Septimius Severus 208 AD Invasion

Septimius Severus was born in Libya in Africa in a town called Leptis Magna. During his career and rise to become emperor, he had two sons, Geta and Caracalla (born in Lyon, France). They hated each other, and it is said that one of the reasons the invasion of Scotland was initiated was to fix their troublesome relationship.

Arch of Septimius Severus, Leptis Magna, Libya

Severus received an education in Latin and Greek and was well-versed in Roman law and culture. His early career saw him serve as a senator and eventually a commander in Spain and Gaul. During the Roman Civil War of 193 AD, the year of the 5 Emperors, Severus marched on Rome. For three years the civil war raged. One of the other emperors was Clodius Albinus, who had the support of all three legions in Britain, the British Navy ( classic Britanicus) and a legion in Spain. Severus defeated him in Lyon, France.

The removal of most of the legions from Britain weakened Roman control and there were a series of uprisings from 197 AD. Around 204 and with his sons causing issues, Septimius Severus decided to take his family from Rome and take on the Caledonians.

Forts and Coins – Click the image for an Interactive Map

In the year 200, there were two tribes – the Maeatae north of Hadrian’s Wall and the Caledonians north of that. ( Some historians believe the Maeatae lived north of the Antonine Wall, but in 200 AD there was no Roman presence there). Cassius Dio, the Roman historian, describes the Scottish tribes ( Roman History, Epitome of Book LXXVII, 12)

There are two principal races of the Britons, the Caledonians and the Maeatae, and the names of the others have been merged in these two. The Maeatae live next to the cross-wall which cuts the island in half, and the Caledonians are beyond them. Both tribes inhabit wild and waterless mountains and desolate and swampy plains, and possess neither walls, cities, nor tilled fields, but live on their flocks, wild game, and certain fruits; 2 for they do not touch the fish which are there found in immense and inexhaustible quantities. They dwell in tents, naked and unshod, possess their women in common, and in common rear all the offspring. Their form of rule is democratic for the most part, and they are very fond of plundering; consequently, they choose their boldest men as rulers. 3 They go into battle in chariots, and have small, swift horses; there are also foot-soldiers, very swift in running and very firm in standing their ground. For arms, they have a shield p265 and a short spear, with a bronze apple attached to the end of the spear-shaft, so that when it is shaken it may clash and terrify the enemy, and they also have daggers. They can endure hunger and cold and any kind of hardship; for they plunge into the swamps and exist there for many days with only their heads above water, and in the forests they support themselves upon bark and roots, and for all emergencies, they prepare a certain kind of food, the eating of a small portion of which, the size of a bean, prevents them from feeling either hunger or thirst.

Roman Emperor Septimius Severus launched the last campaign intended to conquer Scotland. He died in York (Eboracum) in 211AD.