BattlefieldsAgricola's Defeat of the Ordovices
Roman Period

Agricola's Defeat of the Ordovices

77
Merionethshire, Wales
Also known as: Campaign against Ordovices 77–78 AD
Era
Roman Period
Battle Type
Pitched Battle
Location
Merionethshire, Wales
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Ordovices tribe
Forces
Ordovices c. 8,000–12,000 in pitched battle.
VS
Victor
Rome (Agricola)
Forces
Rome (Agricola) c. 6,000–10,000
Outcome
Roman victory; Ordovices effectively annihilated as a fighting force
The Battle

History & Significance

In his first season as governor (77–78 AD), Agricola almost wiped out the Ordovices of north-west Wales, who had just ambushed and destroyed a Roman cavalry regiment. Tacitus (Agricola's son-in-law) says the Roman army climbed difficult mountain terrain and caught the Ordovices in their own fastnesses, killing nearly the entire tribe. This was different from the Silures campaign — more punitive annihilation than conquest. Agricola then immediately crossed to Anglesey, exploiting his momentum.

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