Gnaeus Julius Agricola
Gnaeus Julius Agricola conquered most of Britain and is known almost entirely through a biography written by his son-in-law. Born in AD 40 at Forum Julii in Gallia Narbonensis, he was the son of a senator executed by Caligula, and was educated at Massilia. He served his military tribunate in Britain under Suetonius Paulinus and was there during Boudica's revolt in AD 60-61. He returned as commander of the Twentieth Legion in AD 69, and later governed Aquitania and held the consulship. He was appointed governor of Britain around AD 77 and held it for an unusually long seven years. He completed the conquest of Wales, subduing the Ordovices and taking Anglesey, then advanced steadily north through the Brigantes and into Caledonia, building a network of forts and roads including the line across the Forth-Clyde isthmus. At Mons Graupius, probably in AD 83, he defeated a large Caledonian force with auxiliary infantry alone, keeping his legions in reserve — Tacitus reports around ten thousand Britons killed. He sent a fleet around the north of Britain, establishing that it was an island. Tacitus credits him with encouraging Roman urban life, education and Latin among the British aristocracy, and then remarks acidly that the Britons called this civilisation when it was part of their enslavement. He was recalled by Domitian in AD 85, and Tacitus attributes it to imperial jealousy; more probably troops were needed on the Danube. He was given no further command and died in AD 93, with rumours of poison that Tacitus records without endorsing.
- Lived: 40 CE – 93 CE
- Nationality: Roman
- Roles: military_leader
