Kairin van Sweeden

In AD 208, another large-scale Roman attempt to conquer Scotland was made by Septimius Severus. The large number of Roman camps in Scotland dated to this period attests to the size of this operation (plus 2 permanent forts). Cassius Dio, a contemporary, recalls the fate of the invading Roman army: "Severus, accordingly, desiring to subjugate the whole of it, invaded Caledonia. But as he advanced through the country he experienced countless hardships in cutting down the forests, levelling the heights, filling up the swamps, and bridging the rivers; but he fought no battle and beheld no enemy in battle array. The enemy purposely put sheep and cattle in front of the soldiers for them to seize, in order that they might be lured on still further until they were worn out; for in fact the water caused great suffering to the Romans, and when they became scattered, they would be attacked. Then, unable to walk, they would be slain by their own men, in order to avoid capture, so that a full fifty thousand died." Severus continued the fight until his death in 211, Caracalla then abandoned the attempt to pacify the region. This would be the last time the Romans tried to conquer Scotland.