The Testudo and the battle of Caer Caradoc

The Romans Chapter 9: Case study

Sources for the Battle of Caer Caradoc, AD 50

• Literary: Roman account provided by Tacitus’ Annals 12.33-38. His father-in-law served extensively in Britain, not long after the battle.

• Archaeological remains: the site of the battle has not been conclusively identified. There is an Iron Age fort with a name that means ‘Caratacus’ fort’, but it does not fit the description of the site in Tacitus’ account. However, there are remains that could fit his description.

The Battle of Caer Caradoc

Location: Hertfordshire, possibly near Caer Caradoc HillRoman general: P. Ostorius ScapulaTroops: c. 21,000 Ninth Legion Hispana and Twentieth Legion Valeria Victix Casualties: c. 1,200• British general: CaratacusTroops: unknown Casualties: unknown

Battle of Caer Caradoc Account in Tacitus, Annales 12.33-38

Briton CaratacusVsRoman P. Ostorius Scapula

Step 1:Forge river

Step 2:Testudo;remove stoneramparts

Step 3: Scale fort; break Britons’ line between legions and auxiliaries

Source: http://www.battlefieldanomalies.com/caradoc/09_photographs.htm

Roman army in testudo (‘tortoise’) formation

‘Testudo formation’ by Neil Carey - http://www.flickr.com/photos/ncarey/144042243/. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Testudo_formation.jpg#mediaviewer/File:Testudo_formation.jpg

The testudo on Trajan’s Column, early 2nd C. AD