Fall of the Druids in Britain - the Island of Anglesey in Wales - Part 3
Aulus Plautius was recalled to Rome by the Emperor Claudius in AD 47, possibly because of his failure to capture Caractacus, the rebel leader. The new governor Publius Ostorius Scapula made a concerted effort to conquer the native tribes who were resisting the occupation in the north and west. The defiance of the tribes in Wales threatened the stability of the whole Roman province.
Caractacus and his warriors escaped to Wales following the capture of Camulodunum (or Colchester) in AD 43. The powerful, warlike tribe of the Silures in south Wales adopted Caractacus as their leader. The Deceangli and the Ordovices in north Wales joined his rallying calls to fight the Roman oppressors. Caractacus became known as the Caradog among his supporters and the Druids proclaimed him as a hero.
Ostorius began his term in office by defending Roman territory near Wales which had been attacked by Caractacus and his army. The guerrilla tactics used by the rebels against the Romans were so successful that it slowed the pace of the occupation by Ostorius and succeeding Roman governors for more than a decade.
The native tribes of Gaul, Britain and the Rhineland learned ambushes, surprise attacks, and fighting in rough, hostile terrain which they knew well were the most effective ways of resisting the Romans. Open battles usually ended in defeat. The rough, mountainous terrain of Wales provided the rebels with excellent cover from which to successfully launch raids.
It is certain Caractacus and his followers met the Druids during his time in Wales. Anglesey, which was known as the island of Mona by the Romans, is a small island off the coast of north Wales and was the home of the Druidism throughout the Iron Age. It was also a place of where the Celtic priests welcomed fugitives from distant tribes who had escaped the harshness of Roman rule. Anti-Roman sentiment was spread from Anglesey to the native tribes throughout Britain. Druids were forbidden from taking part in warfare according to Julius Caesar but they could encourage it.
A close relationship existed between the Druids, the tribal chieftains and their warriors because of their teachings the human soul was immortal and could not be destroyed.
The Celts that believed the soul passed from the mortal world upon death to the Otherworld, or the world of the dead. A birth in the mortal world similarly caused a death in the Otherworld and a soul returned to the mortal world.
Julius Caesar noted the Celts belief in the immortal soul was one of the reasons their warriors were fearless in battle. Personal belongings were normally buried during the funeral of a warrior so the time he spent the after-life was pleasant.
The first signs of hostility came in AD 49 when the Roman general attacked and devastated the lands of the Deceangli in north Wales as part of a military offensive to bring the north and west of Britain under Roman control. The campaign was delayed when Ostorius received news of an uprising of the client kingdoms of the Iceni, the Brigantes and other native tribes. He rushed to East Anglia to quell the rebellion.
The Roman writer Tacitus said there had been unrest because Ostorius had taken the unusual and unpopular step of disarming the tribes south and east of the rivers Trent and Severn. The decision was based a suspicion that anti-Roman sentiment was growing among the Britons encouraged by the Druids and the resistance in Wales. The measure was aimed at preventing rebellion among the native people in Roman controlled territory while an ongoing offensive was taking place against Caractacus and his army in Wales.
Under Roman law no person could carry arms except for officers and soldiers. Hunting swords and knives were exempt. However bearing arms was an essential part of a warrior's lifestyle and was against Celtic custom. The introduction of martial law demonstrated the Roman's distrust of the native population and ignorance of their ways and customs.
Weapons were reluctantly handed over in an act of submission by the tribes. Search parties were sent to farms and villages to check for hidden weapons. Historians believe the Romans used the law to deliberately instill fear among the local population. Protests were dealt with harshly by Roman soldiers with beatings of individuals and families. Anti-Roman factions within the Iceni, Brigantes and other tribes encouraged their kinsmen to rebel.
The short-lived uprising was crushed quickly by the Romans. Some of the leaders were executed while others were pardoned according to Tacitus. The measures taken by the Ostorius to prevent rebellion had actually caused an anti-Roman reaction. The revolt of the Iceni surprised the Romans.
Ostorius and his legions defeated Caratacus and his forces during a decisive battle in Wales in AD 51. Caratacus was captured some months later when Queen Cartimandua of the Brigantes handed the rebel leader over to Roman authorities.
The Silures continued fighting after their leader was taken prisoner and Ostorius died in AD 52 from illness while fighting them in south-Wales. The fourth Roman governor Quintus Veranius Nepos defeated the Silures in AD 58 and the region was pacified with the building of forts and roads.
Gaius Suetonius Paulinus became governor of Britain in AD 58 following the death of Quintus Veranius. The progress of the invasion in Wales had been slow because the Welsh tribes were successful in keeping the Roman at bay. The Island of Anglesey was targeted by Paulinus because it became a symbol of national and religious resistance to the Roman occupation. The Druids welcomed the rebels and the island acted as a haven for those fleeing Roman rule. Further rebellions threatened the expansion of the Empire.
Paulinus reasoned an attack on Druids last stronghold on the island of Anglesey in Wales was necessary. It would help crush the rebellion in the north, reduce their numbers and demoralise the remaining Celtic priests. Druidism would be pushed underground and eventually die out in the outermost areas.
The Druids on Anglesey also controlled trade with neighbouring Ireland and the gold merchants brought with them from across the Celtic sea. Removing the Druids by force would further the Roman's ambition of controlling the mineral wealth of the province of Britannia.
Paulinus and his legions arrived on the shores of Anglesey in AD 60. The Romans witnessed the frightening spectacle of thousands of tribesmen gathered on the shore beating their shields and shouting. A nearby circle of Druids lifted their hands to heaven, praying to their gods for victory and cursed the Romans with dark magic and spells.
Tacitus noted there were women were "flitting between the ranks. In the style of Furies, in robes of deathly black and with dishevelled hair, they brandished their torches". Some believe the "women" may have been the wives, mothers and sisters of the warriors. Others think they were Celtic priestesses, or Druidesses, belonging to the cult of a god, perhaps even the Celtic sun god Mabon of Wales.
Paulinus rode among his shocked soldiers, encouraging them to wage war on the enemy. The Romans rallied and proceeded to slaughter every man, woman and child on the battlefield. The surviving Druids and their followers were thrown into their sacred groves among oak trees and burned alive. Tacitus said Paulinus decided "the next step was to install a garrison among the conquered population, and to demolish the groves consecrated to their savage cults".
Historians agree that Druidism in Britain was dealt a fatal blow following the attack by the Romans on their stronghold on the island of Anglesey. Most of the surviving members escaped to Ireland. The remainder seem to have sought refuge among the tribes in Scotland who were known to be anti-Roman.
The accounts of the time indicate there were Druids were living among the native tribes in the client kingdoms in England. For example, sacrifices that were made during the revolt of Boudicca and the Iceni in AD 60/61 could only have been performed by Druids.
News reached Paulinus a rebellion was underway in East Anglia after the successful attack on Anglesey. He and his legions rushed from Wales to confront the legendary Queen Boudicca and her army in southern England.
