The Antonine WallAs the most advanced frontier construction of its time, and as definitive evidence of the Romans' time in Scotland, the Antonine Wall is an invaluable and fascinating part of this country's varied and violent history. For a generation, from about 140 to 160 AD, the Antonine Wall was the north-west frontier of the Roman Empire. Constructed by the Roman army, it ran from modern Bo'ness on the Forth to Old Kilpatrick on the Clyde and consisted of a turf rampart fronted by a wide and deep ditch. At regular intervals were forts connected by a road, while outside the fort gates clustered civil settlements. Antoninus Pius, whom the wall was named after, reigned longer than any other emperor with the exception of its founder Augustus. Yet relatively little is known about him. In this meticulously researched book, David Breeze examines this enigmatic life and the reasons for the construction and abandonment of his Wall. |
Contents
Sources | 19 |
The Roman Army | 35 |
The Invasion of Scotland | 44 |
Copyright | |
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abandonment altar annexe Antonine Wall Antoninus Pius appear army Aurelius Balmuildy Bar Hill base bath-house Bearsden Britain British building built camps Castlecary cavalry centurion century certainly Cohort coin commanding completed construction contained crossed Croy Hill Dacia distance slabs ditch east eastern emperor empire enclosures erected evidence excavation existence expansions Falkirk followed force formed fort fortlets forts frontier gate Germany governor Hadrian's Wall Historic important included indicate inscription invasion Italy known later legionary legions lies Marcus miles military moved Mumrills normally northern officer Old Kilpatrick original perhaps position possible posts pottery presumably probably protected province rampart recorded regiment reign relate remains result River road Roman Roman army Rome Rough Castle Scotland seen sent side soldiers stone suggested troops turf unit Urbicus victory visible