Battlefields›Vespasian Campaigns in the South West 43-47 AD
Roman Period

Vespasian Campaigns in the South West 43-47 AD

43–47
Dorset, England
Also known as: Legio II Augusta in Wessex · Vespasian takes 20 hillforts
Era
Roman Period
Battle Type
Siege
Location
Dorset, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Durotriges
Forces
Durotriges: c. 2,000–4,000.
VS
Victor
Rome (Vespasian / Legio II Augusta)
Forces
Romans: c. 5,000–6,000 (II Augusta + auxiliaries)
Outcome
Suetonius records Vespasian fought 30 battles, subdued two tribes, captured over 20 towns including Maiden Castle and Hod Hill
The Battle

History & Significance

Vespasian campaign in the south-west with Legio II Augusta was the most systematically documented military operation of the Claudian conquest, with the storming of Maiden Castle now archaeologically confirmed.

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

Protected heritage nearby

Scheduled Monuments near Vespasian Campaigns in the South West 43-47 AD

Bowl barrow 250m north of Oak Cottage
Scheduled monument · ~2.9 miles
Bowl barrow 210m west of Oak Cottage
Scheduled monument · ~3.1 miles
Four bowl barrows 240m east of Oak Cottage
Scheduled monument · ~3.1 miles
Hillfort, ridge and furrow, holy well and medieval chapel on Woodbury Hill
Scheduled monument · ~3.3 miles
Manorial settlement at Court Farm
Scheduled monument · ~3.4 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 Dorset

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 Dorset
All Battlefields