The primary aim of this study is to arrive at a model of Batavian ethnogenesis in the specific context of the Germanic frontier of the Roman empire. This implies both the reconstruction of ethnogenetic processes and their political context, and an attempt at reconstructing the image and self-image of the Batavian community. With this study I hope to make a contribution to the broader discussion of ethnicity and ethnogenesis in antiquity. My approach is a ‘historical-anthropological’ one, employing concepts and insights from both the social and the historical sciences, as well as a micro/macro-perspective that analyses local developments against a broader historical backdrop. I also look at comparative historical research. However, this comparison is not only driven solely by the desire to make generalisations but also by the search for a better understanding of historical specifics. My research focuses on the period from the 1st century BC to the Batavian revolt in AD 69/70, but this timeframe is broadened where relevant.

Why the Batavians? The relative wealth of both historical and archaeological evidence makes them an attractive field of study. Their reputation as troop suppliers to the Roman army and the occasion of the Batavian revolt of 69/70, described at length in the surviving books of Tacitus’ Historiae, has earned them considerable attention in the literary sources. Their role as a soldiering people has created a comparatively rich database of epigraphic material in the form of epitaphs, votive inscriptions and military diplomas. A great deal of archaeological research has been carried out at the civitas Batavorum, both into its urban and military centre at Nijmegen and the settlements and cemeteries in the countryside. And recently, fundamental advances have been made in numismatic research and the study of public cult places. All this material has enabled us to put together an interesting case study of the Batavians, one which is also relevant for the broader discussion on ethnic identities in the Roman empire. In the context of Dutch archaeology, this book introduces a new field of research that is relevant for the study of both civilian and military aspects of the Lower Rhine frontier zone.