The Romans in Scotland and The Battle of Mons Graupius

The Romans marched into the northern reaches of Britain in AD 77 to pacify the Caledonian tribesmen. They fought the final battle at Mons Graupius in AD 83, where 10,000 Caledonians were slaughtered with only 360 Roman dead. Recent archaeological investigations have cast a more sceptical eye over Tacitus' account, suggesting a new narrative and a new location for the battle. Mons Graupius marks the withdrawal of Rome from the north, which is the beginning of the end for the Empire.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 15 January 2022
Publisher: Amberley Publishing

Roman forces under the command of Agricola embarked on a mission to pacify the Caledonian tribesmen in the northern reaches of Britain in AD 77. Their campaign lasted for seven years, traversing what is now Scotland. In AD 83, they engaged in the final battle at Mons Graupius, resulting in a significant victory for the Romans. Despite the numerical advantage of the Caledonians, with 10,000 warriors killed and only 360 Roman casualties, the battle was a decisive victory for the Romans.

The primary source for understanding this period is The Agricola, written by Gnaeus Julius Agricola's son-in-law Tacitus. This account provides a detailed account of Agricola's career as governor of Britannia during the reigns of Emperors Vespasian, Titus, and Domitian. It closely matches the available evidence on the ground, and for many years, it was uncritically accepted as accurate. However, recent archaeological investigations conducted at Roman sites in Scotland and northern England have caused historians to question Tacitus's account.

Author Simon Forder has delved into the fine print of the Agricola, along with the implications of Ptolemy's Geography, and has used these to develop a new narrative. He suggests that the battle may have taken place at a different location than previously believed, and that the withdrawal of Rome from the north marked the beginning of the end for the Empire.

Mons Graupius has long fascinated historians due to the uncertainties surrounding the battle and its significance as the point where Rome withdrew from the north. The battle was a turning point in Roman history, as it marked the end of their expansion into northern Britain.

Weight: 262g
Dimension: 129 x 207 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781398110908