Rhaeti Discussion

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The Rhaeti were a conferation of Alpine tribes whose language and customs derived from the Etruscans. It is thought they were originally Etrsucans based in northern Italy who were displaced by the attacking Gauls and fled into the Alps and by 500 BC they controlled much of central Switzerland. The northern Rhaeti traded and allied with their Celtic northern neighbor the Vindelici which made the Celtic language widespread. Both groups were subjugated by the Imperial Roman army in 15 BC and the Roman province of Raetia et Vindelicia was established. The Rhaeti tribes were very loyal to Rome and contributed very large numbers of recruits to the Imperial Roman auxiliary corps. Latin became the dominant language and it is thought today in the Swiss canton of Graub¨nden that the 4th national language of Switzerland, Romansch, is a mix of Latin, Celt and ancient Rhaetian.