Cartimandua
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Cartimandua (or Cartismandua, ruled ca.43 - 69), whose name appears to contain the Celtic element mandu(a) "pony"[1],was a queen of the Brigantes, who formed a large tribal agglomeration in northern England in the early Roman period. She is known from the work of a single Roman historian, Tacitus.
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[edit] History
Although Cartimandua is first mentioned by Tacitus in AD 51, her rule over the Brigantes may have already been established when the emperor Claudius began the organized conquest of Britain in 43: she may have been one of the eleven "kings" who Claudius' triumphal arch says surrendered without a fight.[2] If not, she may have come to power after a revolt of a faction of the Brigantes was defeated by Publius Ostorius Scapula in 48.[3] Of "illustrious birth"[4] according to Tacitus, she probably inherited her power as she appears to have ruled by right rather than through marriage. She and her husband, Venutius, are described by Tacitus as loyal to Rome and "defended by our [Roman] arms". In 51 the British resistance leader Caratacus sought sanctuary with Cartimandua after being defeated by Ostorius Scapula in Wales, but Cartimandua handed him over to the Romans in chains.[5]
Having given the Claudius the greatest exhibit of his triumph, Cartimandua was rewarded with great wealth.[4] She later divorced Venutius, replacing him with his armour-bearer, Vellocatus. In 57, although Cartimandua had seized and held his brother and other relatives hostage, Venutius made war against her and then against her Roman protectors. He built alliances outside the Brigantes, and during the governorship of Aulus Didius Gallus (52 - 57) he staged an invasion of the kingdom. The Romans had anticipated this and sent some cohorts to defend their client queen. The fighting was inconclusive until Caesius Nasica arrived with a legion, the IX Hispana, and defeated the rebels. Cartimandua retained the throne thanks to prompt military support from Roman forces.[6]
She was not so fortunate in 69. Taking advantage of Roman instability during the year of four emperors, Venutius staged another revolt, again with help from other nations. Cartimandua appealed for troops from the Romans, who were only able to send auxiliaries. Cartimandua was evacuated, leaving Venutius in control of the kingdom.[4] After this, Cartimandua disappears from the sources.
[edit] Cartimandua's representation by Tacitus
In his moralising narratives the Annals and the Histories, Tacitus presents Cartimandua in a negative light. Although he refers to her loyalty to Rome, he invites the reader to judge her "treacherous"[4] role in the capture of Caratacus, who had sought her protection, her "self-indulgence"[4] and sexual impropriety in rejecting her husband in favour of a common soldier, and her "cunning strategems"[6] in taking Venutius' relatives hostage. However, he also consistently names her as a queen (regina),[4][6][5] the only one such known in early Roman Britain - Boudica, the only other British female leader of the period, is not described in these terms.
[edit] References
[edit] Further reading
- Salmonson, Jessica Amanda (1991), The Encyclopedia of Amazons, Paragon House, page 50
- Braund, David. Ruling Roman Britain: Kings, Queens, Governors, and Emperors from Julius Caesar to Agricola. (New York: Routledge, 1996).
