04-01-2008, 07:25 AM
People, before this thread wavers off into endless speculation about woulda/coulda theories, maybe we should stick to realistic discussion?
Fact: no source ever claimed that the Romans either visited or conquered Ireland.
Fact: at some point the Romans gave up on the idea of controlling the whole of Britain.
Now, what we can theoriese over is wheather the Romans had a look at Ireland (I assume they did) and pondered the pros and cons of conquest (I assume they did). But beyond that, we know nothing. Nothing about meddling in political affairs, nothing about alliances a la Britain (there's obviously no 'Irish Fishbourne'!), nothing about coastal forts or things like that.
Personally I think that, despite Irish gold or whatever attractions the island had, the Romans always lacked the military resources to also conquer Ireland when they were still pacifying Britain. Later, when Britain was sorta under control, they needed their legiones elsewhere, in the East. Plus, I think that, unlike Britain, Ireland never posed enough of a threat to pose the need to conquer it. Later, when Scotti raids started, the time of conquest had already passed of course.
Maybe if the Irish had been more of a pest during the 1st and 2nd centuries, Rome would have been tempted to conquer them!
Fact: no source ever claimed that the Romans either visited or conquered Ireland.
Fact: at some point the Romans gave up on the idea of controlling the whole of Britain.
Now, what we can theoriese over is wheather the Romans had a look at Ireland (I assume they did) and pondered the pros and cons of conquest (I assume they did). But beyond that, we know nothing. Nothing about meddling in political affairs, nothing about alliances a la Britain (there's obviously no 'Irish Fishbourne'!), nothing about coastal forts or things like that.
Personally I think that, despite Irish gold or whatever attractions the island had, the Romans always lacked the military resources to also conquer Ireland when they were still pacifying Britain. Later, when Britain was sorta under control, they needed their legiones elsewhere, in the East. Plus, I think that, unlike Britain, Ireland never posed enough of a threat to pose the need to conquer it. Later, when Scotti raids started, the time of conquest had already passed of course.
Maybe if the Irish had been more of a pest during the 1st and 2nd centuries, Rome would have been tempted to conquer them!
Robert Vermaat
MODERATOR
FECTIO Late Romans
THE CAUSE OF WAR MUST BE JUST
(Maurikios-Strategikon, book VIII.2: Maxim 12)
MODERATOR
FECTIO Late Romans
THE CAUSE OF WAR MUST BE JUST
(Maurikios-Strategikon, book VIII.2: Maxim 12)
