Septimius Severus in Scotland: The Northern Campaigns of the First Hammer of the Scots

'The order was brutal, its message unequivocal – kill the men, women and children of what is now Scotland and don’t shed a tear for any of them.' - The Scotsman The SpectatorSince 1975 much new archaeological evidence has come to light to illuminate the immense undertaking of Septimius Severus’ campaigns in Scotland, allowing for the first time the true story of this savage invasion to be told. In the early 3rd century Severus, the ageing Roman emperor, launched an immense ‘shock and awe’ assault on Scotland that was so savage it resulted in eighty years of peace at Rome’s most troublesome border. The book shows how his force of 50,000 troops, supported by the fleet, hacked their way through the Maeatae around the former Antonine Wall and then pressed on into Caledonian territory up to the Moray Firth. Severus was the first of the great reforming emperors of the Roman military, and his reforms are explained in the context of how he concentrated power around the imperial throne. There is also an in-depth look at the political, economic and social developments that occurred in the Province. This book will particularly appeal to those who are keen to learn more about the narrative of Rome’s military presence in Britain, and especially the great campaigns of which Severus’ assault on Scotland is the best example.

About the Author :
Simon Elliott is an archaeologist, historian, aerospace journalist and former editor at Jane’s Defence Weekly and Flight International. He completed a PhD in Archaeology and has an MA in Archaeology from UCL and an MA in War Studies from KCL. He is an Honorary Research Fellow at Kent University. His research has been published in History Today, RUSI Journal, Military History Monthly and British Archaeology, and he is the author of Sea Eagles to Empire (Gold Medal winner of the Military History Monthly Book of the Year Award). He lectures to local history societies and archaeological groups. He is co-Director of the Roman villa excavation at Teston and is a council member of the Council for British Archaeology’s South East region.

Review :
"...people are being given the chance to follow in the footsteps of the imperial army as it made its way to the lands of Scotland, with a guided tour by the historian who recently researched the story behind the invasion."-- "Herald Scotland" "A fascinating description of the largest military operation EVER on British soil."--Dan Snow He opens with a valuable introduction explaining terminology, sources, and usage. There follow chapters reviewing imperial institutions and political organization, the nature of the Roman armed forces in Septimius's time, and the history of Roman Britain.-- "The NYMAS Review" "Although Elliott's treatment is at times repetitive, and one could wish for more detail on the actual campaigns, perhaps a brief survey of archaeological remains from the war, Septimius Severus in Scotland is a valuable read for anyone with an interest Roman history."-- "StrategyPage" "Elliott provides an excellent overview of the life of Septimius Severus and his campaign in Roman Britain. This study will spark conversation and, potentially, further research into this period of time and geographical location."-- "The Journal of Military History"