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Roman Military Campaigns

Of Gnaeus Julius Agricola in Britain

Agricolan Foundations in Wales and the Marches

Agricolan Fortifications in Northern England

Notably, no permanent Agricolan fortifications have been identified in the Lake District, which may point to Agricola (or one of his immediate predecessors) having obtained a treaty with the Carvetii tribe of Cumbria.

Agricolan Encampments in Scotland

Possible Agricolan Forts in Scotland

Evidence of First-Century Occupation at Other Scottish Forts

The evidence tabulated above would certainly seem to support an Agricolan foundation for Castlecary, probably also for Mumrills, Cadder and Balmuildy, and though the sparse evidence at the other two sites may testify Agricolan occupation, any such claims should be treated with caution.

Two fortlets discovered from the air at Croy Hill and Bar Hill appeared to lie beneath the Antonine forts and were thought on this basis to be Agricolan. Subsequent fieldwork at each of these sites have since confirmed that both fortlets actually post-date the Antonine Wall forts, and have thus been assigned to the re-occupation of this northernmost frontier during the early AD160's.

Agricolan Forts North of the Forth/Clyde

It is possible, indeed probable, that Agricola built no permanent forts north of the Forth/Clyde isthmus. However, there is evidence of two phases of first-century occupation in two forts along the Roman road into Tayside at Ardoch and Strageath. The former fort may have been founded during Agricola's third campaign season and the latter during the sixth, though it is equally likely that each was built by Agricola's successor Sallustius Lucullus.

Agricolan Marching Camps in Scotland

Stracathro Type

Dalswinton | Castledykes | Menteith | Dalginross | Stracathro | Ythan Wells | Auchinhove

Medium Camps (30acres - 12ha)

Dunblane | Ardoch | Dornock | Bonnytown | Cardean | Finavon

Large Camps (115acres - 46ha)

Dunning | Abernethy | Carpow

The main sources used in compiling the above information were: The Northern Frontiers of Roman Britain by David J. Breeze, and Britons and the Roman Army by Dr. Grace Simpson. In addition, several copies of the essential Ordnance Survey Map and Guide - Roman Britain were consulted. Large amounts of caffeine were also imbibed.

For more information on Agricola see: The Fifth Year of Agricola's Campaigns, by Nicholas Reed, in Britannia II (1971) pp.143-148.

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