The name comes from Cicero, who described it as a land of barbarians (Barbaria, Βαρβαρία in Ancient Greek). This word derives from the Greek Βάρβαρος, which means "stuttering". The Sardinians from this area were also known, by the ancient Romans, with the pejorative term latrones mastrucati, which means "thieves with a rough garment in wool"; Roman domination in this part of Sardinia was never more than nominal.