Mons Graupius


About 37 years before the years of this tale, there was fought the Battle of Mons Graupius in AD83, possibly in September at the end of the campaigning season.
It is thought the site is on the slopes of Bennachie in Aberdeenshire, NE Scotland.
However, no finds have been made indicating such a major battle took place there, and an overwhelming victory for the forces of Rome, yet the area around the mountain and marching camps located, indicate it to be the best candidate.
I am hopeful the site will be confirmed one day or a new site mooted and proved beyond reasonable doubt.
Any historians able to expand on what was known up to 5 or 6 years ago, and what is in the short book by Duncan Campbell ? I would be most interested to know.
Sadly, Agricola was recalled to Rome (possibly by an envious Emperor) and his successes in Caledonia were never followed up, giving the tribes adequate time to regroup and renew their efforts against the invaders many years later.
The nearest equivalent to such a decisive battle, and in the Highlands,was Culloden in 1746. The Jacobites were routed and the Highlands finally pacified by a British Army.
It was ironic that back in the times of Agricola, the Votadini living in what is now the area between the Forth and Northumbria were allied to Rome, as were possibly the Carvetii and Novantae, either side of the later constructed world-famous Wall in AD122, Vallum Hadrianus.

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The importance of Mons Graupius has almost certainly been overstated by Tacitus, and there is even a school of thought (to which I do not subscribe, as I doubt he would have got away with it) that he actually invented the whole thing.

Oh, and hello again!

Far an taine ‘n abhainn, ‘s ann as mò a fuaim.

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