Hosker, G [Sword of Cartimandua 03] Invasion- Caledonia Read online

  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

  Caerhun- A settlement close to Conwy (this becomes the Roman fort of Canovium)

  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!

  Lucullus was related to Cymbeline but when he arrived the Emperor had decided that Britain was all but conquered and he could use the troops from Britannia elsewhere. It was a mistake and Agricola’s departure was the high water mark for Rome in her conquest of Britannia.

  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.

  292

  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

  Part Two The Land of the Lakes

  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<
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  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Epilogue

  Names and places in this novel

  Author’s Note

  Other books by Griff Hosker