Joined Nov 2010
14,406 Posts | 4,143+
Cornwall
..........or not. Largely from 'Agrícola in Scotland' - Simon Elliott:
In 81 AD, following his usual lightning demolition of the troublesome Novantae tribe, in Dumfries and Galloway, Agrícola was in an ideal position to invade and conquer Ireland. Following the expansion policies of Vespasian and Titus. They had already carried out 5 major amphibious assaults in Britain, 2 by Agrícola (Anglesey II and Solway Firth) and now had a large fleet available on the SW coast of Scotland.
Tribes in Ireland had been supporting the Novantae and Agrícola could now see it from the Rhinns of Galloway, with Belfast Lough 32 km away.
Tacitus reports:
"Often I heard Agrícola say that Ireland could be reduced and garrisoned by a single legion and some auxiliary units, also that it would be better for future relations with Britain if the territory were to be ringed by Roman arms with no prospect of freedom."
So why did Agrícola not invade Ireland, prior to the 82 AD campaign in the far north?
A large scale operation like this would have required imperial approval. However, around the time his high speed despatch would've reached Rome, Titus died of a fever.
His brother Domitian was completely different to Titus, the renowned soldier. Dio, Suetonius and Tacitus all provide negative character references of course, but it was clear Domitian, sidelined and kept in the shadows, had issies and resentfullness, which eventually bent his character.
Thus when Agricola's request arrived, the timing couldn't have been worse. Domitian was only focused on securing his position and the British governor's close association with Vespasian and Titus now counted against him. This would be especially the case if plans for the Roman conquest of Ireland had begun before Agrícola took office, perhaps under Frontinus. Also, Agricola's main sponsor, Vespasian's main general and fixer, and classic counterbalance to Domitian's Machiavellian schemes, Mucianus, had recently deceased.
What better way for the new, insecure emperor to flex his imperial muscles than to sleight the man his political adversary had championed? Therefore Domitian gave a firm no to the request. Instead, Agrícola was prdered to refocus back on the the far north in the next campaigning season and wrap things up quickly there.
In 81 AD, following his usual lightning demolition of the troublesome Novantae tribe, in Dumfries and Galloway, Agrícola was in an ideal position to invade and conquer Ireland. Following the expansion policies of Vespasian and Titus. They had already carried out 5 major amphibious assaults in Britain, 2 by Agrícola (Anglesey II and Solway Firth) and now had a large fleet available on the SW coast of Scotland.
Tribes in Ireland had been supporting the Novantae and Agrícola could now see it from the Rhinns of Galloway, with Belfast Lough 32 km away.
Tacitus reports:
"Often I heard Agrícola say that Ireland could be reduced and garrisoned by a single legion and some auxiliary units, also that it would be better for future relations with Britain if the territory were to be ringed by Roman arms with no prospect of freedom."
So why did Agrícola not invade Ireland, prior to the 82 AD campaign in the far north?
A large scale operation like this would have required imperial approval. However, around the time his high speed despatch would've reached Rome, Titus died of a fever.
His brother Domitian was completely different to Titus, the renowned soldier. Dio, Suetonius and Tacitus all provide negative character references of course, but it was clear Domitian, sidelined and kept in the shadows, had issies and resentfullness, which eventually bent his character.
Thus when Agricola's request arrived, the timing couldn't have been worse. Domitian was only focused on securing his position and the British governor's close association with Vespasian and Titus now counted against him. This would be especially the case if plans for the Roman conquest of Ireland had begun before Agrícola took office, perhaps under Frontinus. Also, Agricola's main sponsor, Vespasian's main general and fixer, and classic counterbalance to Domitian's Machiavellian schemes, Mucianus, had recently deceased.
What better way for the new, insecure emperor to flex his imperial muscles than to sleight the man his political adversary had championed? Therefore Domitian gave a firm no to the request. Instead, Agrícola was prdered to refocus back on the the far north in the next campaigning season and wrap things up quickly there.
