[[Image:Gaul, 1st century BC.gif|thumb|A map of [[Gaul]] in the 1st century BC, showing the relative position of the Aedui tribe.]]

'''Aedui''', Haedui or Hedui (Gr. ''Aidouoi''), are [[Gallic]] people of [[Gallia Lugdunensis]], who inhabited the country between the Arar ([[Saone]]) and Liger ([[Loire]]), in today's [[France]].

The statement in [[Strabo]] (ii. 3. 192) that they dwelt between the Arar and Dubis ([[Doubs]]) is incorrect. Their territory thus included the greater part of the modern departments of [[Saône-et-Loire]], [[Côte-d'Or]] and [[Nièvre]]. According to [[Livy]] (v. 34), they took part in the expedition of [[Bellovesus]] into [[Italy]] in the [[6th century BC]].

Before [[Julius Caesar|Caesar's]] time they had attached themselves to the [[Ancient Rome|Romans]], and were honoured with the title of brothers and kinsmen of the Roman people. When the [[Sequani]], their neighbours on the other side of the [[Arar]], with whom they were continually quarrelling, invaded their country and subjugated them with the assistance of a [[Germanic tribes|Germanic]] chieftain named [[Ariovistus]], the Aedui sent [[Diviciacus (Aedui)|Diviciacus]], the [[Druidry|druid]], to [[Rome]] to appeal to the [[Roman Senate|senate]] for help, but his mission was unsuccessful.

On his arrival in [[Gaul]] ([[58 BC]]), Caesar restored their independence. In spite of this, the Aedui joined the Gallic coalition against Caesar (''B. G.'' vii. 42), but after the surrender of [[Vercingetorix]] at [[Alesia]] were glad to return to their allegiance. [[Caesar Augustus|Augustus]] dismantled their native capital [[Bibracte]] on [[Mont Beuvray]], and substituted a new town with a half-Roman, half-Gaulish name, Augustodunum (modern [[Autun]]).

In [[21]], during the reign of [[Tiberius]], they revolted under [[Julius Sacrovir]], and seized [[Augustudunum]], but were soon put down by Gaius Silius ([[Gaius Cornelius Tacitus|Tacitus]] ''[[Annals (Tacitus)|Ann.]]'' iii. 43-46). The Aedui were the first of the Gauls to receive from the emperor [[Claudius]] the distinction of ''[[jus honorum]]''. The oration of [[Eumenius]], in which he pleaded for the restoration of the schools of his native place Augustodunum, shows that the district was neglected. The chief magistrate of the Aedui in Caesar's time was called [[Vergobretus]] (according to [[Theodor Mommsen|Mommsen]], "judgment-worker"), who was elected annually, possessed powers of life and death, but was forbidden to go beyond the frontier. Certain clientes, or small communities, were also dependent upon the Aedui.

The Aedui adopted many of the governmental practices of the Romans, such as the electing of magistrates and other officials.

==See also==
* [[List of peoples of Gaul]]

==References==
* A. E. Desjardins, ''Geographie de la Gaule,'' ii. ([[1876]]-[[1893]])
* T. R. Holmes, ''Caesar's Conquest of Gaul'' ([[1899]]).

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[[Category:Ancient Roman enemies]]
[[Category:Ancient Roman allies]]
[[Category:Tribes of ancient Gaul]]

[[ca:Aduins]]
[[cy:Aedui]]
[[de:Haeduer]]
[[es:Eduos]]
[[fr:Éduens]]
[[ko:하이두이족]]
[[it:Edui]]
[[lad:Eduens]]
[[la:Haedui]]
[[hu:Haeduusok]]
[[nl:Aedui]]
[[pl:Eduowie]]
[[ru:Эдуи]]
[[fi:Heedut]]
[[sv:Haeduer]]