Eppillus (Celtic: "little horse") was the name of a Roman client king of the Atrebates tribe of the British Iron Age. He appears to have ruled part of the territory that had previously been held by Commius, the Gaulish former ally of Julius Caesar who fled to Britain following the uprising of Vercingetorix, or possibly of his son. Eppillus is not mentioned in any historical sources. Coins bearing his name also bear the inscription COMMI.FILI which is generally read as Commios filius indicating at least a claim to be Commius's son.[1]
After Commius's death in about 20 BC, based on numismatic evidence, Eppillus seems to have ruled jointly with another ruler named Tincomarus. The COMMI.FILI inscription also appears on Tincomarus's coins suggesting they could have been brothers.[1] Eppillus's capital was Noviomagus Reginorum (Chichester) in the south of the kingdom, while Tincomarus ruled from Calleva Atrebatum (Silchester) in the north.
Eppillus became ruler of the whole territory a little before 7 AD, and Tincomarus appears as a supplicant to the Emperor Augustus in his Res Gestae, so he would seem to have been driven out in some sort of domestic intrigue. After this, Eppillus's coins are marked "Rex", indicating that he was recognised as king by Rome.
A single stater has been found in Dover bearing the name of Eppillus and an otherwise unknown Anarevito.[2][3] The relationship between the two is unclear although it has been suggested that they were allied rulers.[2][3]
In about 15 AD, Eppillus was succeeded as king of the Atrebates by Verica. Verica again issues coins with the COMMI.FILI inscription suggesting perhaps a third brother although Verica's possible presence in Rome in 47 AD would have required Commius to have lived a very long life.[1] At about the same time, coins of the Cantiaci stamped with the name Eppillus start to appear in Kent, replacing those of Dubnovellaunus. It is possible that Eppillus was deposed by Verica, fled to Kent and established himself as king there, but equally possible that he was invited to become king by the Cantiaci, peacefully handing the rule of the Atrebates to Verica, or that he died and was succeeded by Verica, and that Eppillus of Kent was another man of the same name.
^ abcBean, Simon C (1994). "Coinage of Commios". The coinage of Atrebates and Regni(PDF) (Ph.D.). University of Nottingham. pp. 239–240. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
^ ab"Iron Age gold coin of Anarevito and Eppillus". culturalinstitute.britishmuseum.org. British Museum. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
^ ab"Coin". British museum Collection Online. British museum. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
Cantiaci stamped with the name Eppillus start to appear in Kent, replacing those of Dubnovellaunus. It is possible that Eppillus was deposed by Verica, fled...
as king by Rome. In about 15, Eppillus was succeeded by Verica (at about the same time, a king by the name of Eppillus appears as ruler of the Cantiaci...
part of the kingdom from Calleva, while Eppillus ruled the southern part from Noviomagus (Chichester). Eppillus became sole ruler ca. AD 7. Verica succeeded...
Noviomagus Reginorum (modern Chichester). He succeeded his elder brother Eppillus as king in about 15 AD, and may also have reigned over the northern Atrebatic...
as a supplicant to Augustus c. 7 BCE. Vosenius, ruled until c. 15 CE. Eppillus, originally king of the Atrebates: Coins indicate he became king of the...
Constanța). Tincomarus, deposed king of the Atrebates, flees Britain for Rome; Eppillus becomes king. Vonones I becomes king (shah) of the Parthian Empire. Finding...
coins that appear to have been made from melted down denarii. The coins of Eppillus, issued around Calleva Atrebatum around the same time, appear to have derived...
fled to Rome as a refugee and supplicant. He was replaced by his brother Eppillus whom Augustus chose to recognise as rex rather than depose and reinstate...
3g. Eppillus appears to have held land in two areas and issued a different series of coins in each of them. In particular the gold coins Eppillus had...
Atrebatian: 51 - 35 BC Commius the Younger: 35 - 20 BC Tincomaros: 30 BC - 7 AD Eppillus: 30 BC - 15 AD Verica: 15 - 41 AD Tiberius Claudius Cogidubnus: 43 - 80...
(complete list) – Commius, King (57–c.22 BC Tincomarus, King (c.22–8 AD) Eppillus, King (8–15) Verica, King (15–40) Catuvellauni (complete list) – Cassivellaunus...
the Romans. After Tincomarus, Augustus chose to recognize his brother, Eppillus, as the next client king. After ruling jointly with Tincomarus, he apparently...
Constanța). Tincomarus, deposed king of the Atrebates, flees Britain for Rome; Eppillus becomes king. Vonones I becomes king (shah) of the Parthian Empire. Finding...
contemporary or overlapped. He ruled until ca. 15 AD, and was succeeded by Eppillus, probably the former king of the Atrebates. British Celtic Nobles of the...
various coins from the Atrebates rulers named Commius, Tincommius, Verica, Eppillus, and Cunobelin were found on Selsey beach in 1877, and it is thought that...
little evidence of habitation, and the only datable item is a coin of Eppillus who lived during the late 1st century BC to early 1st century AD. He was...
Ptolemy V, Greece, 204–181 BC 50 gold staters of Commius, Tincomarus and Eppillus, Alton, southern England, 1st century BC - 1st century AD Roman coins of...
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