The Nuragic Tribes In Roman Times 0 Comments

by Daniela Toti

Who were the Iolei, the Balari and the Corsi? When the Romans conquered Sardinia in 238 BC, the island was not a uniform territory. It was inhabited by different populations, each with distinct identities and clearly defined territories.

It was the scholar Giovanni Lilliu who outlined a coherent picture of the ethnic groups present in Sardinia during the Nuragic and protohistoric periods, drawing also on Roman sources. The main inland populations were three: the Iolei (or Ilienses), the Balari, and the Corsi.

The Iolei (or Ilienses), sometimes later identified as the Diagesbei, are remembered by ancient writers as a proud and resilient people. Modern archaeology tends to consider them an autochthonous population, present in Sardinia since the Neolithic period.

They occupied a vast territory that included:

• the mountains of Goceano

• the area of Nuraghe Aidu Entos

• the plateaus of Buddusò and Alà

• Ogliastra

• and as far as the plains of Campidano

At Nuraghe Aidu Entos, a boundary inscription "ILI-IVR-IN-NVRAC-SESSAR" was discovered and interpreted as evidence of territorial delimitation, suggesting a complex social organization.

They were among the main opponents of Roman rule. Ancient sources speak of continuous uprisings in the mountainous interior, an area difficult for Rome to control.

The Balari: Between Iberia and North-Western Sardinia.  Are described in the sources as a distinct population, often hostile to Rome. A possible Indo-European origin has been hypothesized, although the matter remains under study.

In historical times, they mainly occupied:

• the Nurra region

• the upper and lower Coghinas

• the Limbara massif

Their presence in north-western Sardinia is also attested by place names and Latin sources.

The Corsi: Between Gallura and Corsica. Sometimes associated in ancient sources with Ligurian groups, inhabited the north-eastern tip of Sardinia and Corsica.

They were established in Gallura from very early times and are linked to the cultural expression known as the “Gallurese” aspect, particularly the so-called Arzachena culture (the Gallurese facies of the Bronze Age).

During the second millennium BC, Nuragic civilization also extended into southern Corsica, where the Torrean civilization developed, characterized by towers similar to nuraghi.

Gallura, therefore, was not a peripheral region, but a bridge between Sardinia and Corsica.

Sardinia in Roman Times: An Island Not Fully Pacified.

When Rome conquered Sardinia in 238 BC, the island did not immediately become a pacified territory. Coastal cities, more exposed to Mediterranean trade and contacts, were gradually integrated into the Roman system. The mountainous interior, however, remained resistant for a long time.

Latin authors referred to the central and eastern regions of the island as Barbaria, not so much to suggest backwardness, but to acknowledge the difficulty of subduing them. The ancient tribes, Iolei, Balari, Corsi, continued to guard their territories and identities.

In 215 BC, during the Second Punic War, Sardinia became the stage for one of the most significant revolts against Rome. It was led by the Sardinian hero Ampsicora, an aristocrat from Cornus, who attempted to bring the island back into the Carthaginian sphere of influence, taking advantage of Rome’s crisis after the Battle of Cannae.

The revolt involved several inland communities but ended with the defeat of the Sardinian-Punic forces. According to the sources, Ampsicora chose death rather than capture. Since then, his figure has remained suspended between history and legend, symbolizing an island that does not bend easily.

Rome won, but it did not erase the soul of that plurality of peoples bound to the land, to natural boundaries, to their own autonomy. And it is perhaps in this long resistance, silent, stubborn, rooted in stone, that the most ancient Sardinia can still be recognized: conquered, yes, but never completely subdued.