10-30-2012, 10:57 PM
Reflecting further on this topic, I have come up with this scenario. I should be interested to know what others think of it.
Paulinus embarked upon his Anglesey campaign with the bulk of three legions, the Second, Fourteenth and Twentieth, under their legates, and an unknown number of auxiliaries. The veterans of the three legions remained behind to guard their base fortresses under the command of their respective praefecti castrorum.
When he received news of the revolt, Paulinus set off with the Fourteenth Legion. Why did he only take one? Perhaps, the messages from Catus, by accident or design, downplayed the seriousness of the situation. Perhaps, he felt that the North Welsh tribes, inflamed by the destruction of the sacred groves on Anglesey, would rise up in his rear unless he left behind a force strong enough to contain them. Almost certainly, he expected to be supported by Cerialis and the Ninth. At some stage, possibly after he had learned of the defeat of Cerialis, he sent messages to the praefecti of the Second, Fourteenth and Twentieth Legions ordering them to join him with all available men. The praefecti of the Fourteenth and Twentieth responded to the command; Postumus of the Second did not. Where the veterans of the Fourteenth and Twentieth joined Paulinus’ army is not known. It could have been on his march south, in London or during his withdrawal. In any event, they were on hand to join in the final battle. We know of the presence of the veterans of the Twentieth from Tacitus; we do not hear of those of the Fourteenth because they would have been subsumed in their parent legion.
All this would have added to the discomfiture of Postumus. Not only had he disobeyed an order and denied his legion a share in the glory of defeating the rebels, but he had before him the example of his opposite numbers in the Fourteenth and Twentieth to show him what he should have done. Hence his suicide.
What do you think?
Paulinus embarked upon his Anglesey campaign with the bulk of three legions, the Second, Fourteenth and Twentieth, under their legates, and an unknown number of auxiliaries. The veterans of the three legions remained behind to guard their base fortresses under the command of their respective praefecti castrorum.
When he received news of the revolt, Paulinus set off with the Fourteenth Legion. Why did he only take one? Perhaps, the messages from Catus, by accident or design, downplayed the seriousness of the situation. Perhaps, he felt that the North Welsh tribes, inflamed by the destruction of the sacred groves on Anglesey, would rise up in his rear unless he left behind a force strong enough to contain them. Almost certainly, he expected to be supported by Cerialis and the Ninth. At some stage, possibly after he had learned of the defeat of Cerialis, he sent messages to the praefecti of the Second, Fourteenth and Twentieth Legions ordering them to join him with all available men. The praefecti of the Fourteenth and Twentieth responded to the command; Postumus of the Second did not. Where the veterans of the Fourteenth and Twentieth joined Paulinus’ army is not known. It could have been on his march south, in London or during his withdrawal. In any event, they were on hand to join in the final battle. We know of the presence of the veterans of the Twentieth from Tacitus; we do not hear of those of the Fourteenth because they would have been subsumed in their parent legion.
All this would have added to the discomfiture of Postumus. Not only had he disobeyed an order and denied his legion a share in the glory of defeating the rebels, but he had before him the example of his opposite numbers in the Fourteenth and Twentieth to show him what he should have done. Hence his suicide.
What do you think?
Michael King Macdona
And do as adversaries do in law, -
Strive mightily, but eat and drink as friends.
(The Taming of the Shrew: Act 1, Scene 2)
And do as adversaries do in law, -
Strive mightily, but eat and drink as friends.
(The Taming of the Shrew: Act 1, Scene 2)
