First book covering Severus' Scottish campaigns, AD 208-210, providing
a biographical and psychological portrait of Severus, who came to
dominate the Roman world around the turn of the 2nd/3rd centuries AD,
from his early life in North Africa to his last campaign.
Since 1975 much new archaeological evidence has come to light to
illuminate the immense undertaking of Septimius Severus' campaigns in
Scotland, allowing for the first time the true story of this savage
invasion to be told. In the early 3rd century Severus, the aging Roman
emperor, launched an immense 'shock and awe' assault on Scotland that
was so savage it resulted in eighty years of peace at Rome's most
troublesome border. The book shows how his force of 50,000 troops,
supported by the fleet, hacked their way through the Maeatae around the
former Antonine Wall and then pressed on into Caledonian territory up to
the Moray Firth.
Severus was the first of the great reforming emperors of the Roman
military, and his reforms are explained in the context of how he
concentrated power around the imperial throne. There is also an in-depth
look at the political, economic and social developments that occurred in
the Province.
This book is aimed at all who have an interest in both military and
Roman history. It will particularly appeal to those who are keen to
learn more about the narrative of Rome's military presence in Britain,
and especially the great campaigns of which Severus' assault on Scotland
is the best example.
