XIV
THE MATTICE and / or MATTIAC FAMILY
Rhenum, eltraque veteres terminos imperii reverentiam, Ita sede finibusque in sua ripa,
mente animoque nobiscum, agunt, cetera similes Batavis, nisi quod ipso adhuc terrae
suae solo at carlo acrius animantor. "
In part, what it says is: These Mattiaci lived at the bend of the Rhine, on the north side
in the vicinity of Mainz--the district in later centuries being known as Kur-Pfalz, or the
Palatinate, hence the early settlers in the Schoharie and Mohawk vallies and adjacent
regions were known as Palatines.
A Classical Dictionary of Greek & Roman Biography, Mythology and Geography, by
Marindin, states as follows: "Mattaci," a people in Germany, who dwelt on the east bank
of the Rhine, between the Main and the Lahn rivers and were a branch of
the Chatti. They were subdued by the Romans who in the reign of Claudius (10 B. C. -54
A. D.) had fortresses and Silver-mines in their country. After the death of Nero (68 A.D.)
they revolted against the Romans and took part with the Chatti and other German tribes
in the Siege of Mogontiacum.
Smith, A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography says: "in the Nototia Imperii,
however, Mattiaci are still mentioned among the Palatine legions, and in connection with
the cohorts of the Batavi. Their country was subsequently inhabited by the Alamanni,
Their chief towns were Aquae Mattiacae (Wiesbaden) and Mattiacum (Marburg)
which must not be confounded with Matticum, the Capital of Chatti, "
In "Pliny, " the Roman writer of about the same time as "Tacitus, " speaks of the' Mattiaci
fonts Mattiacs' Springs at Wiesbaden. Also, "Martial" Chap, XIV 27, mentions a sort of
pomade or soap-balls that were called Mattiaci pilae that were imported by the Romans
from their country and used in Rome for shampoos.
Of course, the Mattiaci were "Gens" nota family, but they were definite and distinct
from the Chatti, Batavians, etc., so that they
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