Local history with Monica McGill: Research is changing the way we view history

There is growing interest in the ancient Roman Empire nowadays, spurred on by historians who are re-examining archaeological discoveries in the light of new knowledge. Emerging research is changing how we perceive history.

It’s interesting to consider what elements and influences are absent in a location, and to ask some questions.

In this instance, why didn’t Roman legions invade Ireland when they were so successful for so long in nearby Britain?

This article offers some suggestions. They include inclement weather, politics, and resources.

Ireland’s location

The Romans certainly knew Ireland’s location, as evidenced by Ptolemy’s 2nd century AD map.

Ptolemy lived in Roman Egypt, and never visited our part of the world. It’s said he used information from the Library of Alexandria and from other sources to compile his first map of Europe.

His original was lost but thankfully copies were made in medieval times and still exist.

Ptolemy’s map indicates that members of the Brigantes tribe lived in south-east Ireland and also in Britain across the Oc(eana) Ibernicus – the Irish Sea. In his highly informative article, the historian Turtle Bunbury (The Irish Times, 21.3.2020: What did the Romans ever do for Ireland?) states “The Romans never conquered Ireland. They did not even try.”

However, he refers to a possible Roman trading post “at the very least” near Rush in Co. Dublin, proven by Roman finds there. (Baker, Christine: Digging Drumanagh, as well as other evidence of Roman commercial activity elsewhere in Ireland.

Winterland

So far, there is no reliable evidence that a Roman legion ever set foot in Ireland.

The Romans referred to our island as “Hibernia”. Their language was Latin, and the name “Hibernia” indicated a land of wintry weather. We still use the root of this word today – just think of “hibernation”!

Possibly weather conditions made matters difficult for the Romans, but that can’t be the sole reason.

They invaded, conquered and inhabited other regions nearby where the weather was just as bitter, just as frequently.

The Roman biographer Tacitus remarked “In soil and climate, and in the character and civilisation of its inhabitants, it [Ireland] is much like Britain.” (Tacitus, The Agricola, Penguin Books, England, 1983, ch. 24, p. 75).

A medieval copy of Ptolemy’s map: Ireland, and part of Britain (Image: Roaringwater Journal, )

Roman soldiers in modern England and Scotland

If nothing else, the location of two Roman-constructed defensive walls prove that Roman legionaries were effective for centuries, enduring weather similar to ours.

The most outstanding defence was Hadrian’s Wall and the lesser, more northerly, Antonine Wall.

These two impressive defenses were built and garrisoned by Roman soldiers at roughly the same latitude as County Antrim, in similar weather conditions to “Hibernia”. Indeed, a Roman soldier wrote home to Italy requesting woolly socks against the cold.

The letter was found at Hadrian’s Wall; obviously, never posted.

The remains of Hadrian’s Wall are still evident. It was a mighty fortification begun in 122AD, having deep ditches on both sides and Roman garrisons along its length.

It crossed the land, almost from the Solway Firth to the North Sea. At the time, it was the official boundary between Roman imperialism and the “barbarians” further north.

Emperor Hadrian intended it as an aid to keeping the Empire “intact” at a troublesome time.

The other Roman wall – the Antonine – was built in 142AD further north near Glasgow, but it was of turf on stone foundations.

It ran from the modern-day Firth of Clyde to the Firth of Forth and was abandoned a mere 8 years after its completion.

Getting to Ireland

Roman legions could have sailed here from Britain. The western end of Hadrian’s Wall is only about 170 kms (in land measurement) across the North Channel to Belfast and its famous Lough – perhaps even then it would have been a good landfall for a Roman invasion.

History proves the excellent cartography, surveying, navigation, sailing and other Roman skills, so what stopped them?

Bunbury (article as above) says that plausibly non-Roman forces controlled both sides of the Irish Sea, making it a place of piracy and so difficult for an invading force.

Politics and resources

Other historians such as Mary Beard show that ancient Roman history is rife with political unrest (see amongst her other YouTube videos: Rulers and Power, Mary Beard and David Mitchell .

Roman Emperors sometimes felt insecure, even when their reigns were long and deemed successful.

Beard states that the ruling class in Rome regarded Britain’s annexation (“Rome’s final frontier”) as a waste of time and resources for little gain and that “it took 300 years to hold on to it”.

Meantime, soldiers had to be paid. Beard says that Emperor Claudius, an initially reticent ruler who instigated the conquest of Britain in 43AD, “desperately wanted a military victory” to provide him with a necessary triumph and targeted Britain.

Natural resources elsewhere in the Empire (for instance, Spanish silver mines) could produce far more for the Romans and more cheaply than in Britain.

In 98AD the Roman historian Tacitus completed a glowing biography of Agricola, the Roman military hero, his father-in-law. (Tacitus: as above).

Tacitus records “I have often heard Agricola say that Ireland could be reduced and held by a single legion with a fair-sized force of auxiliaries.” (Tacitus, as above).

Agricola rose through Roman military ranks at home and abroad. In 61AD he almost certainly took a leading part in the defeat of Boudicca, Queen and Commander of the opposing Brigantes’ tribal forces in Britain.

Bunbury suggests that Boudicca’s military efforts distracted Agricola from his possible intentions towards Ireland.

Roman recognition for Ireland’s resources seems limited to the excellence of its grass, that cattle could burst asunder if allowed to eat it too much ( LINK).

Influences on Irish national culture

Historically, Ireland has been visited, raided, invaded, conquered, or traded with different nations, tribes and peoples.

Many – like some Vikings – decided to stay here. Each has influenced our national culture to some degree.

Some influences arrived via a third party – such as Roman influences on some of our laws resulting from the British Empire, itself changed centuries beforehand by the Romans, who in turn had assimilated ancient Greek culture.

So, the conclusion seems to be that although the Romans didn’t invade Ireland militarily, Roman influences can be found in our present-day English language, some of our laws, as well as our ancient routes of trade, commerce, and Roman archaeological artefacts discovered here thus far.