Chauci
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The Chauci were a populous Germanic tribe inhabiting the extreme northwestern shore of Germany during Roman times - basically the stretch of coast between Frisia in the west to the Elbe estuary in the east.
The Chauci, like the Frisii, inhabited terpen, artificial mounds, which serve to protect the farms from the floods. A fact which, combined with the presence of large floodplains, mystified the romans. A lively, first hand account is delivered by Pliny the Elder, who writes that the Chauci live off fishing and hunting. Archeological evidence, however, shows that Pliny isn't quite accurate, since the Chauci also raise cattle and support cavalry-troops.
The Chauci according to Tacitus are highly respected among germannic tribes. He also describes them as peacefull, calm and levelheaded, despite the reports in the Annales of piracy.
History
The political position of the Chauci, early in the 1st century, was essentially a pro-roman one. The provided, for instance, auxiliaries during the seconf campaign of Germanicus against the Cherusci. The evidence for this is not just the description of Tacitus, but also finds of typical equestrian parafernalia near the Praetorium on the Kops-plateau near Oppidum Batavorum (Nijmegen), which served as the roman headquarters in Germania Inferior.
In 47 the Chauci, with the Frisii raid Germania Inferior, lead by Gannascus a Canninefat and a deserter from the legions. They use small boats to raid the coast of Gaul (Probably Belgica) but are defeated by Corbulo. Corbulo in turn starts plotting against Gannascus, who is ultimately killed. This however, leads to great unrest amongst the Chauci and the situation is about to escallate when Corbulo is ordered by Claudius to retreat behind the Rhine River, which is subsequently declared the border of the roman empire.
During the Batavian Rebellion in 69, detachments of Frisii and Chauci fight on the side of Julius Civilis.
By the end of the 3rd century CE, they had merged with the Saxons : whether this conjunction was amicable or forced is not clear.
Bibliography
P. Cornelius Tacitus, de situ et origine germanorum. XXXV.
P. Cornelius Tacitus, annales, XI 18-19, XIII 55.
P. Cornelius Tacitus, historiae IV 79, V 19.
Gaius Plinius Secundus maior, naturalis historia, XVI, 2-4.
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