Cartimandua (or Cartismandua, ruled ca.43 - 69), whose name means "sleek pony," was a queen of the Brigantes, who formed a large tribal agglomeration in northern England. She was the only queen in early Roman Britain, identified as regina by Tacitus. Events Aulus Plautius, with 4 legions, landed on Britain. ... The Year of the four emperors: After Neros death, Galba, Otho and Vitellius all serve as emperor for a short time each before Vespasian takes over. ... The Brigantes were a British Celtic tribe which lived between Tyne and Humber. ... Principal sites in Roman Britain Roman Britain refers to those parts of the island of Great Britain controlled by the Roman Empire between 43 and 410. ... Gaius Cornelius Tacitus Publius (or Gaius) Cornelius Tacitus (c. ...

Her Career as Queen of the Brigantes

Although Cartimandua is first mentioned by Tacitus in AD 51, her rule over the Brigantes was probably already previously established when emperor Claudius began the organized conquest of Britain in AD 43. Cartimandua was almost certainly in power by the time a revolt of a faction of the Brigantes was defeated by Publius Ostorius Scapula in 48. Of illustrious birth according to Tacitus, she probably inherited her power and with it might have gained Roman citizenship. If she had not inherited Roman citizenship, she would have received it from Claudius. With her consort, Venutius, whom some have identified as a member of the Carvetii nation, Cartimandua forged an alliance with the Romans. She was always loyal to Rome and "protected by Roman arms," according to Tacitus. In about 51 AD Cartimandua handed over the British resistance leader Caratacus, who had fled north after being defeated by Publius Ostorius Scapula in Wales, to the Romans. The Brigantes were a British Celtic tribe which lived between Tyne and Humber. ... For other persons named Claudius, see Claudius (disambiguation). ... Roman invasion of Britain: Britain was the target of invasion by forces of the Roman Republic and Roman Empire several times during its history. ... Events Aulus Plautius, with 4 legions, landed on Britain. ... Publius Ostorius Scapula (died 52) was a Roman statesman and general. ... Events Rome Roman Emperor Claudius invests Agrippa II with the office of superintendent of the Temple in Jerusalem. ... Gaius Cornelius Tacitus Publius (or Gaius) Cornelius Tacitus (c. ... Venutius was a 1st century king of the Brigantes in northern Britain at the time of the Roman conquest. ... The Carvetii were one of the Celtic tribes living in the British Islands, previous to the Roman invasion of Britain. ... Gaius Cornelius Tacitus Publius (or Gaius) Cornelius Tacitus (c. ... This article is about the year 51. ... Caratacus (Brythonic *Caratācos, Greek Καράτακος; variants Latin Caractacus, Greek Καρτάκης) was a historical British chieftain of the Catuvellauni tribe, who led the British resistance to the Roman conquest. ... Publius Ostorius Scapula (died 52) was a Roman statesman and general. ... This article is about the country. ...

Some time after the capture of Caratacus, Cartimandua divorced Venutius, replacing him with his armour-bearer, Vellocatus. In AD 57, Cartimandua was at odds with Venutius. Although Cartimandua seized and held his brother and other relatives hostage, Venutius made war against her and then against her Roman protectors. He built alliances outside the Brigantes, and during the governorship of Aulus Didius Gallus (52 - 57 AD) he staged an invasion of the kingdom. The Romans had anticipated this and sent auxiliary cohorts to defend their client queen. The fighting was inconclusive until Caesius Nasica, commanding the Legio IX Hispana, intervened and defeated the rebels. Cartimandua retained the throne in AD 57 only because of prompt military support from Roman forces. She was not so fortunate in AD 69. Venutius was a 1st century king of the Brigantes in northern Britain at the time of the Roman conquest. ... Vellocatus was a 1st century king of the Brigantes tribe of northern Britain. ... For other uses, see number 57. ... Venutius was a 1st century king of the Brigantes in northern Britain at the time of the Roman conquest. ... Venutius was a 1st century king of the Brigantes in northern Britain at the time of the Roman conquest. ... Aulus Didius Gallus was a Roman general and politician of the 1st century AD. He was consul in AD 36 and probably led the cavalry forces during Emperor Claudius invasion of Britain in AD 43. ... A Roman law prohibits the execution of old and crippled slaves. ... For other uses, see number 57. ... Auxiliaries (Latin: auxilia, help) were troops in the Roman army of the late Republican and Imperial periods who provided specialist support to the legions. ... Caesius Nasica was a Roman military officer. ... Legio IX Hispana was a Roman legion probably levied by Julius Caesar before 58 BC, for his Gallic wars. ... For other uses, see number 57. ...

Taking advantage of Roman instability during the year of four emperors, Venutius staged another revolt in AD 69, again with help from other nations. Cartimandua appealed for troops from the Romans, who were only able to send auxiliaries. Cartimandua was evacuated from danger, and Venutius took the kingdom. After AD 69, Cartimandua disappears from the sources. The forced suicide of emperor Nero, in 68 AD, was followed by a brief period of civil war (the first Roman civil war since Antonys death in 31 BC) known as the Year of the four emperors. ... Venutius was a 1st century king of the Brigantes in northern Britain at the time of the Roman conquest. ... The Year of the four emperors: After Neros death, Galba, Otho and Vitellius all serve as emperor for a short time each before Vespasian takes over. ... Venutius was a 1st century king of the Brigantes in northern Britain at the time of the Roman conquest. ... The Year of the four emperors: After Neros death, Galba, Otho and Vitellius all serve as emperor for a short time each before Vespasian takes over. ...

Tacitus' Representation of her Immorality

In his moralizing narratives the Annals and the Histories, Tacitus presents queen Cartimandua in a pretty negative light. Tacitus is concerned with her sexual impropriety. In the Annals, although she was faithful to Rome in handing over Caratacus, Tacitus encourages readers to judge her servitium. While Caratacus "sought the good faith of Cartimandua," she used bonds to give him to Rome. Thus, she appears immoral. Similarly, when she seized Venutius' relatives later in the Annnals, she employed "cunning arts" to achieve her goal, another morally wrong act. Gaius Cornelius Tacitus Publius (or Gaius) Cornelius Tacitus (c. ... Caratacus (Brythonic *Caratācos, Greek Καράτακος; variants Latin Caractacus, Greek Καρτάκης) was a historical British chieftain of the Catuvellauni tribe, who led the British resistance to the Roman conquest. ... Gaius Cornelius Tacitus Publius (or Gaius) Cornelius Tacitus (c. ... Caratacus (Brythonic *Caratācos, Greek Καράτακος; variants Latin Caractacus, Greek Καρτάκης) was a historical British chieftain of the Catuvellauni tribe, who led the British resistance to the Roman conquest. ... Venutius was a 1st century king of the Brigantes in northern Britain at the time of the Roman conquest. ...

She is presented even more darkly in the Histories, her treachery, adultery, lust, and cruelty predominating the passage. She captured Caratacus by treachery when she surrendered him. Similarly, she took an adulterous lover, Vellocatus, and only her lust and cruelty supported them, according to Tacitus. Caratacus (Brythonic *Caratācos, Greek Καράτακος; variants Latin Caractacus, Greek Καρτάκης) was a historical British chieftain of the Catuvellauni tribe, who led the British resistance to the Roman conquest. ... Vellocatus was a 1st century king of the Brigantes tribe of northern Britain. ... Gaius Cornelius Tacitus Publius (or Gaius) Cornelius Tacitus (c. ...

Although Tacitus incorporated moralizing value-judgments, it is also important to see how Cartimandua did service to Rome while ruling over a difficult people, the Brigantes. Gaius Cornelius Tacitus Publius (or Gaius) Cornelius Tacitus (c. ... The Brigantes were a British Celtic tribe which lived between Tyne and Humber. ...

Sources

• Tacitus, Annals 12:36, 12:40
• Tacitus, Histories 3:45
• Salmonson, Jessica Amanda (1991), The Encyclopedia of Amazons, Paragon House, page 50
• Braund, David. Ruling Roman Britain: Kings, Queens, Governors, and Emperors from Julius Caesar to Agricola. (New York: Routledge, 1996).

The Annals, or, in Latin, Annales, is a history book by Tacitus covering the reign of the 4 Roman Emperors succeeding to Caesar Augustus. ... The Histories (Latin: Historiae) is a book by Tacitus, written c. ...

External links

• Brigantes Nation
• Brigantes at Roman-Britain.org
• Brigantes at Romans in Britain
• The Heroic Age: Brigantia, Cartimandua and Gwenhwyfar