BattlefieldsSilures Ambush of Legio II Augusta
Roman Period

Silures Ambush of Legio II Augusta

49
Monmouthshire, Wales
Also known as: Silures Guerrilla Campaign c.49 AD
Era
Roman Period
Battle Type
Skirmish
Location
Monmouthshire, Wales
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Rome (foraging party)
Forces
Roman foraging party & cavalry: c. 200–400.
VS
Victor
Silures tribe
Forces
Silures: c. 2,000–3,000
Outcome
Silures victory; Roman foraging force surrounded and destroyed
The Battle

History & Significance

Tacitus records that the Silures of south-east Wales surrounded and nearly destroyed a Roman foraging party and its cavalry escort. When two cohorts were sent to the rescue, the Silures attacked them too. More troops had to be sent before the Romans could extricate themselves. The Silures proved so dangerous that Ostorius threatened to exterminate them — which only intensified their resistance. One of the earliest recorded Roman disasters in Wales.

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