What a Top Roman General Really Thought About Ireland…
Channel: Celtic History Decoded
Date: 2023-09-22

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What a Top Roman General Really Thought About Ireland…

Ireland, or Hibernia to the Romans, was never conquered by Rome and was never annexed into the Roman Empire. So what was the Roman view of Ireland then? 

One insight can be found in a book by the Roman historian Tacitus published in the 1st century AD. In the book, Tacitus notes the views of the Roman General Gnaeus Julius Agricola, his father-in-law, who served as the Governor of Britannia from 77 AD to around 85 AD. 

Tacitus notes that the routes of approach and the harbours of Hibernia are known through trade and merchants. Roman coins have been found in Ireland, probably from traders and raiders over the centuries. 

Tacitus goes on to write that Agricola had given refuge to one of the minor kings of Hibernia, who had apparently been expelled due to a family quarrel. Agricola treated him as a friend, keeping him in case an opportunity arose. By the way Tacitus wrote this last section, Agricola seemed to be keeping him warm in case Rome conquered Ireland could then install him as a puppet king for Rome. 

According to Tacitus, Agricola believed that Ireland could be... 

Sources:

Tacitus – Agricola and Germany (Oxford University Press) 

BBC News - Ancient treasure displayed at Ulster Museum https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-46912136 

Irish Archaeology - Roman coins from Newgrange http://irisharchaeology.ie/2013/04/roman-coins-from-newgrange/ 

Hiberno-Roman relations https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiberno-Roman_relations#cite_note-2 

Auxilia https://oxfordre.com/classics/display/10.1093/acrefore/9780199381135.001.0001/acrefore-9780199381135-e-1010 
 
#ireland #romanempire #history 

Roman Ireland - Romans in Ireland - Roman Empire Ireland - Agricola Tacitus Ireland - Roman Conquest of Ireland