The independence of northern Britannia rested on the treaty between Rome and the Brigantian queen, Cartimandua. In 69 she, having divorced Venutius, was attacked by him. Vettius Bolanus (c.38; fl.62-81), the governor of Britannia, responded as required by their treaty but the civil war in the Empire meant he could do no more than rescue the pro-Roman queen.
In 71 the governor Petillius Cerialis (71-74) moved northwards from Lindum (=Lincoln, Lincolnshire, east coast), established a fortress at Eboracum (=York: North Yorkshire) and built a line of forts to separate the Parisi (East Riding) from the Brigantes (Yorkshire). After defeating Venutius, he crossed the Pennines via Stainmore (near the borders of Cumbria, County Durham and Yorkshire), where the campaign-camp at Rey Cross dates from his governorship.
He established a fort at Luguvalium (=Carlisle: Cumbria, northwest coast), where he was joined by 26Julius Agricola (53; fl.58-93), who having been tasked by Cerealis with operations in the west had advanced northwards via the Lancashire coast and then followed the Lune and Eden rivers to Carlisle. These operations introduced sufficient control to allow the next governor (74-78), 27JuliusFrontinus (c.63; fl.70-103), who probably founded Isca Silurum (Caerwent, Monmouthshire, SE Wales), to complete the conquest of Silures and consolidate the military gains in Wales.
Leave a Reply