Friday, December 14, 2018

Caratacus, the Home-Wrecker

-By 42 AD, many Briton tribes were surrenduring to Rome in order to reap the benefits and enjoy not being slaughtered.
   -Britannic nobles definitely would have experienced the most changes during this time in terms of of status, an increase/decrease in wealth, etc., but for commoners shit really didn't change all that much; as long as you didn't cause any trouble, you were probably fine.
      -The biggest difference for the masses in terms of the Roman invasion was most likely the presence of Roman military and tax collectors (who collected taxes from the locals who were paying for Roman "protection" (sound familiar?)).  Also, communities under Roman subjugation would slowly be disarmed and pacified, which in turn would make them increasingly dependent on the Roman military for protection from the hostile tribes who hadn't been disarmed!
      -The difference in religion between the Romans and the Britons was also likely to be a big issue as well. 
   -Anyway, one of the leaders of the rebels was still continuing the fight against Rome- Caratacus! 
      -Although he had been crushed at Camulodunum (modern-day Colchester, Essex), he gave zero fucks and was still a major player in the Britannic resistance against the Romans (who were now being led by a dude named Aulus Plautius, the first governor of this new province (officially annexed in 43 AD).
      -Under Plautius, the Romans were extremely ruthless; you either completely submitted to Rome or you and your people were slaughtered!
      -Caratacus was now holed up in modern-day Wales and was under the protection of (and leading I guess?) the Silures and the Ordovices (or a tribal confederation that they belonged to) tribes.  Other tribes soon began to flock to his banner.
         -It's unclear as to why exactly these tribes were still resistant to Rome, and it's possible that it could have been because of old tribal grudges, wanting to "live free or die", or even because of the the anti-Roman sentiment among the druids (now confined to the Isle of Mona (modern-day Anglesey (off the northwest coast of modern-day Wales)) since the Romans had no tolerance for the Britons' pagan religion.
            -Additionally, the druids were renowned for their roles and skills in diplomacy and brokering peace and/or uniting tribes together in the past, so it would make sense that the tribes of (modern-day) Wales would still be resistant to Rome if the druids hated them.
               -Also, there's evidence that Caratacus' family may have had ties to these tribes as well.
-47 AD- Plautius' term is up as governor, so he returns to Rome. 
   -He's replaced in Britannia by a former general named Publius Ostorius Scapula.
      -At this point, Caratacus' rebellion was in full swing, so Scapula immediately organized his troops to set up camp along the border between Roman occupied territory and Caratacus' allied forces' territory.
         -The idea was to make it more difficult for the Britons to wage guerrilla warfare.
         -Scapula then declared the area around Camulodunum an official Roman colony where the troops could retire after serving (which really pissed off the locals, of course).
            -Eventually, this would become the center of Roman power in Britannia.
         -Scapula also completely disarmed all of the tribes dominated by Rome, no matter how faithfully they had served their Roman overlords.
            -Of course, this plan actually backfired and caused many of the tribes to rebel, the most powerful among them being the Iceni tribe. 
               -However, the Iceni and the others were quickly defeated not long after this, and once again Caratacus' allied forces stood alone against Rome.
           -Following the defeat of the Iceni, a Briton named Prasutagas was installed as a puppet king of the Iceni (or maybe he had been king before and was "given back" his power?  It's unclear as to who this dude actually was, I think).
-48 AD- another rebellion against Rome broke out in the north (in modern-day Yorkshire), led by the Brigantes.
   -Because the Brigantes weren't a unified tribe but more of a loose confederation, they had only submitted in part to Rome, but not completely.  So, Scapula had to pause his war with Caratacus to go focus on putting down the Brigantes' rebellion (or civil war?).
      -After quelling this unrest, the Romans allowed for the Brigantes' queen, Cartimandua, to be restored to power as a puppet ruler (she had previously been queen before the rebellion but had pledged loyalty to Rome). 
         -The Romans then returned their focus to the fight against Caratacus, vowing to completely slaughter his forces.
            -Due to Scapula's absolutely ruthless behavior, the Britons had been flocking to Caratacus' banner in greater and greater numbers as time went on.
               -Still, overall the situation was looking grim for Caratacus, as the Romans had simply gained too much land and grown too powerful.  Also, due to Scapula's ruthlessness, the Britons were becoming completely demoralized.
   -Finally, Caratacus decided it was time for a final showdown!  So, his forces gathered at a hill fort (at either Caer Caradog (modern-day Church Stretton, Shropshire) or Herfordshire Beacon in the Malvern Hills of Herfordshire; it's unclear) to prepare for the final battle.
      -The legions soon arrived and began to overtake the fort, so Caratacus quickly made a hasty retreat out of the fort (leaving behind his wife and kids!) and hid amongst the Brigantes, some of whom apparently still harbored strong enough anti-Roman sentiments to take him in. 
         -Apparently, Queen Cartimandua wasn't at all happy with Caratacus' arrival, and she promptly had him arrested and sent to the Romans! 
            -It's unclear as to why she did this, exactly.  Regardless, there was a huge split among the Brigantes about this decision.
               -Cartimandua's husband, King Venutius, strongly disagreed with his wife's decision and so they began to quarrel, which soon spread to the nobility.
            -As for Caratacus, he was sent to Rome in chains with his wife and family.  He was presented to Emperor Claudius and apparently gave an impassioned and brilliant speech.  Because of this, Claudius allowed him and his family to live! 
               -After this, it's unclear what happened to him, exactly.
-52 AD- Scapula dies suddenly (supposedly due to exhaustion from fighting the Britons)!
   -He was replaced by a former proconsul, Aulus Didius Gallus.

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