BITURIGES (bit-oor'i-gas), a Celtic people, according to Livy (v. 34) the most powerful in Gaul in the time of Tarquinius Priscus. At some period they split up into two branches Bituriges Cubi and Bituriges Vivisci.
The Bituriges Cubi in Caesar's time acknowledged the su premacy of the Aedui, inhabited the departments of Cher and Indre, and partly that of Allier. Their chief town was Avaricum (Bourges). At the time of the rebellion of Vercingetorix (52 B.c.) , Avaricum was taken by assault, and the inhabitants put to the sword. In the following year, the Bituriges submitted to Cae sar, and under Augustus they were incorporated (28 B.c.) in Aquitania. Their district contained a number of iron works, and Caesar says they were skilled in driving galleries and mining.
The Bituriges Vivisci occupied the strip of land between the sea and the left bank of the Garonne, comprising the greater part of the modern department of Gironde. Their capital was Bur digala (Bordeaux), even then a place of considerable importance and a wine-growing centre. Pliny refers to both Cubi and Vivisci as liberi; i.e., they enjoyed some degree of independence.
See A. Desjardins, Geographie historique de la Gaule romaine, ii. (1876-93) ; T. R. Holmes, Caesar's Conquest of Gaul (1899) .