08-20-2013, 08:27 AM
Quote:I'm not too sure. Your site is well over to the west side of the plateau - if the Britons were coming along Akeman Street from St Alban's, they'd have to very obligingly make a lengthy circuit around to the north to bring them into position facing the Romans. Alternatively, and more easily, they could move straight up the relatively shallow slopes off Akeman Street and due west onto high ground directly behind your Roman position.It is obviously for Deryk to defend his choice of site but two thoughts occur to me:
While I still like the general vicinity of Tring, this position requires either too many convenient convolutions by the Britons, or the strong possibility of the Roman trapping themselves in a hole. Dunstable blocks the main road north and cannot be easily avoided, but this position would only work if both sides had agreed to meet and fight it out on ground of the Roman commander's choosing...
1. We know that Paulinus chose a position protected in the rear by a wood. We don't know its density but presumably it was thick enough to bar the Britons from approaching from that direction. Further, Paulinus was at pains to ensure that there were no enemies to his rear. This is consistent with the Britons having arrived in the vicinity along Akeman Street, i.e., from behind him.
2. If the Britons were aware, as they clearly were, that there was a powerful Roman force, albeit inferior in numbers, that could threaten them, they would be likely to want to eliminate it. If that force was offering battle in a certain position, they had either to accept or decline. If they were so confident of their superiority in numbers that they were prepared to place their womenfolk where they could watch the fun, it is highly likely that they would have accepted battle in whatever position the Romans had chosen.
Michael King Macdona
And do as adversaries do in law, -
Strive mightily, but eat and drink as friends.
(The Taming of the Shrew: Act 1, Scene 2)
And do as adversaries do in law, -
Strive mightily, but eat and drink as friends.
(The Taming of the Shrew: Act 1, Scene 2)