The Onomastics of the Batavian civitas in the Context of the Latinization of Gallia Belgica and Germania Inferior

Abstract The chapter has two parts. The first part describes the linguistic characteristics of the onomastics of the civitas of the Batavians (area of the Rhine and the Waal around Nijmegen, The Netherlands, in Germania Inferior) and attempts to define the status of the population (Roman citizens and peregrini) differentiating between civilians and military. The Latinization of anthroponyms can be seen alongside names in Celtic or Germanic languages. The second part provides comparisons with the onomastics of neighbouring communities (Tungri, Nervii, Frisiavones, Cananefates, Menapii) as well as the Treviri, in order to reach a differentiated picture of the Latinization of northern Gaul: the civitates with a Germanic ethnic element are more Latinized than those with a Celtic population, where the indigenous language remains strongly anchored in naming practices.