BRIGANTES, a people of northern Britain, who inhabited the country from the mouth of the Humber on the east, and Mersey on the west, as far northwards as the Wall of Antoninus. Their chief town was Eburacum (or Eboracum; York). They first came into contact with the Romans during the reign of Claudius, when they were defeated by Publius Ostorius Scapula. Under Vespasian they submitted to Petillius Cerealis, but were not finally subdued till the time of Antoninus Pius (Tac. Agricola, 17; Pausan. viii. 43. 4). A branch of the Brigantes also settled in the south-east corner of Ireland, near the river Birgus (Barrow). The name Brigantes is said to mean "mountaineers." See A. Holder, Altceltischer Sprachschatz, i. (1896) , for ancient authorities: J. Rhys, Celtic Britain (3rd ed., 1904) ; Pauly-Wissowa, Realencyklopadie, iii. pt, i. (1897)