Brusciano (NA): A commune (area: 5.64 km²; alt. 34 m) in the province of Napoli. It is located 16 km NE of Naples, situated to the left of the Regi Lagni. Population: 14,019 (1991).
Bruthius: See Bruttii.
Bruttii (Bruttius, Brettii, Bruttiorum Ager, Bruttium, Oenotria, Italia): (1) An ancient region of southern Italy, roughly corresponding to modern Calabria, the “toe” of the Italian peninsula. It had an area of about 3,400 sq. miles. It’s border with ancient Lucania ran from the mouth of the river Laus to Thurii. Bruttium faced Sicily across the Strait of Messina. It is mostly mountainous, dominated by southern section of the Apennines. It was famous in ancient times for its excellent pasturage and the quality of its grain, fruit and olives. The earliest inhabitants known to history were Illyrian Chones and the Oenotrians (Oenotri), whose name apparently derives from the Greek word for wine (=oinos). In the 8th Century BC, the Sabellian Lucanians extended their control over area. These settlers intermarried with the earlier inhabitants and settled in a number of settlements, the principal ones being Cosentia (mod. Cosenza) and Clampetia (mod. Amantea). The new hybrid colonists spoke an Oscan dialect very similar to Lucanians. In 356 BC, the settlers, who mainly held the interior, revolted and declared themselves independent. The Lucanians, unable to rein in their colonists, referred to them thereafter as Bruttii (or Brettii), meaning either “rebels” or, disparagingly, “runaway slaves.” Ancient scholars such as Diodorus Siculus (16.15), Strabo (6.253f), and Justin (23.1) all confirm the origin of this name, believing that the root-word was pre-Sabellian. While the Bruttii were establishing themselves in the interior, the adjoining coasts were being colonized by the Greeks with cities like Sybaris, Kroton, Rhegion and others. Both peoples remained at odds with one another, neither being strong enough to completely conquer or oust the other. The Bruttii, however, were far more cohesive in nature than the Greeks, the latter constantly fighting amongst themselves. These differences gave the Bruttii a distinct advantage when they targeted some of the weaker Greek city-states. The Bruttii was able to bring control of a number of these cities under their control. Although the Bruttii proved to be the stronger militarily, it was Greek culture that ultimately prevailed. As the Bruttii warred with and trade with the Greeks, they became increasingly Hellenized in their way of life. The increasing power of the Romans into southern Italy was met with hostility by the Bruttii. During the war of Pyrrhus against Rome in the first part of the 3rd Century BC, the Bruttii allied themselves with the former. When Pyrrhus withdrew from Italy in defeat, the Romans punished the Bruttii by confiscating half of the Sila forest. Despite this, the Bruttii were not cowed. When Hannibal invaded Italy during the 2nd Punic War, the Bruttii were among his strongest allies. The consequences of choosing the wrong side again were devastating. Large tracts of Bruttian land were seized by the Romans who established a series of new colonies at Buxentum, Tempsa, Vibo Valentia, Croton, and Thurii. The Romans deprived the Bruttii of their independence and the entire people were declared to be public slaves. Many of them were employed by the Romans as lictors and servants for the magistrates. When Spartacus revolted in southern Italy (73-71 BC), several Bruttii supported him, bringing further devastation to their lands. The coastal regions of Bruttium were repeatedly raided by Sextus Pompey during his battle with Octavian. By the time that the Roman Empire was established and peace was restored, Bruttium was a devastated land, stripped of its wealth and populated by a broken people. The majority of the Roman population concentrated itself into a handful of cities, the principal ones being Rhegium and Vibo Valentia. When Augustus reorganized Italy, Bruttium was combined with Lucania in the Third Augustan Region. The region passed to Byzantium after the fall of Rome and became known as Calabria.