Brittium (in the classics Bruttii, the name of the inhabitants having been used for the country until more modern -times; Gr. B ), an ancient division of southern Italy, comprising almost the whole of the modern provinces of Calabria Citra and Calabria Ultra, occupying the peninsula forming the S. W. extremity of the country, and bounded N. by Lucania, E. and S. by the Sicilian sea, and W. by the Tyrrhenian sea. The Apennines occupy the entire centre of the peninsula and its N. W. portion, and exhibit here some remarkable features. The principal rivers were the Crathis (now Crati), which flowed northward from its source near Consentia (Cosenza) across the border of Lucania and into the Tarentine gulf near Sybaris; and the Nerethus (Neto), rising near the source of the Crathis and flowing eastward into the sea about midway between Crimisa and Crotona. The greater part of the surface is rugged and rocky. On the mountain sides the vine flourishes, and the land along the coasts has been always cultivated with success from very ancient times; but the timber of the mountain districts appears to have been almost the only natural product of the country w^hich was of great importance to the ancient inhabitants. - The Bruttians, properly so called, did not become masters of the peninsula until about 356 B. C. In the earliest times it appears to have been inhabited by a Pelasgian race, the (Enotrians, two tribes of which bore the names of Chones and Morgetes. At a very early period, however, Greek colonists took possession of the coasts, and within a short time had surrounded the peninsula with a circle of important settlements, of which the chief were Crotona, Scyllacium, Locri, and Khegium. Two or three of these had also dependencies of considerable wealth and prosperity.

The Greeks appear to have completely subjected the native inhabitants, and to have held them almost in a state of slavery until after the Peloponnesian war. Shortly after the termination of this, the Lu-canians began gradual encroachments on the peninsula from the north, and by the beginning of the 4th century B. C. they had conquered the greater part of the interior, changing the masters of the oppressed natives without bettering their condition. It was probably this long-continued slavery that led, about 356 B. C, to the uprising of the people properly called the Bruttians. The descriptions of ancient authors do not clearly show from what races these were made up; but there is little question that a large proportion of them were of the (Enotrian or native stock, and that there were many Lucanians also among them. The name is said to have been given them by the Lucanians, and to have signified rebels or revolted slaves. They rapidly gained independence and power, took several of the Greek cities, and finally united with the Lucanian armies against the Grecian power.

They were successful in maintaining and increasing their strength in the peninsula until they joined with the Samnites and again with the Lucanians against Rome, in 282 B. C. For several years they continued the war, but were finally subdued by C. Fabricius and L. Papirius, and obliged to give up a valuable portion of their territory, besides becoming subject to the Roman power. During the second Punic war they revolted, and rendered most important assistance to Hannibal; but they were again subdued, and severely punished by the Romans, the chief part of their territory being taken from them, and their people being reduced almost to slavery. They do not again appear in history as a nation, and their country is treated from this time as a Roman province. (See Calabeia).