British Celtic Warrior vs Roman Soldier: Britannia AD 43-105

This book provides an illustrated study of the British tribal warriors and Roman auxiliaries who fought in three epic battles for control of Britain in the 1st century AD. It explores their recruitment, training, leadership, motivation, culture, and beliefs, and compares them to an assessment of three battles: the final defeat of Caratacus, the Roman assault on Mona, and the battle of Mons Graupius.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 80 pages
Publication date: 21 July 2022
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

An in-depth exploration of the British tribal warriors and Roman auxiliaries who engaged in three pivotal battles during the 1st century AD to secure control over Britain. Following the Roman invasion of Britain in AD 43, the tribes of the west and north fiercely resisted the establishment of a 'Roman peace,' with the chieftain Caratacus leading the charge. Even in the southeast, resentment of Roman occupation persisted, culminating in the uprising of Boudiccas Iceni in AD 60.

Roman auxiliaries from two distinct groups are documented to have participated in the invasion of Britain: the Tungrians, originating from present-day Belgium, and the Batavians, from the delta of the River Rhine in the modern Netherlands. From the late 80s AD, units of both the Batavians and the Tungrians were stationed at a fort at Vindolanda in northern Britain. The so-called 'Vindolanda tablets' offer an unparalleled wealth of material for reconstructing the lives of these auxiliary soldiers in Britain. Accompanied by full-color maps, specially commissioned battle scene and figure artwork plates, this book delves into the experiences of both the British warriors and the Roman auxiliaries during the decades of conflict that followed the invasion.

A comparative analysis is conducted, examining their recruitment, training, leadership, motivation, culture, and beliefs alongside an assessment of three pivotal battles: the final defeat of Caratacus in the hills of Wales in AD 50; the Roman assault on the island of Mona (Anglesey) in AD 60; and the battle of Mons Graupius in Scotland in AD 83.

Weight: 266g
Dimension: 184 x 246 x 8 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781472850898