Petrocorii


The Petrocorii were a Gaulish tribe located in the present-day Dordogne region of France, between the Dordogne and Isle rivers. Their capital was Vesunna, which is today the town of Périgueux. Périgueux as well as the ancient province of Périgord take their names from this tribe.

Etymology

They are mentioned as Petrocoriis by Caesar, as Petrokórioi by Strabo and Ptolemy, as Petrocori by Pliny, and as Petrogorii by Sidonius Apollinaris.
The Gaulish name Petrocorii means 'four armies', or "four clans". It stems from the Gaulish root petru- attached to corios. The latter derives from the Proto-Celtic root *koryo-, and is found in other Gaulish tribal names such as the Tri-corii or Corio-solites. Petru- stems from Proto-Celtic *kʷetwóres.
The Périgord region, attested as pagum Petrocorecum in the 7th c. AD is named after the Gallic tribe.

Demonym

The name of the Petrocorii is sometimes used today as a demonym of Périgueux, mainly called Périgourdins.

History

According to, "the Petrocorii lived in the region situated between the Dordogne and the Vézère." In, they supplied around 5000 warriors to Vercingetorix, to aid him to fight the Roman legions of Julius Caesar. Strabo mentions their excellence working with iron.