Roman military policy towards Britain: conquest and expansion Flashcards
Caesar’s first and second invasions?
55 and 54BC
Main enemy of Caesar in 54BC?
Catuvellauni tribe
Evidence of Cunobelinus outside the Roman sources?
bronze coin dated to AD10-40 referring to King Cunobelinus, with his head
Who had Verica been exiled by?
The Atrebates. He had been their king
‘a certain Berikos, who had been driven out of the island as a result of civil war, persuaded Claudius to send a force there’
Dio on reasons for the invasion of 43AD
Who records Augustus telling Tiberius there was no need to expand the empire, and to avoid embarking on any conquest?
Tacitus (Agricola)
Significance of the Stater of Verica from AD 15-40?
It suggests Verica’s support for Rome before the invasion, since it depicts a vine leaf and has latin wording
Previous relations between Rome and Britain?
Several British Kings had appealed to Augustus, as well as Gaius
Who had launched an aborted campaign against the Britons in 40AD?
Gaius
‘the soldiers objected to the idea of campaigning outside the limits of the civilised world’
Dio on initial delay in invasion of 43
‘he sought the honour of a real triumph, and chose Britain as the best field in which to seek this’
Suetonius on Claudius’ motives. No one had tried to invade since Julius Caesar
Examples of the invasion increasing Claudius’ personal glory? (3)
- 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
‘the greatest princeps has opened an island for so long closed’
Pomponius Mela’s description of Britain written in 43.
Did the Britons initially oppose the initial landing force?
No
How many men does Dio say initially were sent to Britain?
4 legions, around 20,000 men and the same number of auxiliaries
Where was the first battle between the Romans and Britons?
the river Medway in Kent
Who won the battle of the river Medway 43AD? Who were they fighting?
the Romans won against the Britons under Caratacus and Togodumnus
How long does Dio say Claudius spent in Britain?
16 days
Dio and Suetonius difference on Plautius’ honours?
Dio said he got a triumph, Suetonius that he received the lesser ovation (Suetonius is more likely)
After what battle did Plautius call Claudius to Britain?
the battle of the Thames, which he had won
Who says little triumph should go to Claudius himself?
Josephus
Depiction of Claudius’ triumphal arch from an Aureus from 46-47?
Says ‘de Britann’ on
When did Josephus write Jewish War and Jewish Antiquities?
War- c. 75AD
Antiquities - c. 94AD
What was the method of attack to bring south and SE Britain under Roman control and evidence for this?
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.
Who commanded the Second Legion Augusta?
Vespasian
When did Aulus Plautius’ governership end?
47
When did Vespasian become Emperor?
69/70AD
Second governor of roman Britain, after Aulus Plautius?
Publius Ostorius Scapula
After the area below the Fosse Way had been captured, what part of Britain was the next target?
Wales and particularly the Silures tribes in the South of Wales
‘he chose for battle a site… that suited his men rather than ours’ - Tacitus on?
Tacitus on Caratacus’ leadership of the Silures tribes of Wales who were standing up to the Romans around 47-57
3rd Governor of Britain?
Aulus Didius Gallus
When did Scapula die?
52AD. Tacitus said he died of the burden of his anxieties
Tacitus’ portrayal of Scapula?
As being frightened and being persuaded by his men to fight the Britons
What two tribes did Gallus defeat?
The Silures, followed by the Brigantes
When was Gallus replaced and by who?
Replaced in 57 by Quintus Veranius
Fifth governor of Britain from 58AD?
Suetonius Paulinus
Trigger for Boudiccan rebellion?
Boudicca’s husband (King of the Iceni) was killed and she was publicly flogged and her daughter’s raped by the Romans
The Year of the Four Emperors?
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
What region did Paulinus attack in 60AD? Leading to him being away when Boudicca rebelled?
Mona (Anglesey)
When was Suetonius Paulinus recalled and replaced by Petronius Turpilianus?
61
‘Turpilianus neither aggravated the enemy, nor was he himself provoked, and he dignified this lazy inactivity with the honourable name of peace’
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
Years of the Boudiccan revolt?
60-61
Who replaced Turpillianus?
Trebellius Maximus
Nero’s attitude to Britain?
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
Under which governor was a legion withdrawn from Britain by Nero?
Maximus
Tacitus on the Roman army in Britain at the time of civil wars in Rome 69AD?
‘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
When did Petilius Cerialis become governor of Britain? What was his previous experience with Britain?
71AD
He had been a legate during Boudicca’s rebellion
When did the fourth legion return to Britain?
71AD with Cerialis
‘after a series of battles… Petilius [Cerialis] had overrun, if not actually conquered the major part of their territory’ - Tacitus
Tacitus praises Cerialis as a governor, for advancing into Brigantia
What governor replaced Petilius Cerialis and what did he do?
Julius Frontinus attacked the Welsh tribes again, after Paulinus had given up on them over a decade before
Why does Tacitus not cover much of Frontinus’ campaign against the Silures?
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’
By the late 70s where were the 4 legions based?
Chester (moved from Lincoln), York, Wroxeter and Caerleon
Tacitus’ relationship with Agricola?
Son-in-law
When was Gnaeus Julius Agricola governor of Britain? What emperor appointed him
78 to 84
Emperor Titus
Pros and cons of Tacitus being Agricola’s son-in-law?
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
Agricola’s first campaign?
the Ordovices in North Wales, and the island of Anglesey
Which legion occupied the new fortress built at Chester, to control north wales?
Second Legion Adiutrix
Where did Agricola focus on by 81AD?
Caledonia
Tacitus on Agricola’s tactics to take Caledonia?
Used the fleet to reconnoitre, which alarmed the natives
When did the Caledonians attack an auxiliary fort?
83AD
When was Agricola recalled?
84AD
Why was Agricola recalled?
Tacitus says it was due to Domitian’s envy
When was the Battle of Mons Graupius and what was the significance?
83AD it was the final battle of Agricola and the Caledonians which brought Caledonia into Roman control
What legion under Agricola was ambushed at night by the Caledonians and what happened?
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
