Battlefields›Hadrian's Wall Milecastle 39 — Garrison Skirmish
Roman Period

Hadrian's Wall Milecastle 39 — Garrison Skirmish

180–185
Northumberland, England
Also known as: Castle Nick milecastle action · Milecastle 39 defence
Era
Roman Period
Battle Type
Skirmish
Location
Northumberland, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Forces
Not recorded in historical accounts
Forces
Raiding party c. 100–300.
VS
Victor
Unknown
Forces
Milecastle 39 garrison c. 30–50
Outcome
Barbarian incursion across Wall; milecastle garrison overwhelmed or reinforced; pottery destruction layers found in excavation
The Battle

History & Significance

Milecastle 39 at Castle Nick sits on the most dramatic section of Hadrian's Wall, on the Whin Sill crags. Archaeological excavation at several Wall milecastles has found destruction layers dating to c.180-185 AD, coinciding with the great barbarian incursion recorded by Cassius Dio in which a general was killed and many soldiers lost. The episode prompted the emperor Commodus to send Ulpius Marcellus to restore order in Britain.

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

Protected heritage nearby

Scheduled Monuments near Hadrian's Wall Milecastle 39 — Garrison Skirmish

Hadrian's Wall and associated features between the field boundary west of turret 37a and the road to Steel Rigg car park in wall miles 37, 38 and 39
Scheduled monument · ~0.2 miles
The vallum and a British settlement between the field boundary west of turret 37a and the road to Steel Rigg car park, in wall miles 37, 38 and 39
Scheduled monument · ~0.5 miles
Twice Brewed Roman temporary camp
Scheduled monument · ~0.9 miles
Round cairn 380m north of Codley Gate
Scheduled monument · ~0.9 miles
Vindolanda (Chesterholm) Roman forts, civil settlement and cemeteries, adjacent length of the Stanegate Roman road and two milestones
Scheduled monument · ~1 miles
More from this era

Other Roman Period Battles

Battle of the Medway
43
Kent, England
Assault on Hod Hill
43
Dorset, England
Caesar's Second Invasion — Thames Crossing and Cassivellaunus Stronghold (54 BC)
-54
Essex, England
Caesar Second Invasion — Kent Resistance 54 BC
-54
Kent, England
Aubrey Research

Explore the landscape around Northumberland

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 Northumberland
All Battlefields