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The Roman Invasion of Anglesey

© Sion Gruffyd

On the fateful morning, the preparations for the invasion began in earnest. The boats were carried down to the edge of the water, the infantry awaiting the order to row across. The ballistae and onegers charged and ready, the crossbows primed and set. Having formed his cavalry up to swim their mounts over during the slack tide, Paulinus addressed his troops.

Meanwhile, on the far bank, thousands of tribesmen had gathered. Whilst the Druids invoked dark forces on the invaders, the tribesmen beat their shields with the flat of their swords and cheered, jeered and insulted the Romans. Women – wild painted, shrieking madly – danced naked through the irregular ranks and waved torches of fire to warm their men folk to the heat of battle. The melee must have sounded like the very harpies of Hades to the disciplined Roman troops. Many of the Romans were riveted in terror, others – perhaps more seasoned – looked both at the occupied ground and the water they must cross and debated their chances of success. The tribes held the higher ground. To gain it, the Romans had to ford the Straits, make the shore – and then meet the enemy. Tacitus recorded that many of the soldiery stood ‘watching fearfully, their limbs shaking in terror’.

Paulinus knew his troops were apprehensive. He rode amongst them, chiding them for their unfounded fears and reminding them of their honour as Roman soldiers. He reminded them too of what they would face when they returned to Rome and probably told them of the disgrace they would face for having been intimidated by a people no less than savages. He began to win his men around, stirring them into a battle frenzy and filling them with a sense of duty and obligation to Rome. He urged them on to victory, speaking of the glory that would be theirs when the battle was won, telling them of the honours they would receive for defeating the foe on the far bank.

The boats were launched. Accompanied by the cavalry who swam their horses over, the legions assaulted Anglesey. What a sight it must have been! The beetle like craft slowly making their way across the slate grey waters of the Menai Straits. Horses, armed cavalrymen towed at their sides, breasting foam as they swam over to meet the enemy. The whine and shrieks of the missiles as they flew from one bank to the other. The shouting of Centurions and Principales. The screams of the tribesmen and their supporters, the clash of metal swords on shield the mad martial music of warfare.