04-05-2022, 03:27 PM
Re Caratacus. I will state a taste of some small morsels I have discovered re Caratacus to prove I am not a 'Walt' which I have never read before by any of our exalted experts who put out utter trash (like a Sky prog about Roman Gaul last night on TV.)
Firstly, the Caratacus battlefield is much smaller than many experts state. Why - only rogue war-bands supported Caratacus and not the full weight of either the Siluries or Ordovices tribe (remember the Siluries threw him out of their territory).
Secondly, the ramparts (2 points re Tacitus) at my site measure together a combined distance of 250 m. If 8 tribesmen (masses) stood lined up 1 behind the other that equates to... work it out. It is not the 10,000 or 20,000 some state.
Thirdly, Rome fought what is called a combined arms battle with artillery and cavalry etc. Their use was never mentioned by Tacitus in this battle who mentioned them in other battles. Why - because the ground did not allow their use. Though undoubtedly cavalry formed part of the battle-group.
Fourthly; the experts say 2 Legions participated. Are we to assume that after hard won victories in other places they simply abandoned their garrisons to go on a jolly. No - it was elements of 2 legions which took part in the campaign (remember 10 years later Paulinus only had 10,000 men available for mobile ops in the much more dangerous Boudicca rebellion).
Their numbers on the Caratacus campaign, even with aux will also not be huge.
Fifth point; the Romans crossed the river without difficulty and only at the ramparts did they suffer serious casualties from missiles. If anyone has the sense to work out a criteria from this then welcome to the club. The Romans then formed Testudo. How wide would that formation be at the front- maybe 20 m max. Therefore the actual break in point at the ramparts is only that distance. This is where the dead were piled up. Find that point and you will find all the evidence required in the ground. All it takes is a single Caratacus coin.
I could go on to discuss the major criteria but as previously stated in other posts that is for another time. Once I stopped jumping out of perfectly serviceable RAF airplanes, I progressed to trg development and course design. I cannot remember the exact words when embarking on a new project though it went something like this; Stage 1: Initial enthusiasm for task. 2. Request for more time. 3. Request denied. 4. Honor's and awards for the non-participants. My, my things never change. On the first Caratacus site, from which I learned so many good things, I ventured into some of the worst ground I have ever encountered, thick brambles, thorn bushes and my favorite one of all - large Holly trees. My new site is nothing like that so yes I have regained my enthusiasm and am at stage 1. If someone with enough vision wants to join in and perhaps make history rather than just read about it, then good luck to them.
Firstly, the Caratacus battlefield is much smaller than many experts state. Why - only rogue war-bands supported Caratacus and not the full weight of either the Siluries or Ordovices tribe (remember the Siluries threw him out of their territory).
Secondly, the ramparts (2 points re Tacitus) at my site measure together a combined distance of 250 m. If 8 tribesmen (masses) stood lined up 1 behind the other that equates to... work it out. It is not the 10,000 or 20,000 some state.
Thirdly, Rome fought what is called a combined arms battle with artillery and cavalry etc. Their use was never mentioned by Tacitus in this battle who mentioned them in other battles. Why - because the ground did not allow their use. Though undoubtedly cavalry formed part of the battle-group.
Fourthly; the experts say 2 Legions participated. Are we to assume that after hard won victories in other places they simply abandoned their garrisons to go on a jolly. No - it was elements of 2 legions which took part in the campaign (remember 10 years later Paulinus only had 10,000 men available for mobile ops in the much more dangerous Boudicca rebellion).
Their numbers on the Caratacus campaign, even with aux will also not be huge.
Fifth point; the Romans crossed the river without difficulty and only at the ramparts did they suffer serious casualties from missiles. If anyone has the sense to work out a criteria from this then welcome to the club. The Romans then formed Testudo. How wide would that formation be at the front- maybe 20 m max. Therefore the actual break in point at the ramparts is only that distance. This is where the dead were piled up. Find that point and you will find all the evidence required in the ground. All it takes is a single Caratacus coin.
I could go on to discuss the major criteria but as previously stated in other posts that is for another time. Once I stopped jumping out of perfectly serviceable RAF airplanes, I progressed to trg development and course design. I cannot remember the exact words when embarking on a new project though it went something like this; Stage 1: Initial enthusiasm for task. 2. Request for more time. 3. Request denied. 4. Honor's and awards for the non-participants. My, my things never change. On the first Caratacus site, from which I learned so many good things, I ventured into some of the worst ground I have ever encountered, thick brambles, thorn bushes and my favorite one of all - large Holly trees. My new site is nothing like that so yes I have regained my enthusiasm and am at stage 1. If someone with enough vision wants to join in and perhaps make history rather than just read about it, then good luck to them.
