Cartimandua or Cartismandua (reigned ) was a 1st-century queen of the

Brigantes The Brigantes were Ancient Britons who in pre-Roman times controlled the largest section of what would become Northern England. Their territory, often referred to as Brigantia, was centred in what was later known as Yorkshire. The Greek geog ...

, a

Celtic Celtic, Celtics or Keltic may refer to: Language and ethnicity *pertaining to Celts, a collection of Indo-European peoples in Europe and Anatolia **Celts (modern) *Celtic languages **Proto-Celtic language *Celtic music *Celtic nations Sports Foot ...

people living in what is now

northern England Northern England, or the North of England, refers to the northern part of England and mainly corresponds to the Historic counties of England, historic counties of Cheshire, Cumberland, County Durham, Durham, Lancashire, Northumberland, Westmo ...

. She is known through the writings of Roman historian

Tacitus Publius Cornelius Tacitus, known simply as Tacitus ( , ; – ), was a Roman historian and politician. Tacitus is widely regarded as one of the greatest Roman historians by modern scholars. Tacitus’ two major historical works, ''Annals'' ( ...

. She came to power during the time period that Rome was campaigning against Britain. She was widely influential during her reign. As ruler of the Brigantes, she united various British tribes that eventually surrendered their loyalty to

Rome Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...

. Cartimandua is portrayed notoriously in Tacitus's account of her. She is recorded betraying the Celtic chieftain

Caratacus Caratacus was a 1st-century AD British chieftain of the Catuvellauni tribe, who resisted the Roman conquest of Britain. Before the Roman invasion, Caratacus is associated with the expansion of his tribe's territory. His apparent success led ...

, insincerely offering him sanctuary, but instead turning him in to the Romans in exchange for wealth. She also is recorded as having divorced her consort and replacing him with a common military man. She subsequently was engaged in extended military conflict with her ex-consort as he staged revolts against her multiple times, and she eventually lost to him.

History

Although Cartimandua is first mentioned by Tacitus in AD 51, her rule over the Brigantes may already have been established when the Roman emperor

Claudius Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus ( ; ; 1 August 10 BC – 13 October AD 54), or Claudius, was a Roman emperor, ruling from AD 41 to 54. A member of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, Claudius was born to Nero Claudius Drusus, Drusus and Ant ...

began the organised conquest of Britain in 43: she may have been one of the eleven "kings" who

's triumphal arch says surrendered without a fight. If not, she may have come to power after a revolt of a faction of the Brigantes was defeated by

Publius Ostorius Scapula Publius Ostorius Scapula, modern statue on the terrace of the Roman Baths (Bath) Publius Ostorius Scapula (died 52) was a Roman statesman and general who governed Britain from 47 until his death, and was responsible for the defeat and capture ...

in 48. Being of "illustrious birth", according to Tacitus,Tacitus, ''

Histories Histories or, in Latin, Historiae may refer to: * the plural of history * ''Histories'' (Herodotus), by Herodotus * ''The Histories'', by Timaeus * ''The Histories'' (Polybius), by Polybius * ''Histories'' by Gaius Sallustius Crispus (Sallust) ...

'' 3.45 Cartimandua probably inherited her power, as she does not appear to have obtained it through marriage. She and her first husband,

Venutius Venutius was a 1st-century king of the Brigantes in northern Britain at the time of the Roman conquest. Some have suggested he may have belonged to the Carvetii, a tribe that probably formed part of the Brigantes confederation. History firs ...

, are described by Tacitus as loyal to Rome and "defended by our

oman Oman, officially the Sultanate of Oman, is a country located on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula in West Asia and the Middle East. It shares land borders with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. Oman’s coastline ...

arms". Her name may be a compound of the

Common Celtic Proto-Celtic, or Common Celtic, is the hypothetical ancestral proto-language of all known Celtic languages, and a descendant of Proto-Indo-European. It is not attested in writing but has been partly reconstructed through the comparative method. ...

roots ''*carti-'' "chase, expel, send" and ''*mandu-'' "pony".Delamarre 2003, p. 215.

Betrayal of Caratacus

In 51, the British resistance leader

sought sanctuary with Cartimandua after being defeated by Ostorius Scapula in

Wales Wales ( ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by the Irish Sea to the north and west, England to the England–Wales border, east, the Bristol Channel to the south, and the Celtic ...

, but Cartimandua handed him over to the Romans in chains.Tacitus, ''Annals'' 12.36 According to Tacitus:

''"She had later strengthened her power when she was credited with having captured King Caratacus by treachery and so furnished an adornment for the triumph of Claudius Caesar. From this came her wealth and the wanton spirit which success breeds."''

Venutius divorce and conflict

Cartimandua later divorced Venutius, taking his armour-bearer,

Vellocatus Vellocatus was a first-century king of the Brigantes tribe of northern Roman Britain, Britain. He was originally armour-bearer to Venutius, husband of Cartimandua, the queen of the Brigantes and an ally of Roman Empire, Rome. Some time after 51 ...

, as her consort. In 57, although Cartimandua had seized his brother and other relatives and held them hostage, Venutius made war against her and then against her Roman protectors. He built alliances outside the Brigantes, and during the governorship of

Aulus Didius Gallus Aulus Didius Gallus was a member of the Roman Senate and general active during the 1st century AD. He held a number of offices and imperial appointments, the most important of which were governor of Britain between 52 and 57 AD, proconsul of ...

(52–57) he staged an invasion of the kingdom of the Brigantes. The Romans had anticipated this and sent some cohorts to defend their client queen. The fighting was inconclusive until Caesius Nasica arrived with a

legion Legion may refer to: Military * Roman legion, the basic military unit of the ancient Roman army * Aviazione Legionaria, Italian air force during the Spanish Civil War * A legion is the regional unit of the Italian carabinieri * Spanish Legion, ...

, the '' IX Hispana'', and defeated the rebels. Cartimandua retained her throne thanks to prompt military support from Roman forces.Tacitus, ''Annals'' 12.40 Tacitus wrote:

''"She grew to despise her husband Venutius, and took as her consort his squire Vellocatus, whom she admitted to share the throne with her. Her house was at once shaken by this scandalous act. Her husband was favoured by the sentiments of all the citizens; the adulterer was supported by the queen's passion for him and by her savage spirit. So Venutius, calling in aid from outside and at the same time assisted by a revolt of the Brigantes themselves, put Cartimandua into an extremely dangerous position. Then she asked the Romans for protection, and in fact some companies of our foot and horse, after meeting with indifferent success in a number of engagements, finally succeeded in rescuing the queen from danger. The throne was left to Venutius; the war to us."''

Tacitus refers to Cartimandua's leaving her consort for Vellocatus as scandalous. He also discusses how Venutius rallies against her, but fails after she secures aid from the Romans. Cartimandua was not so successful in the year 69. Taking advantage of Roman instability during the

year of four emperors A year is a unit of time based on how long it takes the Earth to orbit the Sun. In scientific use, the tropical year (approximately 365 solar days, 5 hours, 48 minutes, 45 seconds) and the sidereal year (about 20 minutes longer) are more exa ...

, Venutius staged another revolt, again with help from other nations. Cartimandua appealed for troops from the Romans, who were only able to send

auxiliaries Auxiliaries are combat support, support personnel that assist the military or police but are organised differently from regular army, regular forces. Auxiliary may be military volunteers undertaking support functions or performing certain duties ...

. Cartimandua was evacuated, leaving Venutius in control of a kingdom at war with Rome. After this, Cartimandua disappears from the sources.

References

*Delamarre, Xavier (2003). ''Dictionnaire de la Langue Gauloise'', Editions Errance.

External links

The Heroic Age: Brigantia, Cartimandua and Gwenhwyfar
{{authority control 1st-century monarchs in Europe Ancient Celtic women Briton monarchs Roman client monarchs Women in 1st-century warfare Women in ancient European warfare Women in war in Britain Queens regnant in the British Isles

History

Betrayal of Caratacus

Venutius divorce and conflict

References

Further reading

External links