Editing Septimius Severus (section)

=== Britain ===
{{further|Roman invasion of Caledonia (208–210)}}
[[File:Kushan ring with Septimus Severus and Julia Domna.jpg|thumb|[[Kushan Empire|Kushan]] ring with portraits of Septimius Severus and [[Julia Domna]], a testimony to [[Indo-Roman relations]] of the period]]

In 208 Severus travelled to Britain with the intention of conquering [[Caledonia]]. Modern archaeological discoveries illuminate the scope and direction of his northern campaign.<ref name="Birley 1999 180">Birley, (1999) p. 180.</ref> Severus probably arrived in Britain with an army of over 40,000, considering some of the camps constructed during his campaign could house this number.<ref>W.S. Hanson [http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/adsdata/arch-352-1/dissemination/pdf/vol_109/109_140_150.pdf "Roman campaigns north of the Forth-Clyde isthmus: the evidence of the temporary camps"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107022132/http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/adsdata/arch-352-1/dissemination/pdf/vol_109/109_140_150.pdf |date=7 November 2012 }}</ref>

He strengthened [[Hadrian's Wall]] and reconquered the [[Southern Uplands]] up to the [[Antonine Wall]], which was also enhanced. Supported and supplied by a strong naval force,<ref name="Scotland"/> Severus then thrust north with his army across the wall into Caledonian territory. Retracing the steps of [[Gnaeus Julius Agricola|Agricola]] of over a century before, Severus rebuilt and garrisoned many abandoned Roman forts along the east coast, such as [[Carpow Roman Fort|Carpow]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://canmore.org.uk/site/30081/carpow|title=Carpow {{!}} Canmore|website=canmore.org.uk|language=en|access-date=15 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180516015140/https://canmore.org.uk/site/30081/carpow|archive-date=16 May 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Cassius Dio]]'s account of the invasion reads:

{{blockquote|Severus, accordingly, desiring to subjugate the whole of it, invaded Caledonia. But as he advanced through the country he experienced countless hardships in cutting down the forests, levelling the heights, filling up the swamps, and bridging the rivers; but he fought no battle and beheld no enemy in battle array. The enemy purposely put sheep and cattle in front of the soldiers for them to seize, in order that they might be lured on still further until they were worn out; for in fact, the water caused great suffering to the Romans, and when they became scattered, they would be attacked. Then, unable to walk, they would be slain by their own men, in order to avoid capture, so that a full fifty thousand died. But Severus did not desist until he approached the extremity of the island. Here he observed most accurately the variation of the sun's motion and the length of the days and the nights in summer and winter, respectively. Having thus been conveyed through practically the whole of the hostile country (for he actually was conveyed in a covered litter most of the way, on account of his infirmity), he returned to the friendly portion, after he had forced the Britons to come to terms, on the condition that they should abandon a large part of their territory.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Cassius_Dio/77*.html |title=Cassius Dio – Epitome of Book 77 |publisher=Penelope.uchicago.edu |access-date=2012-11-07}}</ref>}}

By 210 Severus' campaigning had made significant gains, despite Caledonian guerrilla tactics and purportedly heavy Roman casualties.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Keys |first1=David |title=Ancient Roman 'hand of god' discovered near Hadrian's Wall sheds light on biggest combat operation ever in UK |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/hand-of-god-ancient-roman-hadrians-wall-sculpture-bronze-found-latest-a8419131.html |access-date=6 July 2018 |agency=Independent |date=27 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180707015802/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/hand-of-god-ancient-roman-hadrians-wall-sculpture-bronze-found-latest-a8419131.html |archive-date=7 July 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Caledonians sued for peace, which Severus granted on condition they relinquish control of the [[Central Lowlands]] (of what is now Scotland)<ref name="Birley 1999 180"/><ref>Cassius Dio, ''Roman History'', Epitome of Book LXXVII.13.</ref> as evidenced by the extensive Severan-era fortifications there.<ref>Birley (1999), pp. 180–82.</ref> The Caledonians, short on supplies and feeling that their position was desperate, revolted later that year with the [[Maeatae]].<ref>Birley (1999), p. 186.</ref> Severus prepared for another protracted campaign within Caledonia. He was now intent on exterminating the Caledonians, telling his soldiers: "Let no-one escape sheer destruction, no-one our hands, not even the babe in the womb of the mother, if it be male; let it nevertheless not escape sheer destruction."<ref name="Scotland">{{cite news|last1=Smith|first1=Laura|title=The Honest Truth: How the Romans came close but ultimately failed to conquer Scotland under Septimius Severus|url=https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/the-honest-truth-how-the-romans-came-close-but-ultimately-failed-to-conquer-scotland-under-septimius-severus/|access-date=21 May 2018|publisher=The Sunday Post|date=16 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180521164647/https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/the-honest-truth-how-the-romans-came-close-but-ultimately-failed-to-conquer-scotland-under-septimius-severus/|archive-date=21 May 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>Dio Cassius (Xiphilinus) 'Romaika' Epitome of Book LXXVI Chapter 15.</ref>