Gabali
Introduction Map of ancient Gaule.The '''Gabali''' (Gaulish: *''Gabli'') were a Gallic tribe dwelling in the later Gévaudan region during the Iron Age and the Roman period.
Name They are mentioned as ''Gabalos'' or ''Gabalis'' by Caesar (mid-1st c. BC), as ''Gabalei͂s'' (Γαβαλεῖς) by Strabo (early 1st c. AD), as ''Gabales'' by Pliny (1st c. AD), and as ''Tábaloi'' (Τάβαλοι) by Ptolemy (2nd c. AD).The ethnonym ''Gabali'' is a Latinized form of Gaulish *''Gabloi''. It derives from the stem  (cf. Olr. ''gabul'', Middle Welsh ''gafl'', OBret. ''gabl''), initially designating the 'forked branch of a tree', then more generally a 'fork'. The name is related to the Gallo-Latin *''gabalottus'' ('spear'), which may have given the word ''javelot'' in French.The city of Javols, attested ca. 400 AD as ''civitas Gabalum'' ('civitas of the Gabali', ''Javols'' in 1109), and the Gévaudan region, attested in the 1st c. AD as ''Gabalicus pagus'' (''Gavuldanum'' in the 10th c., ''Gavalda'' in the 13th c.), are named after the Gallic tribe.
Geography The Gabali dwelled in the Gévaudan region, on the north-western foot of the Cevennes. Their territory was located south of the Arveni, and north of the Ruteni.Their chief town was ''Anderitum'' (present-day Javols).
History They were subject, and allied to the Averni. They are mentioned in Book VII of Caesar's Commentaries. During Caesar's conquest of Gaul they were raiding the country of the Provincial Ruteni, and they were among the tribes that sent relief troops to the Gallic army trying to break the siege in Alesia.
Economy The Gabali were cattle breeder. Many of them were also miners as their region was rich in silver mines.
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