Name reveal album 41

Asterix in Lusitania — Provisional album cover

The name for the upcoming album has been revealed: Asterix in Litusania. We already knew that Asterix and Obelix were going on a trip again, and last week they even tried boarding a plane at Paris Orly Airport. A provisional cover has been released which shows Asterix and Obelix standing on a mosaic of a fish.

The mosaic beneath Asterix and Obelix appears to reflect traditional Portuguese pavement art known as calçada portuguesa. This distinctive style is famous for its black-and-white stone patterns, often featuring geometric designs, marine motifs, or cultural symbols. The fish design in the mosaic is particularly fitting, as fish are a common theme in Portuguese coastal art and history, symbolizing the region’s strong maritime heritage. These mosaics are iconic in cities like Lisbon and often decorate public squares and sidewalks. The inclusion of this element on the cover hints at a clear Lusitanian (Portuguese) influence, aligning with the album’s theme.

Litusania

Lutisiana was a historical region located in what is now modern-day Portugal. It was part of the Roman province of Lusitania, established in 27 BCE during the reign of Emperor Augustus. The region was known for its rich natural resources, including gold, silver, and tin, which attracted Roman settlers and traders. However, the original inhabitants, including the Lusitanians, fiercely resisted Roman occupation under the leadership of Viriathus, a skilled guerrilla fighter who led a prolonged campaign against Roman forces in the 2nd century BCE. Despite initial successes, the Lusitanians were eventually defeated through a combination of military pressure and political betrayal. Lutisiana later became a key center for Roman infrastructure, with roads, bridges, and aqueducts that facilitated trade and military movement. Over time, Lutisiana’s strategic importance declined with the fall of the Western Roman Empire, but its Roman legacy remains visible in archaeological sites and historical records.

Viriathus

I wouldn’t be surprised if we’d meet this guerrilla fighter in one form or the other in the new album. The only problem is that he wasn’t around anymore in 50 BCE.

Viriathus was a legendary leader of the Lusitanians, known for his resistance against Roman expansion in the Iberian Peninsula during the 2nd century BCE. He emerged as a leader after the Romans betrayed and massacred many Lusitanians during peace negotiations around 150 BCE. Viriathus organized the surviving tribes into a highly effective guerrilla force, using his deep knowledge of the rugged terrain to launch ambushes and surprise attacks on Roman legions. His strategic brilliance allowed him to win several major victories against Rome, including the defeat of Roman generals like Quintus Fabius Maximus Servilianus.

Viriathus’ success forced Rome to negotiate a treaty with him in 140 BCE, recognizing Lusitanian independence — a rare concession from the Romans. However, Roman authorities soon sought to undermine him, and in 139 BCE, Viriathus was assassinated by his own envoys, who had been bribed by Roman officials. After his death, Lusitanian resistance weakened, and Rome eventually conquered the region. Viriathus remains a symbol of Iberian resistance and independence, celebrated in Portuguese and Spanish history as a national hero.