Caractacus
Caractacus (also known as Caratacus, or Caradoc) was a tribal leader of the Ancient British, known for his resistance to the Roman invasion of Britain in 43AD.
Defeated initially by the Romans at the Battle of Medway that year, he managed to escape to the Welsh mountains where he mounted guerrilla warfare against the Roman invaders for the next seven years.
Caractacus was finally defeated in battle in Wales to Roman governor, Ostorious Scapula in 51 AD.
He fled northward and took refuge with a tribe known as the Brigantes. Unknown to Caractacus, their Queen Cartimandua had allied her tribe with the Romans and willingly handed him over to them in chains as a war prize. (The Brigantes, led by her ex-husband, later revolted against Cartimandua).
With the capture of Caractacus, much of southern Britain from the Humber to the Severn was pacified and garrisoned throughout the 50s.
Caractacus and his family were taken to Rome to be publicly executed. However, Caractacus made such an eloquent speech to Emperor Claudius that his life and his family were spared, and he spent the rest of his life in Rome.
Further reading
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