The Bergistani were defeated by Hannibal during his overland journey to Italy at the beginning of the Second Punic War, having initially tended to side with the Roman republic.[1] They rebelled against Rome in 197 BC, in the context of the Iberian revolt. The rebellion was put down by consul Cato the Elder.[2] When they rose in revolt for the second time, the city of Bergium was taken with the help of a Bergistani factionist, and they were all sold to slavery.[3]Livy mentions that the Bergistani had seven castles or fortifications. Their main castle, Castrum Bergium, could correspond to present-day Berga. Other possibilities include Balaguer, Organyà, Velilla de Ebro,[4]Pertusa and Bergús.[5]Ptolemy does not mention the people but he has both Βεργουσία (Bergusia) and Βέργιδον (Bergidon) in the territory of the Ilergetes.[4]
Ángel Montenegro et alii, Historia de España 2 - colonizaciones y formación de los pueblos prerromanos (1200-218 a.C), Editorial Gredos, Madrid (1989) ISBN84-249-1386-8
The Madeira, Azores, and Canary Islands were not occupied by the Romans. The Madeira and Azores islands were unoccupied until the Portuguese in the 15th century; the Canary islands, the Guanches occupied the territory until the Castilians.
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