King Tuanthal Teachtmhar – an exiled Irish king
Sallustius Lucullus (Grandson of King Cunobelinus) - the governor who succeeded Agricola
King Cunobelinus (Shakespeare’s Cymbeline) - King of Britain who fled to Rome in exile
Marcus Aurelius Maximunius- Decurion Princeps Pannonian cavalry
Decius Flavius- Decurion Pannonian cavalry
Julius Demetrius- Decurion Pannonian cavalry
Gaius Metellus Aurelius- Decurion Pannonian cavalry
Ailis- Macha’s cousin
Metellus Glabrio- Decurion Pannonian cavalry
Cominius Sura- Prefect Batavian auxiliary
Metellus Gabrus- Prefect Gallic cavalry
Furius Strabo- Prefect Batavian Auxiliary
Tulius Broccus- Prefect of the Ninth Hispana
Macro- Sergeant, weapon trainer Pannonian Cavalry
Fainch- Druidic Priestess and witch
Cassius Bassus- Prefect Gallorum Auxiliary
Caolan- Novontae war chief
Centurion Aurelius- trainer for the Usipi
Gwynfor- king of the Ordovices
Gryffydd- son of Gwynfor
Agrippa- Decurion Pannonian cavalry
Inir- Ordovice warband chief
Adelmar- Usipi warrior
Pugeo – Roman soldier’s dagger
Bodotria Fluvium- Forth River
Brocavum- Brougham
Clota Fluvium – River Clyde
Coriosopitum (Corio) - Corbridge
Danum- Doncaster
Derventio- Malton
Deva- Chester
Dunum Fluvius- River Tees
Eboracum- York
Glanibanta- Ambleside
Hen Waliau- Caernarfon
Luguvalium - Carlisle
Mamucium – Manchester
Mona- Holyhead
Morbium- Piercebridge
Taus- the river Solway
Vindonnus- Celtic god of hunting
Wyddfa- Snowdon
Decurion Princeps- senior office in an ala
Author’s Note
One again this is a work of fiction. All the Roman army elements served in Britain at roughly the time the book is set. There are Roman settlements and forts at all the named places. Julius Agricola did lead a force of mainly auxiliaries with a cohort of legionaries to defeat the Ordovices after they destroyed a cavalry squadron. When Agricola invaded Mona he did have his auxiliaries swim across the Menai Straits. I must confess how they did this with armour is a mystery and Tacitus does not enlighten us. I have come up with my own solution.
The problem we have with Agricola is that we know what we do because of his son in law Tacitus who annoyingly rarely writes sequentially and never dates events there we have to speculate about many of the events. History is written by the winners; this is as true now as it was it Roman times and when the historian is your son in law one can expect a certain amount of exaggeration. Agricola was appointed to be Governor of Gallia Aquitania but it coincides with an appointment to Rome and overlaps with his time as Governor of Britannia; therefore I have used writer’s licence with the dates.
Holyhead Island is now connected to the island of Anglesey but in Roman times it was a separate entity with the southernmost part being what is now Trearrdur. This is known as Holyhead Island. The cliffs would not have been steep and the water between the two islands would have been easy to cross at low tide. The people of Mona believed in the power of the land which superseded its lack of defensive qualities.
Agricola was certainly an innovative general; the only legion he took whilst campaigning in the north was the Ninth, largely based at Carlisle. The incident with the cavalry rescuing the Ninth from an attack on their camp actually took place as did the mutiny of German Auxiliaries. The use of the fleet, the Classis Britannica, to supply the army was also an actual event and did of course result in the discovery by Agricola that Britain was an island. The site of the battle in which the Scots were finally defeated has never been accurately pinpointed and I have just used a best guess principle. Tacitus constantly talks of Agricola commanding but as auxiliaries were not legionaries it is highly likely he would have delegate command. Certainly he had to, when advancing across so large an area, use and trust his subordinate commanders. The campaigns against the Novontae are notable for the mixture of diplomacy and war. Siege works were found around hill forts but the lack of major archaeological evidence suggests that the people accepted Roman rule well. The naming of units after their commander was not new, Indus Horse was a famous unit from Caesar’s time; as Agricola was known for his touch with the men this seemed an appropriate reward.
The attack on the Ninth occurred as written and Agricola did indeed bring an ala of cavalry to rescue them. They then went on to build the most northern fort in the Roman Empire at Inchtuthil. The curious incident of the Usipi is also recorded. Tacitus gives us one date and another Roman writer gives one with a two year discrepancy. The facts are the same in both. The Usipi mutinied, killed their centurion stole some ships and sailed along the coast, accidentally discovering that Britain was an island. They did resort to cannibalism. One set of survivors were found in Swabia and the other in Frisia. Both sets of survivors were sold into slavery.
The Irish King did meet with Agricola as written in the novel but Tacitus talks then of Ireland being conquered. As there is no archaeological evidence for this I believe that Tacitus was referring to the Hebrides but perhaps Agricola’s support for the Irish king did impact on that island.
The battle of Mons Graupius was Agricola’s last in Britain. Some said he was withdrawn because he was becoming too successful. As he had not quite finished the conquest I find it more likely that Domitian needed him in the east. We do not know exactly where the battlefield was but it was fought in terrain as described and in the manner described. Tacitus says that 30000 Caledonii fought and the legionaries took no part. He ascribed 20000 casualties on the Caledonii side and only 350 amongst the auxiliaries. Tacitus was on the side of the winners and I suspect he exaggerated!
Other books by Griff Hosker
If you enjoyed reading this book then why not read another one in the series.
Book 1 The Sword of Cartimandua
Book 2 The Horse Warriors
Book 3 Invasion Caledonia
Book 4 Roman Retreat
Book 5 Revolt of the Red Witch
Book 6 Druid’s Gold
Book 7 Trajan’s Hunters
Book 8 The Last Frontier
The first five are available in paperback and all are available in the Kindle format
Also available in paperback and Kindle is the book aimed at 12-15 years olds, Great Granny’s Ghost
Carnage at Cannes is a modern thriller and is available in the Kindle format.
For more information then please go to the author’s web site at http://www.griffhosker.com where there is a link to contact him.
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Table of Contents
Copyright
Acknowledgement
PART ONE- MONA
Prologue West coast of Britannia 75 AD
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Part Three Caledonia
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Epilogue
Names and places in this novel
Author’s Note
Other books by Griff Hosker