BattlefieldsPictish and Scottish Raids during Stilicho Withdrawal 401-402 AD
Roman Period

Pictish and Scottish Raids during Stilicho Withdrawal 401-402 AD

401–402
Northumberland, England
Also known as: Northern raids after Stilicho troops withdrawn · Final Pictish raids 401 AD
Era
Roman Period
Battle Type
Skirmish
Location
Northumberland, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Roman Britain
Forces
c. 1,000–3,000 remaining Roman/garrison forces.
VS
Victor
Picts and Scots
Forces
c. 2,000–5,000 Pictish and Scottish raiders
Outcome
Raids resumed immediately after Stilicho withdrew troops for Italian wars; provinces effectively undefended
The Battle

History & Significance

When Stilicho stripped the British garrison of its best units in 401-402 AD to defend Italy against Alaric and the Visigoths, the Picts and Scots immediately resumed raiding. Claudian records the renewed barbarian pressure. The British population, now effectively without a professional army, began the process of taking defence into their own hands — the origin of the post-Roman warlord tradition.

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

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