Aulus Didius Gallus (52-57AD)

The campaigns of Aulus Didius Gallus, Governor of Roman Britain are detailed by the Roman historian Cornelius Tacitus in his Annals of Rome (book XII, chapter xl-xli), also in his Histories (book III, chapter xliv). The campaigns of Didius Gallus are covered in chapter 5 of Rome Against Caratacus by Graham Webster (Batsford, London, 1981).

The last governor Publius Ostorius Scapula had been killed while on campaign against the Silures in South Wales and Didius Gallus was sent by emperor Nero with all haste to assume command of Britain. Shortly before his arrival in the province the tribe had attacked and badly mauled a Roman legion encamped within their territories which, although unnamed by Tacitus, was most likely Legio XX Valeria, which had been redeployed into the area by the previous governor to deal with the warlord Caratacus. These circumstances obliged Gallus to commence his administration with a swift retributive action against the Silures, which appears to have been accomplished very swiftly indeed, leaving behind no permanent encampments and no temporary marching camps in Silurian territory which may be positively dated to the period.

Caractacus, King of the Silures, deliver’d up to Ostorius, the Roman General, by Cartismandua, Queen of the Brigantes

The ongoing campaign against the Silures was, however, soon overshadowed by political machinations within the powerful Brigante tribe in northern England. The queen of this tribe, Cartimandua, had been recognised as a ‘client’ of Rome and, honouring her obligations in this regard, she had handed the British warlord Caratacus over to the Roman administration in 50AD. This action had stirred-up no small amount of unrest within the tribe, and with the major anti-Roman faction being led by the prince-consort Venutius, it was only a matter of time before the situation became critical.

Sometime during the tenure of Gallus, the Brigantes broke into civil war, the northern, anti-Roman faction led by Venutius, the southern, pro-Roman faction led by Cartimandua. The tide of the intertribal war in the north ebbed first one way then the other, with hostages being taken and skirmishes being fought, finally resulting in the ageing queen being rescued by a timely Roman intervention.

To contain the situation on the northern borders of the Roman province the Legio Nonae Hispana – The Ninth Spanish Legion was redeployed into campaign/vexillation fortresses on the western borders of the Coritani tribe at Osmanthorpe Roman Vexillation Fort in Nottinghamshire and Newton On Trent Roman Fort in Lincolnshire; one of these vexillations appears to have been relocated further north to Rossington Bridge Vexilation Fort in South Yorkshire, perhaps as better information on the extent of the Brigantian unrest was obtained. At the same time Legio XIV Gemina was redeployed into campaign fortresses just within the north-eastern borders of the Cornovii tribe at Wall (Letocetum) and Kinvaston Fort, both sited along the Watling Street in South Staffordshire.

It appears likely that the fort at Littlechester in Derbyshire, along with the fortlets at Broxtowe Roman Fort in Nottinghamshire and Marton Roman Fort in Lincolnshire, were established at this time to facilitate communications between these frontier units. The establishment of another auxiliary fort on the Fosse Way at East Stoke (Ad Pontem) Roman Settlement in Nottinghamshire, close to the Osmanthorpe Roman Vexillation Fort, may indicate that it was the garrison here which was removed to the Rossington Bridge site, with the site on the Fosse Way being established to maintain the communication link between the two legionary groups.

The Roman interest in the lead/silver mines at Pentrich in the Lower Pennines of Derbyshire is demonstrated by the establishment at this time of a small military station overlooking the mine-workings here.

The Frontier Changes Made by Gallus (52-57AD)

After successfully resolving the pressing issue of rescuing Cartimandua and repelling Venutius’ forces to the north, despite the sting of humiliation and Rome’s unwelcome intervention, Gallus realized that urgent measures were needed to address the northern frontier of the province.

The IX Hispana, the closest legion, was located at Longthorpe, which was about 120 miles away and would require at least four days of intense marching to reach. Legion XX, situated at Wroxeter, was even more distant, roughly 150 miles away. Tacitus briefly mentions that Gallus he pushed forward with a few forts.

Soon after, Didius Gallus consolidated the conquests of his predecessors, and advanced a very few positions into parts more remote, to gain the credit of having enlarged the sphere of government. 

Gaius Cornelius Tacitus – The Agricola, Chapter 14

To contain the situation on the northern borders of the Roman province the Legio IX Hispana was redeployed into campaign/vexillation fortresses on the western borders of the Coritani tribe at Osmanthorpe Roman Vexillation Fort in Nottinghamshire and Newton On Trent Roman Fort in Lincolnshire; one of these vexillations appears to have been relocated further north to Rossington Bridge in South Yorkshire, perhaps as better information on the extent of the Brigantian unrest was obtained.

At the same time Legio XIV Gemina was redeployed into campaign fortresses just within the north-eastern borders of the Cornovii tribe at Wall (Letocetum) and Kinvaston Fort, both sited along the Watling Street in South Staffordshire.

Map of Frontier Changes Made by Gallus

It appears likely that the fort at Derby (Derventio) / Littlechester in Derbyshire, along with the fortlets at Broxtowe Roman Fort in Nottinghamshire and Marton Roman Fort in Lincolnshire, were established at this time to facilitate communications between these frontier units. The establishment of another auxiliary fort on the Fosse Way at East Stoke in Nottinghamshire, close to the Osmanthorpe fortress , may indicate that it was the garrison here which was removed to the Rossington Bridge Vexilation Fort, with the site on the Fosse Way being established to maintain the communication link between the two legionary groups.

Forts may have been built along a trackway that would later become Ermine Street. From Lincoln (Lindum) these would have been Owmby, Hibaldstow to Old Winteringham. North Ferriby was a typical Iron Age settlement and served as the customary endpoint for a pre-Roman crossing of the Humber. However, the existence of a potential fort at Old Winteringham, which was situated across from the subsequent Roman fort and town of Brough-on-Humber (Petuaria), implies that the crossing was relocated to the western side of Reads Island during the Roman era.

The Roman interest in the lead/silver mines at Pentrich (Lutudarum) in the Lower Pennines of Derbyshire is demonstrated by the establishment at this time of a small military station overlooking the mine-workings here.

Military Establishments Attributed to Aulus Didius Gallus

NameN.G.Ref.Description
Osmanthorpe, NottinghamshireSK6756vexillation fortress Legio IX Hispana?
Newton-on-Trent, LincolnshireSK8273vexillation fortress Legio IX Hispana?
Rossington Bridge, South YorkshireSK6399vexillation fortress Legio IX Hispana?
Letocetum (Wall, Staffordshire)SK0906vexillation fortress Legio XIV Gemina?
Pennocrucium (Kinvaston, Staffordshire)SJ9010vexillation fortress Legio XIV Gemina?
Ad Pontem (East Stoke, Nottingham)SK7550fort
Derventio (Littlechester, Derbyshire)SK3537fort
Marton, LincolnshireSK8382fortlet
Broxtowe, NottinghamshireSK5242fortlet
Lutudarum (Pentrich, Derbyshire)SK3852signal station near silver/lead mines in the lower Pennines

Death of Claudius 54 AD

In 54 AD, Emperor Claudius met a sudden and suspicious death, coinciding with the Brigantes rebellion. His stepson, Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, known as Nero, ascended to the throne. According to Suetonius, Nero once contemplated abandoning Britain due to the significant resources required to maintain the province, which could be better utilized in expanding the Roman Empire elsewhere.

Claudius’ death not only resulted in the loss of his friends and advisors, but also tarnished his reputation as he was both deified and ridiculed by the Romans. Nevertheless, Claudius had a formidable military record, and the Romans, being a proud people, attached great importance to public image. Nero’s withdrawal from Britain could have been seen as a betrayal of Claudius and his accomplishments, which may have influenced Nero’s decision to remain involved in the British situation.

References for Roman Military Campaigns – Aulus Didius Gallus ( AD52-57)

  • The Roman Invasion of Britain by Graham Webster (Batsford, London, 1980);
  • Rome Against Caratacus by Graham Webster (Batsford, London, 1981);
  • Britons and the Roman Army by Grace Simpson (Gregg, London, 1964);
  • Historical Map and Guide: Roman Britain by the OS (3rd Edition, 1956; 4th Ed., 1990; 5th Ed., 2001);