Who is agricola

As a member of the staff of the Roman General Paulinus, he very probably took part in the suppression of Boudica's uprising in AD He then took up a post responsible for army finance and served in Asia. Civil war broke out across the Empire in AD68, in what became known as the year of four emperors and Agricola's mother was killed during the fighting.

Agricola backed the faction headed by Vespasian, who subsequently became undisputed emperor. In AD69 a grateful Vespasian gave Agricola command of Legio XX Valeria Victrix in Britain: a legion whose previous commander had used the recent unrest as a pretext to rebel against the rather ineffectual governor, Marcus Vettius Bolanus.

Agricola steadied the ship and consolidated Roman rule in the province. He returned to Rome in AD77, and was then appointed Governor of Britain in AD78, arriving back in the province in the middle of the year. Agricola immediately launched a campaign against the Ordovices of north Wales. In AD79 he re-established clear Roman authority in northern England, then in AD80 began the campaign he envisaged would complete the Roman conquest of Britain, by marching into Scotland.

AD83 saw the Romans press further north, now in the face of serious opposition from the native Caledonians. In one incident, Legio IX Hispana was attacked at night and only saved from disaster through the intervention of a large force of Roman cavalry. In AD84 the Romans pressed still further into northern Scotland, trying to draw the main forces of the Caledonian leader Calgacus into open battle. Mark US English. Daniel British.

Libby British. Mia British. Karen Australian. Hayley Australian. Natasha Australian. Veena Indian. Priya Indian. Neerja Indian. Zira US English. Oliver British. Wendy British. Fred US English. Tessa South African. Select another language:. Tacitus c. Boudicca 62 ad queen of the Iceni. See all related overviews in Oxford Reference ». Gnaeus Julius Agricola was governor of Britain between ad 78 and ad During his period of office he campaigned extensively in North Wales, northern England, and Scotland where he inflicted a crushing defeat on the Caledonian tribes at Mons Graupius, probably near Aberdeen.

Plans for the total conquest of Scotland were unfulfilled. Subjects: Archaeology. View all reference entries ». View all related items in Oxford Reference ».