Battlefields›Caledonian Night Attack on the Ninth Legion's Camp, 83 AD

Roman Period

Caledonian Night Attack on the Ninth Legion's Camp, 83 AD

Q: When did Caledonian Night Attack on the Ninth Legion's Camp, 83 AD take place?

Caledonian Night Attack on the Ninth Legion's Camp, 83 AD took place in 83, Scotland. The Caledonians launched a surprise night attack on the camp of Legio IX Hispana, deliberately chosen as 'the weakest' of Agricola's three divided columns, killing sentries and breaking into the camp amid the confusion of sleep. Agricola, learning of the enemy's line of march from scouts, sent cavalry and fast-moving infantry to strike the attackers' rear, catching them between two Roman forces; the Ninth Legion rallied and the Caledonians were driven off, with survivors escaping into woods and marshes.

Q: Who won Caledonian Night Attack on the Ninth Legion's Camp, 83 AD?

Rome (Agricola) was victorious. The defeated side was Caledonian confederacy. The Caledonians launched a surprise night attack on the camp of Legio IX Hispana, deliberately chosen as 'the weakest' of Agricola's three divided columns, killing sentries and breaking into the camp amid the confusion of sleep. Agricola, learning of the enemy's line of march from scouts, sent cavalry and fast-moving infantry to strike the attackers' rear, catching them between two Roman forces; the Ninth Legion rallied and the Caledonians were driven off, with survivors escaping into woods and marshes.

Scotland

Era

Roman Period

Battle Type

Skirmish

Location

Scotland

Status

Unregistered

The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated

Caledonian confederacy

Forces

Legio IX Hispana (described as the weakest of Agricola's three divided columns) was the unit attacked, relieved by Agricola's cavalry and light infantry.

Victor

Rome (Agricola)

Forces

Not recorded in numerical terms in Tacitus

Outcome

The Caledonians launched a surprise night attack on the camp of Legio IX Hispana, deliberately chosen as 'the weakest' of Agricola's three divided columns, killing sentries and breaking into the camp amid the confusion of sleep. Agricola, learning of the enemy's line of march from scouts, sent cavalry and fast-moving infantry to strike the attackers' rear, catching them between two Roman forces; the Ninth Legion rallied and the Caledonians were driven off, with survivors escaping into woods and marshes.

The Battle

History & Significance

A roman skirmish fought in 83 Scotland. Recorded strengths: Not recorded in numerical terms in Tacitus; Legio IX Hispana (described as the weakest of Agricola's three divided columns) was the unit attacked, relieved by A….

Suspected site. The exact location is uncertain.

Casualties & Losses

According to Tacitus, 'There were ten thousand enemy dead: on our side three hundred and sixty fell, among them Aulus Atticus, a battalion commander.' (Tacitus's Roman casualty and especially the enemy death toll are traditionally treated by historians as rhetorically inflated/propagandistic rather than a precise count.)

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Protected heritage nearby

Scheduled Monuments near Caledonian Night Attack on the Ninth Legion's Camp, 83 AD

Mary Colliery winding gear head frame, 775m NW of Lochore Castle

Scheduled monument · Medieval · ~0.3 miles

Lochore Castle

Scheduled monument · ~0.4 miles

Clune Craig, hut-circles and enclosures

Scheduled monument · Post-Medieval · ~0.5 miles

Benarty Hill, fort

Scheduled monument · Iron Age · ~1.6 miles

Cumbrae House, ring-ditches 200m NNE of

Scheduled monument · ~1.6 miles

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