Chapter XXIII - Britannia and the Silurian Campaign (149 - 146 BC)
A. Britannia in 149 BC
"In the second year of the Consulate of Decius Claudius Caudex, a delegation from Britannia arrived in Rome and spoke to the Senate. Their leader Gaheris explained, that he represents the tribe of the Cantii, that lives along the southeastern coast of Britannia. They were threatened by their neighbors, the Siluri. Since they had learned, that the Republic had expanded to the shores to the front of their own and knew, that Rome was an honorable and reliable Ally, they asked to become Rome`s friends."
(101)
As far as we know, there were just a few tribes in Britannia, that were at the edge of a progressive civilization, but the Cantii
(102) were not among them. Although there is no evidence besides the report of Cornelius Asina, it is not impossible, that the Cantii were threatened by the Siluri and searched for help, since the Siluri had left their welsh home and expanded to the southwest into the territory of the Catuvellauni.
Fig. 26: Britannia in 150 BC
However, the Senate decided, that the Cantii shall be Rome`s friends
(103) and that Rome will defend them. In order to do this, it sent Aulus Fabius Licinus with a new Legion, that was designated Legio XIV Britannica, towards the British Isles, where he arrived in mid 149 BC. He immediately established several colonies such as Londinium and Durovernum Cantiacorum
(104).
B. Progress
In early 148 BC, Aulus Fabius advanced into Silurian territory and quickly seized Verulamium
(105). After a short break, he went ahead and marched toward Wales.
The arrival of roman troops had not passed unnoticed by the rest of the Britannic tribes. Until then, Aulus Fabius had not faced any resistance, but when he arrived in Wales, he was confronted by a force of 50.000 warriors of the Rauraci
(106), while the Silurian army tried to recapture Verulamium.
Until the summer of 147 BC, Aulus Fabius was pinned down in the welsh mountains. Cornelius Asina describes three large battles and claims, that about 40.000 Celts were killed, while Fabius lost about 2.000 soldiers
(107).
In the meantime, the Silurian force, that probably consisted of clearly less than 10.000 men, had recaptured Verulamium and marched toward Londinium. Despite the small size of the enemy army, the roman Governor Decimus Valerius could not hold the city, that fell shortly before Aulus Fabius returned from Wales. In the ensuing battle, the Silurians were defeated and their Chief Acco captured
(108).
The war was over and the Silurian territory captured.
C. Result
The Silurian (or Britannic) campaign was one of the cases, when the inhabitants of territories, that were designated for roman conquest, united under one leader in order to repulse the invaders. Although this resulted in a short threatening situation, it also vastly decimated the local population fit for military service and thus instantaneously secured roman control over nearly whole Britannia.
(101) Cornelius Asina, "Historia res publica", Vol. III
(102) Kent in today`s United Kingdom still bears their name
(103) The term amicita described friendship between two peer individuals. But in a political sense, a "friend" of Rome became a subordinate client. This meaning was not always clear for the "friends" and lead to several revolts, when they realized, that they became Rome`s subjects.
(104) London and Canterbury
(105) The remnants of this former capital of the Catuvellauni have been found near St. Albans
(106) This is another unclear designation. The Rauraci were neighbors of the Helvetii and settled in the vicinity of today`s Basel. Cornelius Asina obviously confused these tribes. We have no knowledge about who exactly attacked Aulus Fabius in Wales, but findings suggest, that they came from northern England and maybe even North Ireland.
(107) Although such numbers are usually dubious, archaeologists and historians tend to believe these.
(108) And executed about a three months later.