How Much Contact Did the Romans Have with Scotland?

The Roman view was that Scotland, known as Caledonia in Latin, was a territory inhabited by barbarians. However, the barbarians and bad barbarians categorization was too simplistic. The Romans viewed Caledonia as a mysterious and unconquered land that required a significant effort to control. Despite this, the Romans built two vast defensive structures, Hadrian's Wall and the Antonine Wall, to prevent Caledonian raids and to establish boundaries.

Roman Perception of Scotland

1. Barbarian Territory: Initially, the Romans viewed Scotland as a land populated by barbarians. The Roman perception was that these people were uncivilized and resisted Roman rule.

2. Mysterious and Unconquered Land: Caledonia was seen as a mysterious and unconquered land. The Roman poet Lucan described it as a place where the landscape and people were difficult to understand, posing a significant challenge to Roman military prowess.

3. Source of Prestige and Glory: Conquering Caledonia was considered a source of prestige and glory for Roman generals and emperors. The Roman historian Cassius Dio noted that even Emperor Hadrian, known for his military campaigns, considered conquering Caledonia but decided against it due to the difficulty and cost of the campaign.

Roman Interaction with Scotland

1. Military Campaigns: The Romans launched several military campaigns to conquer and control Caledonia. The most notable of these campaigns were carried out by the Roman general Gnaeus Julius Agricola in the late 1st century AD. Agricola managed to push the Roman frontier northwards, although he did not succeed in subduing the Caledonians completely.

2. Construction of Hadrian's Wall: In the early 2nd century AD, Emperor Hadrian ordered the construction of Hadrian's Wall in northern England as a defensive fortification to protect Roman Britain from raids by Caledonian tribes. The wall marked the northern boundary of Roman Britain and symbolized the limits of Roman control.

3. Antonine Wall: In the late 2nd century AD, Emperor Antoninus Pius ordered the construction of the Antonine Wall further north across the narrowest part of Scotland in an attempt to extend Roman control into Caledonia. However, the Antonine Wall was abandoned after a few decades, and the Romans retreated to Hadrian's Wall.

4. Diplomatic Relations and Trade: There is evidence to suggest that the Romans had some diplomatic relations and trade with the tribes of Caledonia. Roman artifacts have been found in Scotland, and there are accounts of Roman diplomats meeting with Caledonian leaders. These interactions suggest a degree of cultural exchange and influence.

5. Cultural Exchange and Influence: The Romans had some influence on the culture and society of Caledonia, particularly in the southern regions closer to the Roman frontier. Some Caledonian tribes adopted Roman customs, technology, and even the Latin language to some extent.

In Summary: The Roman perception of Scotland, Caledonia, was one of a challenging and mysterious land inhabited by fierce and difficult-to-subdue tribes. While the Romans built defensive walls to protect their territories, there was also some form of cultural and diplomatic interaction. This complex relationship highlights the ongoing efforts by the Romans to maintain control over a region that remained elusive and difficult to fully subdue.