While commanding between the death of Ostorius Scapula and the arrival of Didius Gallus, the legate Manlius Valens suffered a notable defeat at Silurian hands. Tacitus preserves this as an example of Silurian intransigence — even with an inexperienced interim commander, the Silures could mount offensive action. Gallus later minimised the defeat in dispatches to Rome, according to Tacitus.
Roman auxiliary detachment under legate Manlius Valens versus mobile Silurian warband
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