Mons Graupius Legions

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

I have only read the Penguine version I'm afraid, many thanks for this.
Unfortunately, the english version appears to be in Italian, and one other version in another language.
A question though, if I may.
After this battle, I recall Agricola was recalled to Rome before he could continue with the campaign. Is that correct?
If so, how long a period after the battle was it before his recall, and what did he do after his recall?
Why did they not complete the campaign, while they had the upper hand, instead of throwing away a victory that may well have
settled the issue? What was the exact reasoning used, just that he was past his due date, or was there a real worry that such victories would undermind the present emporer(who was who to be precise?) Some people think it was still vespasian hock:

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

I have only read the Penguine version I'm afraid, many thanks for this.
Unfortunately, the english version appears to be in Italian, and one other version in another language.
A question though, if I may.
After this battle, I recall Agricola was recalled to Rome before he could continue with the campaign. Is that correct?
If so, how long a period after the battle was it before his recall, and what did he do after his recall?
Why did they not complete the campaign, while they had the upper hand, instead of throwing away a victory that may well have
settled the issue? What was the exact reasoning used, just that he was past his due date, or was there a real worry that such victories would undermine the present emporer(who was who to be precise?) Some people think it was still vespasian hock:

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

I have only read the Penguine version I'm afraid, many thanks for this.
Unfortunately, the english version appears to be in Italian, and one other version in another language.
A question though, if I may.
After this battle, I recall Agricola was recalled to Rome before he could continue with the campaign. Is that correct?
If so, how long a period after the battle was it before his recall, and what did he do after his recall?
Why did they not complete the campaign, while they had the upper hand, instead of throwing away a victory that may well have
settled the issue? What was the exact reasoning used, just that he was past his due date, or was there a real worry that such victories would undermine the present emporer(who was who to be precise?) Some people think it was still Vespasian hock:

[D B Campbell]

After this battle, I recall Agricola was recalled to Rome before he could continue with the campaign. Is that correct?

Tacitus is pretty clear that the campaign was over. Britain had been conquered.

If so, how long a period after the battle was it before his recall, and what did he do after his recall?

The battle seems to have been September, which was right at the end of the campaigning season. As far as we can see, a governor would normally have laid down his command early in the new year, so that his successor could take over for the beginning of the next campaigning season, which seems to have been the spring equinox (March).

What was the exact reasoning used, just that he was past his due date, or was there a real worry that such victories would undermine the present emporer(who was who to be precise?) Some people think it was still Vespasian hock:

Agricola had already served for seven years. All of our evidence points to three years as the usual term of office, so he was overdue for recall. (Some people think this is suspicious, and use this fact to cast doubt on the entire Agricola.) He died fairly young, which makes me wonder whether he was actually ill, and therefore unfit for further service.

Domitian was emperor in AD 84 when Agricola returned to Rome. There's a huge literature debating the relationship between emperor and general. I didn't get into this whole area in the Osprey book. Of course, the conquest of Britain could only reflect well on the reigning emperor, but there's a theory that Domitian was paranoid (fuelled by Tacitus' innuendo). It is difficult to properly assess the reign of Domitian, because the ancient sources are so hostile (as they are to Caligula, Nero and Commodus).

[Caballo]

Osprey Mons Graupius- now with a cover

[D B Campbell]

Osprey Mons Graupius- now with a cover

Thankfully, that's just the placeholder image used by Amazon. (I say "thankfully", because that sculpture is Antonine, so not particularly appropriate for Agricola!)

[D B Campbell]

Osprey Mons Graupius- now with a cover

I just got first sight of the "official" cover 10 minutes ago, and I thought that RAT members might like to see it. Artist Seán O'Brógáin has done a great job (imho).

[sulla felix]

Excellent artwork!

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

That looks awesome, thought it was a photo!

[D B Campbell]

That looks awesome,

Agreed! Hats off to Seán.

[Nathan Ross]

Hats off to Seán.

It looks superb indeed!

Agricola had already served for seven years. All of our evidence points to three years as the usual term of office, so he was overdue for recall. (Some people think this is suspicious, and use this fact to cast doubt on the entire Agricola.) He died fairly young, which makes me wonder whether he was actually ill, and therefore unfit for further service.

Tacitus says that Agricola "handed over his province in peace and safety to his successor", implying that he lingered in Britain till the spring after Graupius, given the travel times of despatches and replacement governors and entourages. He later died of 'illness' (aged 54) in c93, but Tacitus slyly suggests rumours of poisoning by Imperial order. That doesn't really seem necessary - Agricola had already turned down the governorship of Syria, and the position of Proconsul of Asia in c88, which should have been his due as a prominent consular, so he was perhaps pretty sick for the entire period after leaving Britain. Then again, the Asia proconsulate had become vacant after the death (by execution, apparently) of the previous incumbent...

Of course, the conquest of Britain could only reflect well on the reigning emperor, but there's a theory that Domitian was paranoid (fuelled by Tacitus' innuendo). It is difficult to properly assess the reign of Domitian, because the ancient sources are so hostile (as they are to Caligula, Nero and Commodus).

The innuendo in this case was that Domitian had recently celebrated a triumph himself - supposedly in the Chattian war - but "all men laughed at his late mock triumph over Germany, when he had bought slaves in the market whose dress and hair might be made to resemble those of captives, whereas now a real and splendid victory, with the destruction of thousands of the enemy, was being celebrated with just applause." (Ag. 39) - the emperor was therefore jealous of the genuinely triumphant Agricola. This seems a bit implausible - wasn't there a story of Nero doing much the same thing, dressing slaves up in blonde wigs and parading them about as 'captured barbarians'? (or was that just in 'I Claudius'?) Hard to imagine the Roman people being expected to fall for the same silly stunt twice. But Domitian does seem (albeit from those hostile ancient sources :wink: ) to have been a rather touchy about perceived criticism, to say the least...

Brian W Jones (The Emperor Domitian p.133-134) suggests that there may have been an attempted military revolt in Britain following Agricola's departure. We know from Suetonius (Domitian 10) that governor Sallustius Lucullus (Agricola's successor, possibly) was executed for naming a new type of lance after himself, which seems a bizarre reason even for Domitian. Jones connects this with the withdrawal from northern Britian and the demolition of Inchtuthil in this same period, together with the awards given to Julius Karus (for loyalty?), the award of citizenship and the Fida cognomen to Cohors I Vardullorum (for the same?), and the apparent demotion of the pedites singulares Brittaniaci (for the opposite?). It's circumstantial, maybe, and surely Tacitus would have used the event in his general invective against Domitian, but with other revolts and/or executions of governors in Germany and Asia, perhaps Agricola was rather wise to prefer a quiet life on the farm? Deep waters, Watson...

- Nathan

[Lucius Duccius Rufinus]

Duncan, looks great! just pre-ordered! cant wait! i agree with byron the front cover looks fantastic! sean has got the munro pretty spot on! (Bennachie).

Which just happens to be home for OUR ninth legion, we have a marching camp at archaeolink at the base
so yeh the NINTH are there even 2000 years on!

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

We really need to change that picture.... :| roll:

BTW, Duncan, I have it on backorder too. Looking forward to it!

[D B Campbell]

We really need to change that picture.... :| roll:

Who's the sinister fellow in the middle? :wink:

Sean has got the munro pretty spot on! (Bennachie).

We worked hard to try and get the terrain right.

As you know, the ridge of Bennachie runs roughly W-E; you're looking at the eastern "peak", known as Mither Tap. (btw Bennachie isn't quite a Munro; more of a Marilyn.)

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

We really need to change that picture.... :| roll:

Who's the sinister fellow in the middle? :wink:

Sean has got the munro pretty spot on! (Bennachie).

We worked hard to try and get the terrain right.

As you know, the ridge of Bennachie runs roughly W-E; you're looking at the eastern "peak", known as Mither Tap. (btw Bennachie isn't quite a Munro; more of a Marilyn.)

Yes, the sinister fellow in the middle.....first time out wit hthe mouse and loaf, and wasnt impressed with the impression once I saw the pictures.... :oops: :lol: