BattlefieldsCaratacus's Guerrilla War against the Silures
Roman Period

Caratacus's Guerrilla War against the Silures

47–50
Glamorgan, Wales
Also known as: Silures Resistance 47-50 · Silurian Campaign
Era
Roman Period
Battle Type
Skirmish
Location
Glamorgan, Wales
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Varies
Forces
Silures/Caratacus c.1,500–3,000.
VS
Victor
Varies
Forces
Romans c.2,000–4,000
Outcome
Caratacus inflicted constant losses on the Romans; drew the war into difficult hill country
The Battle

History & Significance

After his defeat in the southeast, Caratacus reorganised resistance among the Silures of south Wales — a fierce, dark-haired tribe whom Tacitus describes as especially warlike. For three years he conducted a guerrilla war using the mountains and forests of Wales to negate Roman military superiority. Tacitus records that "the Silures were not easily broken." Caratacus's eventual defeat did not end Silurian resistance — it intensified it.

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

Aubrey Research

Explore the landscape around Glamorgan

Aubrey generates in-depth historical research for any location in Britain — drawing on Domesday records, scheduled monuments, Victorian OS maps, geological data and archaeological archives to tell the full story of a place.

Research a location near Glamorgan