaries on the Gallic War 4.4

[5] Julius Caesar, Commentaries on the Gallic War 4.22

[6] Julius Caesar, Commentaries on the Gallic War 4.38

[7] Julius Caesar, Commentaries on the Gallic War 6.2-6

[8] Aurelius Victor, Liber de Caesaribus 39.20

[9] Ptolemy, Geographia 2.8

[10] Ptolemy, Geographia 2.1

[11] Ireland's History in Maps: Ptolemy's Ireland

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 The Menapii were persistent opponents of [[Julius Caesar]]'s conquest of Gaul, resisting until 54 BC. They were part of the Belgic confederacy defeated by Caesar in 57 BC, contributing 9,000 men.<ref>[[Julius Caesar]], ''[[Commentarii de Bello Gallico]]'' [[Wikisource:Commentaries on the Gallic War/Book 2#4|2.4]]</ref> The following year they sided with the [[Veneti (Gaul)|Veneti]] against Caesar.<ref>Julius Caesar, ''Commentaries on the Gallic War'' [[Wikisource:Commentaries on the Gallic War/Book 3#9|3.9]]</ref> Caesar was again victorious, but the Menapii and the [[Morini]] refused to make peace and continued to fight against him. They withdrew into the forests and swamps and conducted a hit-and-run campaign. Caesar responded by cutting down the forests, seizing their cattle and burning their settlements, but this was interrupted by heavy rain and the onset of winter, and the Menapii and Morini withdrew further into the forests.<ref>Julius Caesar, ''Commentaries on the Gallic War'' [[Wikisource:Commentaries on the Gallic War/Book 3#28|3.28-29]]</ref> In 55 BC the Menapii tried to resist a [[Germanic peoples|Germanic]] incursion across the [[Rhine]], but were defeated.<ref>Julius Caesar, ''Commentaries on the Gallic War'' [[Wikisource:Commentaries on the Gallic War/Book 4#4|4.4]]</ref> Later that year, while Caesar made his first [[Caesar's invasions of Britain|expedition to Britain]], he sent two of his [[legatus|legates]] and the majority of his army to the territories of the Menapii and Morini to keep them under constrol.<ref>Julius Caesar, ''Commentaries on the Gallic War'' [[Wikisource:Commentaries on the Gallic War/Book 4#22|4.22]]</ref> Once again, they retired to the woods, and the Romans burned their crops and settlements.<ref>Julius Caesar, ''Commentaries on the Gallic War'' [[Wikisource:Commentaries on the Gallic War/Book 4#38|4.38]]</ref> The Menapii joined the revolt led by [[Ambiorix]] in 54 BC. Caesar says that that they, alone of all the tribes of Gaul, had never sent ambassadors to him to discuss terms of peace, and had ties of hospitality with Ambiorix. For that reason he decided to lead five [[Roman legion|legions]] against them. A renewed campaign of devastation finally forced them to submit, and Caesar placed his ally [[Commius]] of the [[Atrebates]] in control of them.<ref>Julius Caesar, ''Commentaries on the Gallic War'' [[Wikisource:Commentaries on the Gallic War/Book 6#2|6.2-6]]</ref>
-During the Roman Empire, [[cohort[[s of Menapian [[auxiliaries (Roman military)|auxiliaries]] are attested in Britain.{{citation needed}} [[Carausius]], the 3rd century commander of the Roman fleet who declared himself emperor of Britain and northern Gaul, was a Menapian.<ref>[[Aurelius Victor]], ''Liber de Caesaribus'' [http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/victor.caes.html#39 39.20]</ref>
+During the Roman Empire, [[cohort]]s of Menapian [[auxiliaries (Roman military)|auxiliaries]] are attested in Britain.{{citation needed}} [[Carausius]], the 3rd century commander of the Roman fleet who declared himself emperor of Britain and northern Gaul, was a Menapian.<ref>[[Aurelius Victor]], ''Liber de Caesaribus'' [http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/victor.caes.html#39 39.20]</ref>
 The Menapii are attested in [[Ptolemy]]'s 2nd century ''[[Geographia (Ptolemy)|Geography]]'', situated between the [[Tungri]] and the [[Nervii]].<ref>[[Ptolemy]], ''[[Geographia (Ptolemy)|Geographia]]'' [http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Gazetteer/Periods/Roman/_Texts/Ptolemy/2/8*.html 2.8]</ref> He also mentions a tribe called the Manapi living in south-eastern [[Ireland]].<ref>[[Ptolemy]], ''[[Geographia (Ptolemy)|Geographia]]'' [http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Gazetteer/Periods/Roman/_Texts/Ptolemy/2/1*.html 2.1]</ref> Place-names such as [[Fermanagh]] are thought to reflect their presence in north-western Ireland.<ref>[http://www.rootsweb.com/~irlkik/ihm/ire150.htm Ireland's History in Maps: Ptolemy's Ireland]</ref>