Liguri, Celti, e altri, all'alba della romanizzazione: appunti di storia dell'Oltrepò

The paper provides a reassessment of the historiographical sources regarding Clastidium, so far the only ones relating to the present-day Oltrepò pavese, in an attempt to reconstruct the dynamics of fre- quentation and setting that occurred in this area in the early stages of Romanisation. The analysis of the sources (Polybius, Livy) has highlighted: the presence in the 3rd century BCE of a Celtic group (the Anares), which was superimposed on a ‘Ligurian’ ethnic substratum; an early Roman intervention. This military intervention led to the control of a strategically important area for military supplies. The analysis also highlights the persistence of Ligurian subgroups, which were apparently settled in the inland valleys and forced to surrender during the military campaign of 197 BCE. The siege of Klastidion/Casteggio suggests that the area had already been brought under Roman control, a development that may have been facilitated by recent agreements with the local population. The territory, inhabited by the Anares population, was also under Roman control in 223 BC. This situation appeared to persist in subsequent years, as evidenced by the eastern portion of the Anares territory being detached from the Latin colony of Placentia. The Annibale movement in these areas is also men- tioned by Livy. The Romans established a significant centre for stockpiling in Casteggio, which they utilised for covert transportation of Roman forces into the Cisalpine region. Furthermore, there is evidence of a probable immigration of foreign individuals or groups, which may have been triggered by land allotments, as early as 173 BC; and the involvement in the overall reorgan- isation that from around 148 BC onwards brought about a thorough transformation of the settlement structures and road system of the entire western Cispadan territory, producing a significant increase in the number of people living in the area.