Home > Gnaeus Julius Agricola
Gnaeus Julius Agricola ( July 13 40 - August 23 93 AD) was a Roman general responsible for much of the Roman conquest of Britain. Agricola was born in Gallia Narbonensis (modern southern France), as the son of Julius Graecinus and his wife Procilla. Agricola was married to Domitia Decidiana, with whom he had a daughter (possibly Julia Agricola) who married the historian Tacitus. His son-in-law chronicled his career and was one of his great supporters.
His career started as a military tribune in Britain between 58 and 62, in the staff of governor Gaius Suetonius Paullinus. Returning to Rome, Agricola served as tribune of the plebs in 66, following with a praetorship two years later. In 71 Agricola was appointed legate to the governor of Britain Quintus Petillius Cerialis and commander of the twentieth legion (Valeria victrix)Legio XX Valeria Victrix ("victorious black eagle"?) was a Roman legion, probably raised by Augustus sometime after 31 BC. It served in Spain, Illyricum, and Germany before participating in the invasion of Britain in 43 AD, where it remained and was activ. When Cerialis left the province, Agricola was appointed governor of the province of Gallia AquitaniaThe Roman Empire ca. 120 AD Gallia Aquitania in ancient geography, was a province of the Roman Empire, located in present-day southwest France and bordered by the provinces of Gallia Lugdunensis, Gallia Narbonensis, and Hispania Tarraconensis. The southwe. This promotion was accompanied by an elevation to the status of patricianThis is an article about the privileged class in ancient Rome. For the fictional character in the Discworld books, see Patrician of Ankh-Morpork. Patricians Patricii were the uppermost elite class of ancient Rome. They were largely consisting of families. After some peaceful years in Gaul, Agricola was named consul suffectFor modern diplomatic consuls see Consulate general. Consul (abbrev. was the highest elected office of the Roman Republic and an appointive office under the Empire. Under the Republic, the minimum age of election to consul for patricians was 40 years of a in AD 77, and, in the following year, chosen as governor of Britain. As governor, he subdued WalesFor alternate meanings, see Wales (disambiguation Wales ( Welsh: Cymru pronounced /"k@mrI/ SAMPA, km IPA, 'Kumree' approximate pronunciation) is one of the four nations comprising the United Kingdom (the other three being England, Scotland and Northern Ir and northern England before invading ScotlandScotland or in Scottish Gaelic, Alba is a country and former independent kingdom of northwest Europe, and one of the four nations comprising the United Kingdom. Scotland occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Scotland took part in a p, where he defeated the CaledoniaCaledonia is the Latin name of a region corresponding approximately to modern Scotland. Caledonian is an alternate word for Scottish or for Pictish, referring to the Picts: a people of uncertain origin who in the time of the Roman Empire were the principans at the Battle of Mons Graupius, the last undefeated tribe in Scotland. During this time, his fleet made the first known circumnavigation of Britain. He was recalled to Rome in 84, reputedly because of the costs of the campaign but more probably because his successes worried the emperor Domitian. Despite having been awarded a triumph, Agricola lost the imperial trust due to his success and popularity. He died in 93, during a disguised exile outside Rome, after refusing the office of governor of the Africa province.
Roman governors of Britain
Ancient Romans
Agricola, Gnaeus Julius
