E´SSUI
Eth.
E´SSUI Caesar, in B.C. 54, distributed his troops in winter quarters in various places at some distance from one another.
He placed (
B. G. 5.24) L. Roscius, with one legion, among the Essui.
A large force of Galli, from the states called Armoric, assembled to attack Roscius in his winter camp, but were deterred by hearing unfavourable news of the rising of the Galli in other parts (5.53).
This fact, combined with what is said in the other chapter, shows that the Essui were between the Seine and Loire, and not far from the Armoric states.
In the passage of Caesar (5.24) there is no MSS. variation in the name “Essuos.” In
B. G. 2.34, Caesar speaks of the Sesuvii as one of the Armoric or maritime states; and though there are MSS. variations in the form “Sesuvii,” all the readings make the name begin with “Ses.” In
B. G. 3.7, the Sesuvii are again mentioned with the Curiosolites and the Veneti; but in that passage there is a reading “Esubios,” and other varieties.
It seems very likely that the Essui, Sesuvii, and Esubii are the same, and that they occupied the diocese of
Seéz, which borders on that of
Mans and
Evreux.
Walckenaer (
Géog., &100.1.398) places the Essui between the Nervii and the Remi, and near a place called
Esch on the river
Sure. But the narrative of Caesar (5.53)> shows that this conclusion is false.
[
G.L]
