Editing Caratacus (section)

==History==

===Claudian invasion===
Caratacus is named by [[Dio Cassius]] as a son of the Catuvellaunian king [[Cunobelinus]].<ref>[[Dio Cassius]], trans Earnest Cary, ''Roman History'' [https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Cassius_Dio/60*.html#19 60:19–22]</ref>  Based on [[coin]] distribution Caratacus appears to have been the protégé of his uncle [[Epaticcus]], who expanded Catuvellaunian power westwards most likely from his palace in Verulam, the heartland of the Catuvellauni, into the territory of the [[Atrebates]].<ref>John Creighton, ''Coins and power in Late Iron Age Britain'', Cambridge University Press, 2000; [[Philip de Jersey]] (1996), ''Celtic Coinage in Britain'', Shire Archaeology</ref> After Epaticcus died in about AD&nbsp;35, the Atrebates, under [[Verica]], regained some of their territory, but it appears Caratacus completely conquered the Atrebates, since Dio tells us Verica was ousted, fled to [[Ancient Rome|Rome]] and appealed to the [[Roman Emperor|emperor]] [[Claudius]] for help. This was the excuse used by Claudius to launch his [[Roman conquest of Britain|invasion of Britain]] in the summer of 43. 

The invasion targeted Caratacus' stronghold of [[Camulodunon]] (modern [[Colchester]]), previously the seat of his father Cunobelinus.<ref name="Crummy 19972">Crummy, Philip (1997) City of Victory; the story of Colchester – Britain's first Roman town. Published by Colchester Archaeological Trust ({{ISBN|1897719043}})</ref><ref>Todd, Malcolm. (1981) Roman Britain; 55BC – 400AD. Published by Fontana Paperbacks ({{ISBN|0006337562}})</ref> Cunobelinus had died some time before the invasion. Caratacus and his brother [[Togodumnus]] led the initial defence of the country against [[Aulus Plautius]]'s four [[Roman legion|legions]], thought to have been around 40,000 men, primarily using [[Guerrilla warfare|guerrilla]] tactics.'''<ref>Jorit Wintjes (2020) 'On the side of a righteous vengeance' – Counterinsurgency operations in Roman Britain, Small Wars & Insurgencies, 31:5, 1108–1129, DOI: 10.1080/09592318.2020.1764715</ref>''' They lost much of the south-east after being defeated in two crucial battles, the [[Battle of the Medway|Battle of the River Medway]] and [[River Thames]]. 

Dio reports that Togodumnus was killed (although both [[Miles Russell]] and John Hind argue that Dio was mistaken in reporting Togodumnus' death, that he was defeated but survived and was later appointed by the Romans as a friendly king over a number of territories, becoming the loyal king referred to by Tacitus as Cogidubnus or [[Togidubnus]])<ref>Russell, Miles. (2006) Roman Sussex, pp. 33-43. Published by Tempus ({{ISBN|0752436015}})</ref><ref>J. G. F. Hind, "A. Plautius' Campaign in Britain: An Alternative Reading of the Narrative in Cassius Dio (60.19.5–21.2)", ''[[Britannia (journal)|Britannia]]'' Vol. 38 (2007), pp. 93–106)</ref> and the Romans conquered the Catuvellaunian territories. Their stronghold of Camulodunon was converted into the first Roman [[Colonia (Roman)|colonia]] in Britain, [[Colonia Victricensis]].<ref name="Crummy 19972" /><ref>Crummy, Philip (1992) Colchester Archaeological Report 6: Excavations at Culver Street, the Gilberd School, and other sites in Colchester 1971–85. Published by Colchester Archaeological Trust ({{ISBN|0-9503727-9-X}})</ref><ref>Crummy, Philip (1984) Colchester Archaeological Report 3: Excavations at Lion Walk, Balkerne Lane, and Middleborough, Colchester, Essex. Published by Colchester Archaeological Trust ({{ISBN|0-9503727-4-9}})</ref>

===Resistance to Rome===
{{Main|Caratacus' last battle}}
[[File:Caradog (5227657).jpg|left|thumb|Caradog watercolour painting by Thomas Prydderch.]]
We next hear of Caratacus in [[Tacitus]]'s ''[[Annals (Tacitus)|Annals]]'', leading the [[Silures]] and [[Ordovices]] of [[Wales in the Roman Era|Wales]] against Plautius' successor as [[Roman governors of Britain|governor]], [[Publius Ostorius Scapula]].<ref>[[Tacitus]], ''[[Annals (Tacitus)|Annals]]'' [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Tac.+Ann.+12.33 12:33–38]</ref> Finally, in 50, Scapula managed to [[Caratacus' last battle|defeat Caratacus]] in a set-piece battle somewhere in Ordovician territory, capturing Caratacus' wife and daughter and receiving the surrender of his brothers. Caratacus himself escaped and fled north to the lands of the [[Brigantes]] (modern [[Yorkshire]]), where the Brigantian queen, [[Cartimandua]], handed him over to the Romans in chains. This was one of the factors that led to two Brigantian revolts against Cartimandua and her Roman allies, once later in the 50s and once in 69, led by [[Venutius]], who had once been Cartimandua's husband. With the capture of Caratacus, much of southern Britain from the [[Humber]] to the [[Severn]] was pacified and garrisoned throughout the 50s.<ref>A History of Britain, Richard Dargie (2007), p. 21</ref>

Legends place Caratacus' last stand at either [[Caer Caradoc]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Caer Caradoc Hill Fort |url=https://churchstretton.co.uk/directory/caer-caradoc-hill-fort/ |access-date=2022-04-22 |website=Church Stretton |language=en-GB}}</ref> near [[Church Stretton]] or [[British Camp]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=BBC |title=Malvern Hills - the story of British Camp |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/herefordandworcester/content/articles/2004/07/21/malvern_british_camp_feature.shtml |access-date=2022-04-22 |website=www.bbc.co.uk |language=en-gb}}</ref> in the [[Malvern Hills]], but the description of [[Tacitus]] makes either unlikely:

{{blockquote|[Caratacus] resorted to the ultimate hazard, adopting a place for battle so that entry, exit, everything would be unfavourable to us and for the better to his own men, with steep mountains all around, and, wherever a gentle access was possible, he strewed rocks in front in the manner of a rampart. And in front too there flowed a stream with an unsure ford, and companies of armed men had taken up position along the defences.<ref>Tacitus, ''The Annals'', translated by A. J. Woodman, 2004; see also [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Tac.+Ann.+12.33 Church & Brodribb's translation]</ref>}}

Although the [[Severn]] is visible from British Camp, it is nowhere near it, so this battle must have taken place elsewhere. A number of locations have been suggested, including a site near [[Brampton Bryan]]. Bari Jones, in ''[[Archaeology Today]]'' in 1998, identified Blodwel Rocks at [[Llanymynech]] in [[Powys]] as representing a close fit with Tacitus' account.{{full citation needed|date=December 2012}}

===Captive in Rome===
After his capture, Caratacus was sent to Rome as a war prize, presumably to be killed after a [[Roman triumph|triumphal parade]]. Although a captive, he was allowed to address the [[Roman Senate]]. Tacitus records a version of his speech in which he says that his stubborn resistance made Rome's glory in defeating him all the greater:
[[Image:Caractacus-Claudius-Birrell-Fuseli.jpeg|thumb|Andrew Birrell (after [[Henry Fuseli]]), ''Caractacus at the Tribunal of Claudius at Rome'' (1792)|319x319px]]
{{blockquote|If the degree of my nobility and fortune had been matched by moderation in success, I would have come to this City as a friend rather than a captive, nor would you have disdained to receive with a treaty of peace one sprung from brilliant ancestors and commanding a great many nations. But my present lot, disfiguring as it is for me, is magnificent for you. I had horses, men, arms, and wealth: what wonder if I was unwilling to lose them? If you wish to command everyone, does it really follow that everyone should accept your slavery? If I were now being handed over as one who had surrendered immediately, neither my fortune nor your glory would have achieved brilliance. It is also true that in my case any reprisal will be followed by oblivion. On the other hand, if you preserve me safe and sound, I shall be an eternal example of your clemency.<ref>Tacitus, ''The Annals'', translated by A. J. Woodman, 2004; see also [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Tac.+Ann.+12.37 Church & Brodribb's translation]</ref>}}

He made such an impression that he was pardoned and allowed to live in peace in Rome. After his liberation, according to Dio Cassius, Caratacus was so impressed by the city of Rome that he said "And can you, then, who have got such possessions and so many of them, still covet our poor huts?"<ref>Dio Cassius, ''Roman History'', [https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Cassius_Dio/61*.html#33.3c Epitome of Book LXI, 33:3c]</ref>