Lusitania and the Roman Empire in the 1st Century BCE
By Manuel NEVES, PhD, Social and Historical Anthropology from the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (School of Advanced Studies in Social Sciences)
Astérix in Lusitania
Presentation
Writer: Fabcaro Drawings by: Didier Conrad |
Publisher: Les Éditions Albert René Publication date: 23. october 2025 |
On 23rd October MMXXV there will be a new album of adventures for the most famous of Gauls: Asterix in Lusitania!
One beautiful spring morning, a stranger appears in the Gaulish village. He’s from Lusitania, the sun-drenched land to the west of Hispania which is also under the Roman Empire’s thumb. This former slave, who first featured in The Mansions of the Gods, has come to ask our indomitable Gauls for help because he knows about the Magic Potion and its powerful effects. And so begins another adventure for Asterix and Obelix!
What can you tell us about Lusitania and its people?
The first references to Lusitanians in Greco-Roman sources report a people who lived in the mountainous region of Estrela and its surroundings, in the central northern part of today’s Portugal. These pre-Celtic tribes, ruled by a rich warrior elite, lived in fortified settlements called “castros.” Communities in the highlands opted for animal husbandry and gathering, while those in the lowlands enjoyed richer, more varied agriculture.
What was the role of Lusitania in the Roman Empire?
As the Romans gradually conquered the Iberian Peninsula, Lusitania was created as a Roman province. Its importance to the empire came first and foremost from its numerous abundant mineral resources. Indeed, Lusitania was considered one of the main sources of gold for Rome. Tin production along the Lusitanian coastal region, for example, played a part in setting up maritime trade routes to the Mediterranean. Thus, as we can see, within less than a century of Romanization, Lusitania had become an indispensable part of the Roman Empire.
Can we speak of any parallels between the history of the Gauls and that of the Lusitanians?
We can even talk about several parallels! First of all, they shared a common enemy: Rome. Both also had a charismatic leader: much as Vercingétorix did with the Gauls, Viriate led the Lusitanians in a rebellion that lasted eight years and went down in history. Only through treachery—by killing him in his sleep—did the Empire manage to get rid of this astute strategist. Another commonality to keep in mind: it was Julius Caesar who finally overcame the Lusitanians in 60 BCE, much as he did the Gauls ten years later.
Scoop: An interview with Asterix and Obelix about their latest adventure!
In keeping with traditions established by Goscinny and Uderzo, this latest Asterix adventure comes complete with spoof promotional interviews in the media.
In the 60s the authors devised promotional strips inspired by television culture: in 1964 Asterix and the Big Fight was publicised with a press conference featuring Vitalstatistix in very Gaulish style; the 1965 launch of Asterix in Britain saw our heroes interviewed by a fictional presenter based on the French journalist Pierre Desgraupes; and in 1970 Asterix in Switzerland was introduced in a pastiche edition of Francophonissime hosted by Pierre Tchernia.
This tradition is still going today with publicity for Asterix in Lusitania. Fabcaro and Conrad have opted for a contemporary format: a short online video of a quirky interview where the interviewer stays out of shot. True to the spirit of the series, our two heroes struggle with the need for total secrecy because of the editorial embargo. One tries to respect his instructions, the other nearly flouts them… but the mystery remains intact.
Les secrets des druides sur l’album
