#quadi

💛 | "Hold On A Sec, Quadi... I See Something-"

Quadi

The Quadi were a relatively small Germanic tribe located on the eastern borders of Germania in modern day Moravia, Czech republic. The only known information about this tribe comes from the Romans. The Quadi settled in this area after the Celtic Boii left.

Their history starts around 100BC when the Quadi tribe moved southwards from the Baltic coast. They cut off the Celtic Osi tribe from other Celtics and demand that they pay tribute. Around 8BC the Quadi entered the Celtic Boii territory. The Marcomanni tribe forms a conferation of tribes which includes the Quadi, Lugii, Langobards, Semnones and the Celtic Boii. It is most likely that the Quadi tribe is related to the Marcomanni.

Around 21BC the Quadi entered modern day Slovakia. The Marcomanni followed southwards as well to the west of the Quadi. To the north-east of the tribe, Proto-Slavic people could be found. This is also the same time period in which Arminius, hero of the teutoburgerwald battle, declares war on the leader of the Marcomanni, Maroboduus. Since the Quadi was part of the Marcomanni, it is most likely that they supported Maroboduus.

The war ended with the collapse of Maroboduus' confederation. Vannius, then leader of the Quadi, forms a Quadi kingdom in the west of modern day Slovakia called Regnum Vannianum. Vannius was also allied to Rome, his Quadi kingdom served as a buffer between the Roman province of Pannonia and other Germanic tribes.

The Quadi kingdom did not exist for a long time. In 50AD, Vannius wanted to rebuild the Marcomanni confederation. The Romans viewed this as a threat to their borders so they instigated an insurrection in the area. The kingdom breaks up and Vannius dies in unknown circumstances. The Quadi now continiously pick different sides in battles between the Roman empire and Germanic tribes.

Tacitus who wrote his Germania in 98AD, mentions the Quadi: "The Narisci border on the Hermunduri, and then follow the Marcomanni and Quadi. The Marcomanni stand first in strength and renown, and their very territory, from which the Boii were driven in a former age, was won by valour. Nor are the Narisci and Quadi inferior to them. This I may call the frontier of Germany, so far as it is completed by the Danube.

The Marcomanni and Quadi have, up to our time, been ruled by kings of their own nation, descended from the noble stock of Maroboduus and Tudrus. They now submit even to foreigners but the strength and power of the monarch depend on Roman influence. He is occasionally supported by our arms, more frequently by our money, and his authority is none the less."

War broke out between the Quadi and the Romans in 137AD. Rome now decided to raise their own candidate to rule the tribe. The Quadi lost their independence to choose their own leaders. War broke out again with Rome in 172AD when the Quadi break their treaty with the Romans. The invading Romans were led by Marcus Aurelius himself. The battle that followed is depicted on the column of Marcus Aurelius in Rome. The Romans eventually withdrew and the Quadi removed the Roman chosen leader from power.

The Romans, of course furious at this, returned back to the Quadi with Marcus Aurelius still leading the army. They deposed of the Quadi chosen leader, Ariogaesus, and banished him to Egypt. The former Roman chosen leader was put back in power. Emperor Marcus would spent the rest of his life on campaign against the Germanic tribes. 40,000 Roman troops were posted on Quadi and Marcomanni territories which brought regular conflict between the Quadi and Rome.

By the 3rd century AD, the Quadi joined the Suebi confederation. This was also quite a peaceful century for the Quadi, only small conflicts took place between them and the Roman empire. The Quadi experience an economic boom and Roman-styled homes were build, which probably housed pro-Roman Germanic lords.

The invading Huns caused massive chaos to all tribes in central Europe which includes the Quadi. The Quadi tribe was sadly destroyed around 375AD by the chaos and movement that followed the arrival of the Huns. Remnants of the tribe have probably joined the Alemanni, suebi, Rugii or Vandali tribes. Later in 500AD, the Bavarian confederation was formed which might have included a few descendants of the Quadi tribe.