Roman military policy towards Britain: conquest and expansion

Question 1

Caesar’s first and second invasions?

Answer 1

55 and 54BC

Question 2

Main enemy of Caesar in 54BC?

Answer 2

Catuvellauni tribe

Question 3

Evidence of Cunobelinus outside the Roman sources?

Answer 3

bronze coin dated to AD10-40 referring to King Cunobelinus, with his head

Question 4

Who had Verica been exiled by?

Answer 4

The Atrebates. He had been their king

Question 5

‘a certain Berikos, who had been driven out of the island as a result of civil war, persuaded Claudius to send a force there’

Answer 5

Dio on reasons for the invasion of 43AD

Question 6

Who records Augustus telling Tiberius there was no need to expand the empire, and to avoid embarking on any conquest?

Answer 6

Tacitus (Agricola)

Question 7

Significance of the Stater of Verica from AD 15-40?

Answer 7

It suggests Verica’s support for Rome before the invasion, since it depicts a vine leaf and has latin wording

Question 8

Previous relations between Rome and Britain?

Answer 8

Several British Kings had appealed to Augustus, as well as Gaius

Question 9

Who had launched an aborted campaign against the Britons in 40AD?

Answer 9

Gaius

Question 10

‘the soldiers objected to the idea of campaigning outside the limits of the civilised world’

Answer 10

Dio on initial delay in invasion of 43

Question 11

‘he sought the honour of a real triumph, and chose Britain as the best field in which to seek this’

Answer 11

Suetonius on Claudius’ motives. No one had tried to invade since Julius Caesar

Question 12

Examples of the invasion increasing Claudius’ personal glory? (3)

Answer 12

• extended the pomerium 49
• letter to visiting athletes thanks them for sending him a golden crown - shows the recognition of his achievements
• Suetonius says he theatrically re-enacted the siege and capture of a British oppidum, wearing a general’s cloak

Question 13

‘the greatest princeps has opened an island for so long closed’

Answer 13

Pomponius Mela’s description of Britain written in 43.

Question 14

Did the Britons initially oppose the initial landing force?

Answer 14

No

Question 15

How many men does Dio say initially were sent to Britain?

Answer 15

4 legions, around 20,000 men and the same number of auxiliaries

Question 16

Where was the first battle between the Romans and Britons?

Answer 16

the river Medway in Kent

Question 17

Who won the battle of the river Medway 43AD? Who were they fighting?

Answer 17

the Romans won against the Britons under Caratacus and Togodumnus

Question 18

How long does Dio say Claudius spent in Britain?

Answer 18

16 days

Question 19

Dio and Suetonius difference on Plautius’ honours?

Answer 19

Dio said he got a triumph, Suetonius that he received the lesser ovation (Suetonius is more likely)

Question 20

After what battle did Plautius call Claudius to Britain?

Answer 20

the battle of the Thames, which he had won

Question 21

Who says little triumph should go to Claudius himself?

Answer 21

Josephus

Question 22

Depiction of Claudius’ triumphal arch from an Aureus from 46-47?

Answer 22

Says ‘de Britann’ on

Question 23

When did Josephus write Jewish War and Jewish Antiquities?

Answer 23

War- c. 75AD
Antiquities - c. 94AD

Question 24

What was the method of attack to bring south and SE Britain under Roman control and evidence for this?

Answer 24

a three-pronged attack. Evidence comes from legionary and auxiliary tombstones as well as the bodies of Britons at oppida including Maiden castle in Dorset and Hod Hill.

Question 25

Who commanded the Second Legion Augusta?

Answer 25

Vespasian

Question 26

When did Aulus Plautius’ governership end?

Answer 26

47

Question 27

When did Vespasian become Emperor?

Answer 27

69/70AD

Question 28

Second governor of roman Britain, after Aulus Plautius?

Answer 28

Publius Ostorius Scapula

Question 29

After the area below the Fosse Way had been captured, what part of Britain was the next target?

Answer 29

Wales and particularly the Silures tribes in the South of Wales

Question 30

‘he chose for battle a site… that suited his men rather than ours’ - Tacitus on?

Answer 30

Tacitus on Caratacus’ leadership of the Silures tribes of Wales who were standing up to the Romans around 47-57

Question 31

3rd Governor of Britain?

Answer 31

Aulus Didius Gallus

Question 32

When did Scapula die?

Answer 32

52AD. Tacitus said he died of the burden of his anxieties

Question 33

Tacitus’ portrayal of Scapula?

Answer 33

As being frightened and being persuaded by his men to fight the Britons

Question 34

What two tribes did Gallus defeat?

Answer 34

The Silures, followed by the Brigantes

Question 35

When was Gallus replaced and by who?

Answer 35

Replaced in 57 by Quintus Veranius

Question 36

Fifth governor of Britain from 58AD?

Answer 36

Suetonius Paulinus

Question 37

Trigger for Boudiccan rebellion?

Answer 37

Boudicca’s husband (King of the Iceni) was killed and she was publicly flogged and her daughter’s raped by the Romans

Question 38

The Year of the Four Emperors?

Answer 38

In the year 69AD, after Nero’s suicide, 4 men were declared emperor one after another during a series of bloody civil wars.
- Galba
- Otho
- Vitellius
- Vespasian

Question 39

What region did Paulinus attack in 60AD? Leading to him being away when Boudicca rebelled?

Answer 39

Mona (Anglesey)

Question 40

When was Suetonius Paulinus recalled and replaced by Petronius Turpilianus?

Answer 40

61

Question 41

‘Turpilianus neither aggravated the enemy, nor was he himself provoked, and he dignified this lazy inactivity with the honourable name of peace’

Answer 41

Tacitus on Turpilianus’ reign. He had decided to focus on consolidating the south rather than continue to prosecute the Silures, to allow for the rebuilding of the areas destroyed in the Boudiccan revolt

Question 42

Years of the Boudiccan revolt?

Answer 42

60-61

Question 43

Who replaced Turpillianus?

Answer 43

Trebellius Maximus

Question 44

Nero’s attitude to Britain?

Answer 44

Suetonius suggests he considered abandoning it, and he certainly withdrew a legion - since 4 legions in a country where the active campaigns had been given up on would seem excessive

Question 45

Under which governor was a legion withdrawn from Britain by Nero?

Answer 45

Maximus

Question 46

Tacitus on the Roman army in Britain at the time of civil wars in Rome 69AD?

Answer 46

‘no other legions conducted themselves more correctly’
- it seems they were glad not to be directly involved in war. T says they were happy to hate their enemy rather than each other
Also, a new man Bolanus had been sent by emperor Vitellius

Question 47

When did Petilius Cerialis become governor of Britain? What was his previous experience with Britain?

Answer 47

71AD
He had been a legate during Boudicca’s rebellion

Question 48

When did the fourth legion return to Britain?

Answer 48

71AD with Cerialis

Question 49

‘after a series of battles… Petilius [Cerialis] had overrun, if not actually conquered the major part of their territory’ - Tacitus

Answer 49

Tacitus praises Cerialis as a governor, for advancing into Brigantia

Question 50

What governor replaced Petilius Cerialis and what did he do?

Answer 50

Julius Frontinus attacked the Welsh tribes again, after Paulinus had given up on them over a decade before

Question 51

Why does Tacitus not cover much of Frontinus’ campaign against the Silures?

Answer 51

His aim is to set the scene for Agricola’s arrival. He says ‘he subdued by force of arms the strong and warlike nation of the Silures, after a hard struggle, not only against the valour of his enemy, but against the difficulties of the terrain’

Question 52

By the late 70s where were the 4 legions based?

Answer 52

Chester (moved from Lincoln), York, Wroxeter and Caerleon

Question 53

Tacitus’ relationship with Agricola?

Answer 53

Son-in-law

Question 54

When was Gnaeus Julius Agricola governor of Britain? What emperor appointed him

Answer 54

78 to 84

Emperor Titus

Question 55

Pros and cons of Tacitus being Agricola’s son-in-law?

Answer 55

Con: it is a eulogy, he is unlikely to criticise and may exaggerate

Pro: He had close access to Agricola so his account was probably very accurate

Question 56

Agricola’s first campaign?

Answer 56

the Ordovices in North Wales, and the island of Anglesey

Question 57

Which legion occupied the new fortress built at Chester, to control north wales?

Answer 57

Second Legion Adiutrix

Question 58

Where did Agricola focus on by 81AD?

Answer 58

Caledonia

Question 59

Tacitus on Agricola’s tactics to take Caledonia?

Answer 59

Used the fleet to reconnoitre, which alarmed the natives

Question 60

When did the Caledonians attack an auxiliary fort?

Answer 60

83AD

Question 61

When was Agricola recalled?

Answer 61

84AD

Question 62

Why was Agricola recalled?

Answer 62

Tacitus says it was due to Domitian’s envy

Question 63

When was the Battle of Mons Graupius and what was the significance?

Answer 63

83AD it was the final battle of Agricola and the Caledonians which brought Caledonia into Roman control

Question 64

What legion under Agricola was ambushed at night by the Caledonians and what happened?

Answer 64

The Ninth Legion were ambushed after Agricola had split the force into three. The others quickly joined and they fought off the Caledonians, which Tacitus says increased the soldier’s confidence greatly