CELTIBERIA, a term used by Greek and Roman writers to denote sometimes the whole north-east of Spain, and some times the north-east part of the central plateau. The latter was the correct use. The Celtiberi were the most war-like people in Spain, and for a long time offered a stubborn resistance to the Romans. They served both Carthaginians and Romans as mercenaries, and Livy (xxiv. 49), states that they were the first mercenaries in the Roman army. In 179 B.C. the whole country was subdued by T. Sempronius Gracchus, who by his generous treatment of the vanquished gained their esteem and affection. In 153 they again revolted, and were not finally over come until the capture of Numantia by Scipio the younger B.c. ). After the fall of Numantia, and still more after the death of Sertorius (72 B.e.), the Celtiberians became gradually roman ized, and town life grew up among their valleys; Clunia, for instance, became a Roman municipality, and ruins of its walls, gates and theatre testify to its civilization; Bilbilis (Bambola), another municipality, was the birthplace of Martial.
The Celtiberians may have been descendants of Celtic immi grants from Gaul into Iberia (Spain), or a mixed race of Celts and Spaniards (Iberians) ; that a strong Celtic element existed in Spain is proved both by numerous traditions and by the more trustworthy evidence of place-names.
Their country was rough and unfruitful as a whole (barley, however, was cultivated), being chiefly used for the pasture of sheep. Its inhabitants either led a nomadic life or occupied small villages; large towns were few. Their infantry and cavalry were both excellent. They carried double-edged swords and short daggers for use hand to hand; their defensive armour was a light Gallic shield, or a round wicker buckler, and greaves of felt round their legs They wore brazen helmets with purple crests, and rough-haired black cloaks, in which they slept on the bare ground. They were said to offer sacrifice to a nameless god at the time of the full moon, when all the household danced together before the doors of the houses.
Although cruel to their enemies, they were hospitable to strangers. They ate meat of all kinds, and drank a kind of mead.
E. Hiibner's Article in Pauly-Wissowa's Realencyklopddie, iii. (1886-93) , collects all the ancient references.