Pre-Roman Celtic Kingdoms

Tribe of the Brigantes

The powerful Brigantes counted as their territory all of the north of England except Humberside. They seem in fact to have been a collection of amalgamated tribes that took their name from the Celtic goddess Brigantia. The Brigantes had few hill forts and their settlements were mostly in the form of small hill crofts.

Subdivisions seem to have existed, for instance, the later Elmetians in the district of Leeds, and others on the northern fringe of Northumbria, such as the Carvetii in the region of Carlisle (Roman Luguvalium), who may themselves have only become distinctly separate when the Romans founded Luguvalium. Directly east of them were the Lopocares and the Textoverdi, while in Lancashire were the Setantii, and in North Yorkshire were the Gabrantivices. Some or all of these may only have become apparent after the Roman conquest of Northern Britain.

The later Romano-British kingdom of Rheged was a west-coast evolution of this tribal territory.

(Additional information taken from The Oxford History of England: Roman Britain, Peter Salway.)

AD 43 - 69

Queen Cartimandua

43

Initially, the pastoral Brigantes accept the arrival of the Romans and act as a client kingdom.

47/48

An outbreak of violence among the Brigantes forces the Roman governor to break off his campaign against the Deceangli and deal with the rebellious faction, but the existence of an anti-Roman faction in the north is now clear.

51

Cartimandua betrays the High King, Caractacus (Guiderius), following his defeat in the territory of the Ordovices, handing him over in bonds.

57

Cartimandua's husband, Venutius, leads a rebellion against her. The Romans put down the rebellion, and Venutius and Cartimandua bury their differences and are reconciled.

69

Cartimandua deserts her husband for his armour-bearer, Vellocatus. The infuriated Venutius foments revolt within their scandalised tribe and summons help from outside. The Roman governor, Vettius Bolanus, sends a force of auxiliary cavalry and infantry which, amid some bitter fighting, can do little more then rescue the queen. Cartimandua disappears from history.

69 - 72

Venutius

72 - 79

Faced with the prospect of their northern border having a now-hostile tribe on it, the Romans invade under the new governor, Petillius Cerialis (who made a notable escape from total defeat during the Boudiccan rebellion in AD 61), and after what seems to have been a hard campaign, conquer the Brigantes.

Some archaeological evidence, and a second century map by Ptolemy, reveal the possibility that some Brigantine elements fled to Ireland and settled there.

c.100 - 105

The northern Brigantes apparently revolt, perhaps under the leadership of Argiragus, High King.

117

The Brigantes in the north revolt again.

138

The Brigantes revolt as Emperor Antonius is pushing north from Hadrian's Wall. The revolt is quickly put down.

154 - 155

The Brigantes revolt again, burning down the Ilkley fort (Olicana). They are soon overcome and the fort rebuilt. As a punishment, the Brigantes suffer the loss of their territories. For a time the civilian population is probably administered under direct military rule before a civil administration is appointed.

It is likely that at this time the local Romano-Celtic British tribes in the vicinity of Leeds (Loidis) detach themselves from the Brigantes and form an alliance with the Romans. The Romans always find it convenient to rule by alliances with local chiefs. The local tribes form themselves into the Elmetians. The remainder of the Brigantes' territory emerges as the kingdom of North Britain in the late fourth century.