Ambianorum

Ambianorum was a Gallic oppidum, or fortified settlement, located in what is now northern France. It was the capital of the Ambiani, a Belgic tribe. The site is most famously associated with the town of Amiens, which grew from the Roman settlement established near the ancient oppidum.

During the Gallic Wars, Ambianorum played a significant role. Julius Caesar mentions the Ambiani in his Commentarii de Bello Gallico. In 52 BCE, during the great Gallic revolt led by Vercingetorix, the Ambiani initially sided with the Romans. However, following Vercingetorix's surrender, the tribe, like many others, faced renewed Roman dominance and control.

The oppidum itself was likely a substantial settlement, typical of Gallic hillforts, with defensive ramparts and a densely populated interior. Archaeological evidence from the Amiens region suggests a long history of human habitation dating back to the Iron Age, with the oppidum representing a peak of pre-Roman settlement.

After the Roman conquest, a Roman town, also known as Samarobriva, was established in the vicinity. This Roman settlement gradually eclipsed the original oppidum, becoming an important administrative and commercial center in Roman Gaul. The name Samarobriva itself means "bridge over the Somme" in Gaulish, indicating its strategic location on the river. Over time, the name Samarobriva evolved, eventually leading to the modern name Amiens.