08-22-2012, 08:45 PM
Nathan wrote:
Well, I'm trying not to just defend my corner too much - but I'd have to mention Steve Kaye's point from some time back, that the Dunstable site is more effective (in his view) if the Roman position is reversed 180 degrees, so defending against an enemy from the north..
Perhaps that is one of the problems with the Dunstable site. It is open to attack from both the North and the South. So not only could SP be outflanked but he might have had the Iceni or the Catvellauni or the Corieltavi coming at him from the North and the Trinovantes from the South or any combination of the same as Watling Street was already up in arms when he matched down it.
If we are taking all of Tacitus "on board" we have to accept the statement:
Suetonius, however, with wonderful resolution, marched amidst a hostile population to Londinium,
This is again one of the points for a South Western retreat from London rather than a North Western retreat from London. Would SP have put a legion of his infantry at risk in a hostile territory in a subordinates care?
Well, I'm trying not to just defend my corner too much - but I'd have to mention Steve Kaye's point from some time back, that the Dunstable site is more effective (in his view) if the Roman position is reversed 180 degrees, so defending against an enemy from the north..
Perhaps that is one of the problems with the Dunstable site. It is open to attack from both the North and the South. So not only could SP be outflanked but he might have had the Iceni or the Catvellauni or the Corieltavi coming at him from the North and the Trinovantes from the South or any combination of the same as Watling Street was already up in arms when he matched down it.
If we are taking all of Tacitus "on board" we have to accept the statement:
Suetonius, however, with wonderful resolution, marched amidst a hostile population to Londinium,
This is again one of the points for a South Western retreat from London rather than a North Western retreat from London. Would SP have put a legion of his infantry at risk in a hostile territory in a subordinates care?
Deryk