Roman Helmet: Battle of Medway on 1st June 43 AD in the Roman Invasion of Britain | Battle of Medway | Vespasian and the Roman Conquest of Britain in 43 AD
Posted on 05/22/2021 3:43:28 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
The first major recorded battle of the Roman invasion of Britain under the orders of the emperor Claudius, the battle is thought to have been fought at a crossing of the River Medway, near the modern day city of Rochester in Kent, England, and it raged for nearly two days.
The British force was led by two brothers: Togodumnus, king of the Catuvellauni, and Caratacus, a chieftain of the same tribe. The Roman invasion force, under the command of Aulus Plautius, consisted of four legions, a force approximately 20,000 strong. On hearing of the Roman landing at Richborough, British resistance united behind the leadership of the two brothers and, after two indecisive skirmishes in eastern Kent, the British force met the advancing Romans at the River Medway.
Cassius Dio, a Roman historian, describes how a detachment of Celtic Roman auxiliaries swam across the river and attacked the British chariot horses, surprising the Britons and causing panic. Using this initial advantage, Vespasian (a future Roman emperor) crossed the river with a large force but was unable to press home a victory. The battle continued to rage all day without any decisive result. On the second day, the Romans launched a daring attack under the command of Gnaeus Hosidius Geta, who was almost killed in the fighting that followed. However, Geta's troops rallied around their commander and the Britons were eventually overcome, with the bulk of the British force taking flight. The fact that the battle lasted for two days indicates that it must have been a significant encounter. However, the British were not yet conquered and fell back to the River Thames, where Togodumnus was defeated, dying shortly afterward. Caratacus continued resistance until beaten at Caer Caradoc in 50 CE.
Losses: No reliable figures.
(Excerpt) Read more at britannica.com ...
Roman Helmet: Battle of Medway on 1st June 43 AD in the Roman Invasion of Britain | Battle of Medway | Vespasian and the Roman Conquest of Britain in 43 AD
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Medway
https://www.google.com/search?q=Battle+of+Medway+43+ad
Part of the Pilgrim's Way running through the Medway Megaliths. Photograph © Ethan Doyle White
“Look at that flat-top burn!”
Oh wait. That’s Midway.
Never mind.
Fascinating how the battles were carried out.
LOL, read it that way myself at first.
I misread it that way too.
Hi.
Except for Jesus, gun powder and cement (concrete) were the fundamental elements that created Western civilization.
Imho of course.
5.56mm
I would cement, er, submit that as evidence, as well. :^)
Just to be *really* confusing, there was a Battle of Medway in the 17th century as well. ;^) Annnnd, it was in June.
For a nitpicker, he does a great presentation. BTW, of COURSE Midway was the turning point of the Pacific War, because air power was crucial, and the Japanese lost most of their best pilots, planes, and their four largest carriers, and after that they were unable to maintain the initiative in the sw Pacific and could no longer hang on to their land based air bases. BTW, June -- again? What's the deal with June? Lots of men wanting to postpone their weddings?
As part of The General Raymond E. Mason, Jr. Distinguished Lecture Series on World War II, hear author Jonathan Parshall discuss decisive strategies of both the Imperial Navy and Allied Navy during the Battle of Midway in World War II. This event was a "Turning Point" of the war that ultimately led to a Japanese naval defeat in which they were never able to fully recover from.Mason Lecture | Jonathan Parshall: The 70th Anniversary of the Battle of Midway | June 8, 2012 | The National WWII Museum.
It is. Four legions, Roman artillery (which was a specialty of Vespasian's or perhaps became one), plllt, Romans win battle after battle. :^) Now, let's brace ourselves for the possibly inevitable anti-Roman screed to appear.
Ironic that the stumbling muttering Claudius pulled off what Caesar didn’t. (To Gaius’ credit, he had bigger fish to fry with the Senate). The British Aisles were not an easy challenge. Naked fanatics painted in blue, the strange eerie sound of the carnyx, the mystical druids, Roman superstition, and the fierceness of the Celtic warriors would have sent them scrambling back to their ships if it wasn’t for the threat of decimation. Claudius showed up later with Elephants after a beachhead was secured. Brittanicus.
My ancestors according to DNA tests, were Caledonians. (Highland Scotch) They never did fold though. Agricola was the only one who even got a decent shot at them. And he didn’t stick around long. Just enough time to loot and burn their villages. But they used guerilla tactics and harried them incessantly. Finally a century or so later Hadrian and Antoninus Pius built walls across the whole damn Island to keep the Caledonians from raiding (and to regulate trade). If it weren’t for the traitorous queen Cartimandua of the Brigantes (B*****) and the luxury offered the Britainnic people I don’t think they could have held Britain.
“there was a Battle of Medway in the 17th century as well”
I didn’t know this. Wow. I tend to lose interest in western civ from Charlesmagne till WW2. I’ll have to look into that battle. That’s way past William the Conqueror and I am totally not familiar with this battle. Thanks for the tip.
Cassius Dio has a tendency to tell big fish tales so his works have to be taken with a grain of salt. But there is enough corroborating evidence to back up most of his account. Always felt sorry for Claudius. His family was embarrassed by him and never let him do anything of importance. He had a speech disorder (so did Caesar btw, he had palilaleah (repeating words twice at a lower pitch, as well as seizures). They thought Claudius was a dunce. But he was really smart and one of the better emperors and administrators (especially compared to his predecessor Caligula whom he had to clean up after). Not sure I buy the story they found him hiding in the palace. The Praetorians probably already had him selected before that got rid of the mad man Caligula. Claudius turned out to be one of the best Emperors in my book. But he had horrible luck in love. One of his wives openly and extremely publicly married another man while he was away. (Pretty insane). Claudius was told this as he was returning to Rome by his right-hand-man. Claudius stopped at the man’s house and saw his own furniture in the fool’s home. And they say he was pretty tone deaf about it but had her executed shortly thereafter. I’ve always wondered how stupid you would have to be to hold a public wedding with another man (no attempt to hide it) when you are married to the most powerful man in the world.
Joe Biden was there..........Brian Williams saw him...................
Claudius: Reformer, Conqueror of Britain | Roman Emperors | March 19, 2021 | Kings and Generals | Lito Areta | researched and written by Ivan Moran | narrated by Officially Devin
We know Biden would have been quite at home with the la dolce vita Roman lifestyle.
He is Claudius remade...................
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
