43AD (May) – ROMANS INVADE
(England)
An enormous army of 40,000 Roman troops led by Claudius has landed at Richborough in Kent. British resistance has been heavily crushed and Caractacus, a British resistance leader, has fled north.
46AD – NORTHERN TRIBE ARE ROMAN CLIENTS
(North)
The Brigantes, a huge tribe whose territory stretches from the Pennines of southern Yorkshire to north of the Tyne, are recognised as a client kingdom of the Romans – they have not been conquered by the Romans but, hoping to be left in peace, accept the invaders as their rulers. The Brigantes’ queen is Cartimandua. Female leaders are quite acceptable to these war-like Britons. Their language resembles Welsh and is yet to be influenced by the Latin speech of the Romans.
50AD – STANWICK A STRONGHOLD
(Stanwick near Darlington)
The principal fort of the Brigantes is Stanwick St John, a few miles south of the River Tees. Other Brigantian forts are found throughout the North, particularly in the Pennines and include Ingleborough Hill and Almondbury near Huddersfield.
51AD – QUEEN BETRAYS CARACTACUS
(North Yorks)
Tribal support for Venutius, the husband of the Brigantian queen Cartimandua, is growing after the queen betrayed the popular British rebel Caractacus and revealed his whereabouts to the Romans.
51AD – REBEL SET FREE IN ROME
(Rome)
Caractacus, the leader of British resisitance, has been paraded in chains through Rome where his tough-minded defiance impressed the Roman Emperor. The emperor has released Caractacus from captivity and allowed him to live freely in Rome.
51AD – QUEEN DIVORCES
(North Yorks)
Cartimandua has divorced Venutius and is planning to marry her new lover Vellocatus who had been the armour-bearer of her husband. This didn’t go down well with her subjects and Civil war has broken out between the supporters of Cartimandua – who are backed by the Romans – and Venutius.
hubby really enjoys history as well.