Elliott, Simon Agricola in Scotland

The Northern Campaigns of Roman Britain's Great Warrior Governor

Agricola was the great Flavian commander and governor of Britain, who was commissioned by Emperor Vespasian to conquer the far north of the main island for the first time. He first led campaigns in Wales and then in the north of what is now England to secure his rear before launching his first attack on what is now Scotland in the late 70s AD. This was followed by four more bloody campaigns beyond the border between Solway Firth and Tyne, with the Romans advancing further and further into what they would have seen as the heart of darkness. It is well known that during the campaigns he also considered invading Ireland, but was prevented from doing so by the new emperor Domitian. Ultimately, according to primary sources, he defeated the combined armies of the indigenous peoples in the far north at the Battle of Mons Graupius in 83 AD. Afterwards, the successful conquest of the entire island was announced, Agricola ordered the Classis Britannia (the Roman fleet in Britain) to circumnavigate the entire province for the first time, and Domitian ordered the construction of a monumental triumphal arch in Richborough on the east coast of Kent to celebrate the Roman triumph. This became the imperial gateway to Roman Britain.