Brigantia (ancient region)

Brigantia is the land inhabited by the Brigantes,[1][2][3] a British Celtic tribe which occupied the largest territory in ancient Britain.

Other related forms from the modern Celtic languages are: Welsh brenin 'king' (< *brigantīnos); Welsh/Cornish/Breton bri 'prestige, reputation, honour, dignity', Scottish Gaelic brìgh 'pith, power', Irish brí 'energy, significance', Manx bree 'power, energy' (all < *brīg-/brigi-); and Welsh/Cornish/Breton bre 'hill' (< *brigā).

This mirrors the debate as to whether settlements named Brigantium (meaning 'settlement of the high ones') is in reference to nobility or the highlands they lived around, such as the Pennines.

There are several ancient settlements named Brigantium around Europe, such as Berganza in Alava (Spain), Betanzos and Bergondo in Galicia (Spain), Bragança in Portugal and Briançon,[5][6] Brigetio on the border of Slovakia and Hungary,[7] Brigobanne situated on the Breg river and near the Brigach river in south Germany (pre-Roman Vindelicia[8])[9] and Bregenz in the Alps.

In the form of a loose confederation, Brigantia existed as the territory of a number of small tribes with the Pennines being described as composing the heart.