The Leading Facts of English HistoryMontgomery, D. H. (David Henry)
History
The Leading Facts of English History
Montgomery, D. H. (David Henry)
Great Britain -- History
The total results of his two expeditions were a number of natives
carried as hostages to Rome, a long train of captives destined to be
sold in the slave markets, and some promises of tribute which the
Britons never fulfilled. Tacitus, the Roman historian, says Caesar
"did not conquer Britain; he only showed it to the Romans."
20. The Third Invasion of Britain by the Romans, 43 A.D.
For nearly a hundred years the Romans made no further attempt on
Britain, but in 43 A.D. the Emperor Claudius invaded the island.
After nine years' fighting, he overcame Caractacus, the leader of the
Britons, and carried him in chains to Rome. The brave chief refused
to beg for life or liberty. "Can it be possible," said he, as he was
led through the streets, "that men who live in such places as these
envy us our wretched hovels!" "It was the dignity of the man, even in
ruins," says the Roman historian, "which saved him." The Emperor,
struck with his bearing and his speech, ordered him to be set free.
21. The Romans plant a Colony in Britain, Llyn-din.
Meanwhile the armies of the Empire had established a strong colony at
Colchester in the southeast of Britain. (See map facing p. 14.)
There they built a temple and set up the statue of the Emperor
Claudius, which the soldiers worshiped, both as a protecting god and
as the representative of the Roman Empire.
The army had also conquered other places. One of these was a little
native settlement on a bend in the Thames where the river broadened
slightly. It consisted of a few miserable huts and a row of
intrenched cattle pens. It was called in the British tongue Llyn-din
or the Fort-on-the-pool. This name, which was pronounced with
difficulty by Roman lips, eventually became known wherever ships sail,
trade reaches, or history is read,--London.
22. Expedition against the Druids.
But in order to complete the conquest of the country, the Roman
generals resolved to crush the power of the Druids (S3), since these
priests exhorted the Britons to refuse to surrender. The island of
Anglesey, off the northwest coast of Wales, was the stronghold to
which the Druids had retreated. (See map facing p. 14.) As the Roman
soldiers approached to attack them, they beheld the priests and women
standing on the shore, with uplifted hands, uttering "dreadful prayers
and imprecations."
For a moment the Roman troops hesitated; then they rushed upon the
Druids, cut them to pieces, and cast their bodies into their own
sacred fires. From this blow Druidism as an organized faith never
recovered, though traces of its religious rites still survive in the
use of the mistletoe at Christman and in May-day festivals.
23. Revolt of Boadicea (61).
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account