BATAVORUM insula, the island of the Batavians, (anc. geogr.). Of this island Tacitus gives the following description. "The Rhine flowing in one channel, or only broken by small islands, is divided at its entering Batavia, as it were into two rivers. One continues its course through Germany, retaining the same name, and violent current, till it falls into the ocean. The other washing the coast of Gaul, with a broader and more gentle stream, is called by the inhabitants Valahis; which name it soon changes for that of Moja, by the immense mouth of which river it discharges itself into the same ocean." According to Tacitus, therefore, the island of the Batavians was bounded by the ocean, the Rhine, and the Valahis, now the Wake. Caesar extends it to the Mota, or Meuse; but Pliny agrees with Tacitus. However, this island was of greater extent in Tacitus's time than in Caesar's; Drusus, the father of Germanicus, having by a new canal conveyed the waters of the Rhine into the ocean a considerable way north of the former mouth of that river. The Batavi were a branch of the Catti, who in a domestic sedition, being expelled their country, occupied the extremity of the coast of Gaul, at that time uninhabited, together with this island situated among shoals. Their name Batavi they carried with them from Germany; there being some towns in the territory of the Catti called Battenberg, and Battenhausen. The bravery of the Batavi, especially the horse, procured them not only great honour from the Romans, being called their brothers and friends; but Bataverum an exemption from taxes, being obliged only to furnish men and arms. The modern name of this island is Beta, or Batou.

BATAVORUM Oppidum (anc. geog.), a town in the island of the Batavi, mentioned by Tacitus, without any particular name; which has given rise to several surmises about it, some supposing it to be Nimeguen, but Cluverius, Batavodurum or Batemburg, both without the island; which situation renders both these places inadmissible, since Tacitus places this nameless town within the island.