History of the Anglo-Saxons, from the Earliest Period to the Norman Conquest: Second Edition — John Stuart Mill — John Shaqi
History of the Anglo-Saxons, from the Earliest Period to the Norman Conquest: Second Edition
John Stuart Mill · en
State of Britain after the departure of Cæsar--Landing of
Plautius--His skirmishes with the Britons in the marshes beside
the Thames--Arrival of the Roman emperor Claudius--Ostorius
conquers and disarms the Britons--Rise of Caractacus--British
encampment in Wales--Caractacus defeated, betrayed by his
step-mother, and carried captive to Rome--Death of the Roman
general Ostorius--Retreat of the Druids to the Isle of Anglesey
--Suetonius attacks the island--Consternation of the Roman
soldiers on landing--Massacre of the Druids, and destruction of
their groves and altars--Boadicea, queen of the Iceni, assumes
the command of the Britons--Her sufferings--She prepares for
battle, attacks the Roman colony of Camaladonum--Her terrible
vengeance--Her march into London, and destruction of the
Romans--Picturesque description of Boadicea and her daughters
in her ancient British war-chariot--Harangues her soldiers
--Is defeated by Suetonius, and destroys herself--Agricola
lands in Britain--His mild measures--Instructs the islanders
in agriculture and architecture--Leads the Roman legions
into Caledonia, and attacks the men of the woods--Bravery of
Galgacus, the Caledonian chief--Agricola sails round the coast
of Scotland--Erects a Roman rampart to prevent the Caledonians
from invading Britain p. 40
CHAPTER VI.
DEPARTURE OF THE ROMANS.
Adrian strengthens and extends the Roman fortifications--
Description of these ancient barriers, and the combats that took
place before them--Wall erected by the emperor Severus--He
marches into Caledonia, reaches the Frith of Moray--Great
mortality amongst the Roman legions--Severus dies at York--
Picturesque description of the Roman sentinels guarding the
ancient fortresses--Attack of the northern barbarians--Peace
of Britain under the government of Caracalla--Arrival of the
Saxon and Scandinavian pirates--The British Channel protected
by the naval commander, Carausius--His assassination at York
--Constantine the Great--Theodosius conquers the Saxons--
Rebellion of the Roman soldiers; they elect their own general
--Alaric, the Goth, overruns the Roman territories--British
soldiers sent abroad to strengthen the Roman ranks--Decline
of the Roman power in Britain--Ravages of the Picts, Scots,
and Saxons--The Britons apply in vain for assistance from Rome
--Miserable condition in which they are left on the departure
of the Romans--War between the Britons and the remnant of the
invaders--Vortigern, king of the Britons--A league with the
Saxons p. 50
CHAPTER VII.
BRITAIN AFTER THE ROMAN PERIOD.