"Like many periods of unrest throughout history, the prime mover for the Roman assault and invasion of Anglesey lay in the religious significance posed by Druidism. The Celts were not a fanatically religious people but the Romans saw Druidism as a serious menace - and Anglesey, spiritual home of the Druids and the last remaining bastion of Druidism in the British Isles - as the centre of that threat.
Whilst the island facing Paulinus, the commander of the Roman legions, was known to be heavily and fiercely defended, it also presented Paulinus with a unique problem. Divided from mainland Britain by the treacherous waters of the Menai Strait, he was faced with not only crushing the Celts and their religious leaders on Anglesey, he also had the problem of getting his army across.
So he came prepared. Paulinus had brought with him not only his legions, but also artillery to support them. Ballistae - catapults capable of throwing flaming missiles up to 2000 feet - were very much in evidence. They could also be adapted to shoot iron bolts or rocks, devastatingly effective against massed ranks or earthwork fortifications. He had also brought small flat-bottomed boats which he planned to use to support his advance across to Anglesey. His plan was to use the boats as landing craft for his infantry, crossing at slack water, supported by cavalry swum across - and all covered by a bombardment of fire and stones.
With this in mind, and in full view of the Celts on the far shore, Paulinus made his camp at what is known today as Llanfairisgaer, outside modern Caernarfon.
On the fateful morning, the preparations for the invasion began in earnest. Boats were carried down to the edge of the water and the infantry awaited the order to row across.
Meanwhile, on the far bank, thousands of tribesmen gathered. Whilst the Druids invoked dark forces on the invaders, the tribesmen beat their shields with the flat of their swords and cheered, jeered and insulted the Romans. Women - wild painted, shrieking madly - danced naked through the irregular ranks and waved torches of fire to warm their men folk to the heat of battle. The Roman historian Tacitus recorded that many of the soldiery stood 'watching fearfully, their limbs shaking in terror'.
The boats were launched. Accompanied by the cavalry who swam their horses over, the legions began their assault on Anglesey. What a sight it must have been! The beetle-like craft slowly making their way across the slate grey waters of the Menai Strait. Armed cavalrymen on horseback breasting foam as they swam over to meet the enemy. The air filled with the whine and shrieks of missiles as they flew from one bank to the other, their dull impact raising both earth and the shrieks and moans of the enemy when they landed.
When they did land, the slaughter began in earnest. It is documented that the Romans, perhaps goaded on by the fear they had shown before they had started their transit across the waters, fought with ferocity and a fury that became legendary throughout Britain. Slowly they established a beachhead, prepared the ground for those who followed them and then began to cut and slash their way forward to establish their foothold.
It is said that they spared none they met on that bloody field of battle. Men, women and children were slaughtered, butchered by an army spurred on by its earlier shame. Many of the Druids and their followers were thrown into their sacred groves of oak and then burned alive. There were, it is said, few prisoners taken.
How long the battle lasted is not known. What is, however, is the fact that the Romans showed no quarter in the fight for Mona Insulis.
Today, the bloody shore runs from Moel-y-Don to the sou'west of Llanfairpwll to Tal-y-Foel opposite Caernarfon. The shore still bears testimony to the carnage of that day's events. Place names such as Bryn-y-Beddau, (the Hill of Graves), still appear on modern maps of the island. Here the islanders who survived after Paullinus had left to fight Boudicca buried their dead.
Above the village of Llanidan are two fields still known as The Field of the Long Battle and the Field of Bitter Lamentation. There is also Plas Goch, (the Red Place); its name giving a hint to the story behind it."
Read about the Romans' return to Anglesey, and the remains of their presence on the island.
your comments
A M Hughes, Holyhead
Fort Belan - Abermenai channel is the narrowest part and the tide slackens off over low and high water and you could row across in less than 5 minutes. It is possible to cross over by foot from Caernarfon to Tan-y-Foel on big Spring tides using the sand banks as stepping stones using light moveable bridges to span the narrow channels. Sinking sand and steep banks would make it near impossible to wheel heavy equipment over.
Tue Aug 11 10:32:24 2009
Ric, Llundain
I find it ironic and disappointing that prehistory is represented so well on Anglesey, but that the material evidence for the druids appears to be virtually zero, apart from the offerings at Llyn Cerrig Bach, for example. How can this be so, if Anglesey was the seat of druidism for the British Isles? Is it that the Romans effectively effaced every visible trace of this culture wherever they encountered it? Knowing how capable these people were of pitiless destruction, to wit, the terrible campaigns against Dacia and Carthage?
Tue Jun 23 09:12:37 2009
Chris Byart, Ontario Canada
We know the name of the Roman general who attacked the Druids on the island, but who were the names of the Druid leaders that were killed?
Wed Apr 8 09:20:35 2009
Richard Pettgirew
Do you have some infomation about Roman food and drink?
Thu Oct 30 09:55:01 2008
Lionel Joynson ynys mon
Perhaps the Roman invasion of Anglesey was spured on by the copper that was known to be available from Parys mountain near Amlwch, where minerals had been extracted since bronze age times,several copper ingots have been discovered and have been identified as Roman from markings on them.one of them can be seen at the heritage centre Amlwch port.
Tue Jul 29 09:40:38 2008
G Jones, Anglesey.
I was taught that the Romans crossed various parts of the Sraits but the main spearhead was in the vicinity of Brynsiencyn and Dwyran which is more or less opposite, and slightly down stream of incoming tiderace from Abermenai and Caernarfon.It was given to me that the main battle area was in Foel and Porth-Foel area surrounding either side of Plas Borth, Dwyran, that is the prominent white house on the beach where I believe my mother was born. I was taught in school that the main fields of blood were between Y foel and Aber Menai (menai estuary) and that Rhuddgaer, roughly translated Red fort (or fort of blood), was in some way a connected fortification.Rhuddgaer is at a highpoint overlooking both Menai Straits estuary and the River Braint estuary (which may also have been a beaching point in the invasion). A relative living nearby voiced concern that a certain sea defence wall protecting a certain field against fury of the Straits had collapsed resulting in erosion which actually exposed ancient human bones which he reckons were connected to that same period. Indeed quite a lot of property in the Brynsiencyn/Dwyran area has names that could hold reference to blood and/or battle.
Mon Jun 18 09:49:17 2007
Adele Kain from Cheshire
Martin Davies from St Louis might like to visit an excellent website for all things Welsh, on which is written the full story of the Witches of Llanddona. It is the "V Wales" website. I found this site when researching Welsh history and it's brilliant.
Wed Apr 18 12:45:24 2007
Gary Evans,Y felinheli
A very interesting account of the Roman invasion of Anglesey, however I would like to point out that Plas Coch (the red manor house) gets its name from the red coloured stone which was used in its construction and was quarried nearby on the shore of the Menai Straits.
Wed Feb 28 08:54:27 2007
Nigel Webber, Norfolk ex Pontlyfni, Caernarfon
I lived on the Llyn peninsula coast in the 1950s / 60s, overlooking Newborough and the south west of Anglesey. The iron age fort at Dinas Dinlle had many early Roman remains suggesting it may have been used as a lookout point for the invasion. Also Segontium, built on the hill behind Caernarfon, suggests an invasion against the Druids at the south west corner. A great article and I'll look out for more!
Mon Oct 30 10:07:51 2006
Frances Richardson, Pen y Gwryd
Is there any evidence of the route the Romans took on their way to the Menai Straights?
In particular, has the Roamn marching camp at Pen y Gwryd got any connection with this campaign?
Wed Aug 16 09:35:57 2006
John Griffiths Kidlington ex Holyhead
Martin - The coastal erosion that has happened over the centuries means that Anglesey at the time of the invasion would have looked very different from today! I stick to my theory on the crossing. Don't know much about your other questions though - you could look up some local sites? I am sure there must be an Anglesey.com somewhere on the web!
Thu Mar 2 10:02:25 2006
Martin Davies - St Louis MO
John - great work! As a youngster aged 11 to 13 (63 thru 65) I lived in NE Anglesey near Glan-yr-Afon with a bedroom view of Red Wharf Bay and Moelfre...incredible! I agree with you that the Menai looks very crossable in the Beaumaris-Bangor section, especially when you consider the alternatives. I recall the river at Castell Aberlleiniog near Llangoed, currently a trickle of a stream, but in the tenth century large enough for sea-going boats to dock there! Is this true? If yes, then it's a testament to the dynamic changes of the sea and tides, and gives us pause to consider what else might have been very different from how things are now in the Menai and surrounding coastal areas. As an aside, my friends and I used to play knights and Vikings there at Aberlleiniog - I know, private property! Do you have any information on Castell Aberlleiniog 1090ish? I would appreciate hearing anything you have on this. And finally - know anything about the Witches of Llanddona? Diolch and regards.
Wed Mar 1 10:07:57 2006
John Griffiths Kidlington - ex Holyhead
The comment re. artillery.
I said 'capable' - not that they did! As for being Hollywood, read about the siege of Jerusalem, when the Roman Army also threw corpses and human excrement via catapult, the object being chemical warfare!
Fri Feb 10 14:30:59 2006
Dan Dean Jr.
In my research, I believe the Romans crossed over the Menai Straits in the area now known as Brynsiencyn. The Roman writer Tacitus wrote a vivid account of the invasion, possibly a bit biased, but interesting reading all the same.
Thu Feb 2 20:48:59 2006
Paul Geddes, Birmingham
Where do you get the information about the Roman balistas shooting "flaming missiles"? As far as I know the well known fiery catapult shot is the preserve of Hollywood and does not reflect the reality of ancient artillery. Large machines, such as the ones often depicted in films, were not anti-personnel weapons. They were used as siege engines to batter down fortifications. To the best of my knowledge stone shot does not burn and in any case, flames would make little difference to a stone's performance against a stone wall. The artillery which was used in an anti-personnel role was smaller and shot bolt resembling very heavy arrows along a low trajectory.
Laurence Budd: the battle was in AD60.
Mon Jan 30 22:55:52 2006
Dave Blundell. Ex Cemaes Bay. Anglesey.
Sounds plausible, but I was always taught in school that the Romans landed in Beaumaris, the fact being that at low water the Menai Straits is quite shallow there. Also the Stage coaches used to cross on the sand banks there before the bridges were built. There is a hill in Beaumaris called "Allt Goch" which translates as "Red Hill", this allegedly got it's name because it ran red with the blood of the Celts. I was also told there used to be a Roman fort in Cemaes, is this true?
Tue Jul 26 19:55:15 2005
Philip Carr-Gomm from Wellington New Zealand
Marvellous! A small detail - you mention naked women inspiring the Celts to fight, but weren't they (according to the Roman accounts) dressed in 'torn black clothing' and were shouting curses at the Romans, rather than encouraging their own people?
Wed Oct 6 04:04:23 2004
Steve Sharpe, Anglesey
Brilliant bit of work! and I buy into the theory totally, however, a friend of mine favours a place opposite Penmon. He claims that the strait was considerably narrower there when the Romans arrived, and that they attacked from a 'lost kingdom' called Tir Helyg. Does anyone have any evidence that such a place existed? If I were leading an attack, I would favour the authors option of coming over at slack water by Caernarfon.
Wed Aug 25 09:40:38 2004
John Griffiths, Kidlington ex Holyhead
James - the evidence that I have states the battle took place on the banks of the Menai Strait. However, I would hazard that once they defeated the local tribes, skirmishing parties of Romans would no doubt have explored the island further - provoking more battles, albeit small ones.
However, I don't know! Part of the trouble being an amateur historian is that I have a limited library and a full time job! However, interesting theory and I am certain there must be someone who visits the site who might be able to help.
Wed Apr 14 21:50:05 2004
James Frankcom from London
For J. Griffiths; I've read about Llyn Cerrig Bach, the lake of small stones, being a place of offerings and sacrifice and certainly a druidic religious site on Ynys Mon. Knowing that early churches were built on existing pre-christian religious sites I plotted on a map all the "Llan" villages in Anglesey, and there is a major concentration in the north west of Anglesea near this lake and near Holy Island. Could the final massacre have been here?
Tue Mar 9 13:48:38 2004
