BattlefieldsRoman Assault on Charnwood Hillfort
Roman Period

Roman Assault on Charnwood Hillfort

47
Leicestershire, England
Also known as: Roman Conquest of Charnwood Forest
Era
Roman Period
Battle Type
Skirmish
Location
Leicestershire, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Coritani / Corieltauvi
Forces
Coritani/Corieltauvi c.500–1,500.
VS
Victor
Rome (Legio XIV Gemina)
Forces
Legio XIV Gemina c.3,000–5,000
Outcome
Roman control of Charnwood established; hillforts neutralised
The Battle

History & Significance

The Coritani (Corieltauvi) of Leicestershire appear to have submitted to Rome with relatively little organised resistance, but the hillforts of Charnwood Forest — including Beacon Hill — were occupied and disarmed under Ostorius Scapula's disarmament campaign of AD 47. Tacitus records that Scapula ordered all tribes within the new Roman province to surrender their weapons, leading to risings among several groups. The Charnwood hillforts represent the easternmost defended positions of the Midland tribes.

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