The Germany and the Agricola of TacitusTacitus, Cornelius
History
The Germany and the Agricola of Tacitus
Tacitus, Cornelius
Agricola, Gnaeus Julius, 40-93; Germanic peoples -- Early works to 1800; Statesmen -- Rome -- Biography -- Early works to 1800
16. Instigated by such suggestions, they unanimously rose in arms, led
by Boadicea, [73] a woman of royal descent (for they make no distinction
between the sexes in succession to the throne), and attacking the
soldiers dispersed through the garrisons, stormed the fortified posts,
and invaded the colony [74] itself, as the seat of slavery. They
omitted no species of cruelty with which rage and victory could
inspire barbarians; and had not Paullinus, on being acquainted with the
commotion of the province, marched speedily to its relief, Britain would
have been lost. The fortune of a single battle, however, reduced it
to its former subjection; though many still remained in arms, whom
the consciousness of revolt, and particular dread of the governor,
had driven to despair. Paullinus, although otherwise exemplary in his
administration, having treated those who surrendered with severity, and
having pursued too rigorous measures, as one who was revenging his own
personal injury also, Petronius Turpilianus [75] was sent in his stead,
as a person more inclined to lenity, and one who, being unacquainted
with the enemy's delinquency, could more easily accept their penitence.
After having restored things to their former quiet state, he delivered
the command to Trebellius Maximus. [76] Trebellius, indolent, and
inexperienced in military affairs, maintained the tranquillity of the
province by popular manners; for even the barbarians had now learned to
pardon under the seductive influence of vices; and the intervention of
the civil wars afforded a legitimate excuse for his inactivity. Sedition
however infected the soldiers, who, instead of their usual military
services, were rioting in idleness. Trebellius, after escaping the fury
of his army by flight and concealment, dishonored and abased, regained a
precarious authority; and a kind of tacit compact took place, of safety
to the general, and licentiousness to the army. This mutiny was not
attended with bloodshed. Vettius Bolanus, [77] succeeding during the
continuance of the civil wars, was unable to introduce discipline into
Britain. The same inaction towards the enemy, and the same insolence in
the camp, continued; except that Bolanus, unblemished in his character,
and not obnoxious by any crime, in some measure substituted affection in
the place of authority.
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