Historical Overview Section
By AD 43, the time of the main Roman invasion of Britain, Britain had already frequently been the target of invasions, planned and actual, by forces of the Roman Republic and Roman Empire. Between 55 BC and the 40s AD, the status quo of tribute, hostages, and client states without direct military occupation, begun by Caesar's invasions of Britain, largely remained intact. In 43 a more serious invasion was launched by Claudius with 4 full legions and continued by his successors in a series of campaigns running to 96AD - including putting down Boudiccas rebellion. The invasion finally petered out with large parts of Scotland unconquered, leading the the building of Hadrians Wall.
Cassivellaunus appears in Julius Caesar's Commentarii de Bello Gallico, having been given command of the combined British forces opposing Caesar's second invasion of Britain. Caesar does not mention Cassivellaunus's tribe, but his territory, north of the River Thames, corresponds with that inhabited by the tribe named the Catuvellauni at the time of the later invasion under Claudius.
Caesar tells us that Cassivellaunus had previously been in near-constant conflict with his neighbors, as was typical of the British tribes in this period, and had recently brought down the king of the Trinovantes, the most powerful tribe in Britain at the time. The king's son, Mandubracius, fled to Caesar in Gaul. Despite Cassivellaunus's harrying tactics, designed to prevent Caesar's army from foraging and plundering for food, Caesar advanced to the Thames. The only fordable point was defended and fortified with sharp stakes, but the Romans managed to cross it. Cassivellaunus dismissed most of his army and resorted to guerilla tactics, relying on his knowledge of the territory and the speed of his chariots.
Five British tribes, the Cenimagni, the Segontiaci, the Ancalites, the Bibroci and the Cassi, surrendered to Caesar and revealed the location of Cassivellaunus's stronghold. (Possibles sites include Hexton and the Devil's Dyke, Wheathampstead). Caesar proceeded to put the stronghold under siege. Cassivellaunus managed to get a message to the four kings of Kent, Cingetorix, Carvilius, Taximagulus and Segovax, to gather their forces and attack the Roman camp on the coast, but the Romans defended themselves successfully, capturing a chieftain called Lugotorix. On hearing of the defeat and the devastation of his territories, Cassivellaunus surrendered. The terms were mediated by Commius, Caesar's Gallic ally. Hostages were given and a tribute agreed. Mandubracius was restored to the kingship of the Trinovantes, and Cassivellaunus undertook not to wage war against him. All this achieved, Caesar returned to Gaul where a poor harvest had caused unrest. The Roman legions did not return to Britain for another 97 years.
Using the army in ADLG
- Probably needs the Strategist and the 6 LH in order to win initiative - after which you may want to put down 5 bits of terrain if you are rying a foot version
- LI Javelin are hard to shift from rough and difficult terrain, especially up a hill
- The all-chariot version can be surprisingly good in a tight historical theme, as there are few decent cavalry (and even fewer bowmen) in many contemporary armies.
- Elite Chariots are almost as good as HCv, and will be more numerous to explot flanks and harass enemy LH
- Eight elite light chariots. It’s a shame the Britons never invested in armouring their chariots – presumably they experimented with wattle and daub armour but found it ended up too top-heavy and the Maus variant simply toppled over.
- More than enough light troops to get the initiative to +4 and a break-point of 27 before we count the sacred grove, which takes it to 28.
- A small terrain group of three impetuous medium swordsmen accompanied by five light foot – who can either contest terrain, defend the Druids’ grove or act as bait (they even occasionally assaulted grown-up infantry units).
- The sacred camp is also useful as bait, as long as I feel I have an opportunity to assault my opponent’s flanks if they are aiming for the camp.
- Strategist CinC improves control of terrain as well as of a large number of units
Useful Links
User-contributed links about this army. Add links in this format:
- Battle Reports of a chariot-rich version in themed competition.
- Ancient British From Fanaticus
- Ancient British From Fanaticus
- Well painted Corvus Belli British Scandinavian blog site
Army Lists
Sample army lists for this army
Gordons Alicante List
Strategist
3 Chariots (elite) Light chariot javelin Elite
1 Replacement chariots(former warriors) Light chariot javelin ------
2 British horsemen Light cavalry javelin ------
3 Warriors Medium swordsmen impetuous ----
2 Slingers Light infantry sling ----
3 Javelin skirmishers Light infantry javelin ----
==
Ordinary Included
1 Chariots (elite)* (general included) Light chariot javelin Elite
4 Chariots Light chariot javelin ------
2 British horsemen Light cavalry javelin ------
==
Ordinary Included
1 Replacement chariots (elite)*(gen. inc.) Light chariot javelin Elite
3 Replacement chariots (elite) Light chariot javelin Elite
2 British horsemen Light cavalry javelin ------
Sacred Camp (because why not?)
Podcast List #2 (Dave)
Ordinary Included
3 light chariots light chariot elite
1 british horsemen light cavalry javelin ------
==
Brilliant
4 warriors medium swordsmen impetuous elite
4 warriors medium swordsmen impetuous ------
3 british horsemen light cavalry javelin ------
3 light infantry light infantry javelin ----
2 levy levy mediocre
==
Roman ordinary Ally
3 legionaries Heavy swordsmen armour impact elite
1 equites heavy cavalry elite
1 auxiliary medium swordsmen impact elite
1 equites heavy cavalry ----
Podcast List #3 (Richard)
Ordinary Included
1 British noble warriors with General Medium swordsmen impetuous Elite
1 British noble warriors Medium swordsmen impetuous Elite
4 British warriors Medium swordsmen impetuous ------
3 Slingers Light infantry sling ----
==
Ordinary Included
1 General & escort in 2 horse chariots Light chariot Elite
1 Noble warriors in 2 horse chariots Light chariot Elite
6 British horsemen Light cavalry javelin ----
==
Boudicca Strategist
2 Noble warriors in 2 horse chariots Light chariot Elite
2 British horsemen Light cavalry javelin ------
6 British warriors Medium swordsmen impetuous ------
2 Skirmishing young warriors Light infantry javelin ----
2 Women and children Levy Mediocre
200 Points - Chariot version
2nd at CLWC Winter 2017 & Podcast List #1 (Tim)
Ordinary General
2 LH Javelin
2 LI Javelin
==
Strategist
6 LCh Elite
4 LCh Ordinary
3 LH
==
Ordinary General
2 LCh Elite
4 LCh Ordinary
3 LH Ordinary
Fortified Camp
200ap at CLWC WInter (standard version)
Ordinary
2 chariots Light chariot Elite
6 British Horsemen Light cavalry javelin ------
3 Light infantry javelin ------
===
Strategist
4 elite warriors Medium swordsmen impetuous Elite
6 warriors Medium swordsmen impetuous ------
1 Women & Children Levy Mediocre
1 Light infantry sling ----
1 Light infantry javelin ------
===
Ordinary
4 warriors Medium swordsmen impetuous
2 Slimngers Light Infanry Sling
Strategist
6 warriors Medium swordsmen impetuous ------
4 elite warriors Medium swordsmen impetuous Elite
1 Li javelin Light infantry javelin ------
1 LI Sling Light infantry sling ------
1 Women & Children Levy Mediocre
===
Ordinary
6 British Horsemen Light cavalry javelin
2 chariots Light chariot
3 Li javelin Light infantry javelin
===
Ordinary Unreliable
4 warriors Medium swordsmen impetuous
2 LI Sling Light infantry sling