Galatia was a region in north-central Anatolia (modern-day Turkey) settled by the Celtic Gauls c. 278-277 BCE. The name comes from the Greek for "Gaul" which was repeated by Latin writers as Galli. The Celts were offered the region by the king of neighboring Bithynia, Nicomedes I (r. 278-255 BCE) and established themselves in three provinces made up of four cantons (wards) comprised of city-states (known as oppidum) governed, respectively, by the three tribes which made up the initial group: the Tectosages, Trocmil, and Tolistogogii.
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Definition
Timeline
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278 BCEThe Galatians are invited over into Anatolia by Nicomedes I of Bithynia to help fight against the forces of Pontus.
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261 BCEAntiochus I Soter of the Seleucid Empire killed in battle against the Galatians at Ephesus in Asia Minor.
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246 BCEGalatians defeat Seleucus II in a battle near Ancyra.
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c. 237 BCE - 241 BCEAttalus I of Pergamon defeats the Galatians at the headwaters of the Caioc River.
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232 BCEAttalos I defeats the Galatians a second time.
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228 BCEZiaelas, king of Bythinia, is killed by Galatian generals at a feast in a fool's game.
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218 BCEThe Aegosages Celts enter Anatolia under Attalos of Pergamon.
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c. 200 BCEThe main centers of the Galatians are known as capitols of the three main tribes: Ankyra to the Tectosages, Tavium to the Trocmi, and Pessinus to the Tolistoboii.
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191 BCEAntiochus III and his army, including many Galatians, are defeated by Rome at Magnesia.
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189 BCEManlius Vulso attacks the Galatians for fighting alongside Antiochus III and scores two victories in Galatia at Mount Magaba and Mount Olympus.
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88 BCEMithradates V commits the 'Massacre of the Tetrarchs', killing nearly all of the 60 Galatian chiefs to dine with him. Deiotaros survives.
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74 BCEDeiotaros drives out Zeumachus, Mithradates appointed governor of Galatia.
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64 BCEGalatia becomes a client state of Rome.
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25 BCEGalatia is peacefully absorbed into the Roman Empire.