Venutius …and Vellocatus - My two Vs
Two men who knew one woman very well!
My theme for the April A to Z Challenge is Celtic/Roman
Britain AD 71 -84
Only a few more letters of the Alphabet to go now, and this
post is more about Celts than Romans… and it starts a little bit before AD 71.
What do we know about the two characters in history called
Venutius and Vellocatus? Mainly what the Roman historian, Tacitus, tells us
about them in his writing.
Venutius was the husband of Queen Cartimandua of the
Brigantes. Some experts believe he was
of noble birth (possibly of the Carvetii tribe) but Cartimandua’s lineage was
higher, her tribe more important, and in typical Celtic fashion Cartimandua assumed
the leading role as Queen of the Brigantes with Venutius as her consort.
It’s possible she had already assumed the role of Queen of Brigantia
when the Romans arrived in Britannia in AD 43, and that she surrendered to the Emperor Claudius along with many of her
Celtic counterparts in the south of Britannia.
She is recorded by Tacitus as being of Roman 'Client Queen Status' in AD 51. For
a number of years it appeared both Cartimandua and Venutius bowed to the yoke
of Rome, in return for which they were largely able to govern what was a very large tract
of land in modern day northern England, with added bonus of the Roman Army to
protect them from other marauding Celtic tribes on the warpath.
Matters seem to have deteriorated when King Caractacus of
the Catuvellauni, fell foul of the Romans in the lands of the Silures and Ordovices
(Modern day Wales). Caractacus had been conducting guerrilla warfare tactics
against the Romans for many years, but found himself in a compromising position
when the Roman Army overran the hillfort he was attacking from. His family
members were captured but he fled to Cartimandua- her Brigantia being almost the
‘next door’ tribal land – but she bundled him in chains and packed him off to
the Roman Emperor. In doing this she strengthened her loyalty to Rome.
Caractacus petitioned the Emperor Claudius and was allowed to live out his life in Rome.
(Caractacus before the Emperor
Claudius at Rome)
British Museum
I personally like this engraving for its interesting little details...ie the totally bored? or depleted? figures surrounding Caractacus. What the Roman soldier is doing on the left is very interesting!
{{Information |Description= {{en|''Caractacus at the
Tribunal of Claudius at Rome''
Engraving by Andrew Birrell of a painting by Henry Fuseli Original is a D size
print.}} |Source= Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division,
LC-DIG-pga-00226 (d
However over the next years it seems that Cartimandua and her
husband Venutius were no longer of the same mind, Venutius becoming a leading
light in leading the anti-Roman elements in Brigantian territory.
By AD 57 it appears that Venutius and Cartimandua separated,
an official divorce possibly taking place. The problem with that was that each
in their own right built up opposing factions which led to instability in Brigantia,
skirmishes happening against each other, Rome
supporting Cartimandua.
Things now got even murkier.
Vellocatus was a friend and armour bearer of Venutius, and his
closest confidante. When Cartimandua made public the taking of Vellocatus as
her lover, and gave the intention to declare him her husband, her subjects seem to have become less enamoured of her. Whether that
was because he was not fit, not highly enough born for the job; or whether he
was not Brigantian; or even whether she was still legally married - isn’t certain but
it caused a high degree of resentment in her tribe.
Venutius took up arms against Cartimandua in AD 69. The best
Rome could do
for her was rescue her and leave Venutius to assume the kingship of Brigantia. What
happened to her after that is unclear, but she disappears from the history
books.
(This is a good site for Cartimandua
Venutius continued to lead the anti-roman factions in
Brigantia till AD 73 when the Brigantes suffered a huge defeat, possibly near
the hillfort of Stanwick (in present day northern England). What became of Venutius
is unclear but from AD 73 the Brigantes seem to have been leaderless as the
Roman Army captured more and more of the Brigantian territory- though that process took
many years.
The fate of Vellocatus is also unknown after AD 71.
Following is a translation from the controversial, and most likely biased, writing of Tacitus.
"Inspired by these differences between the Roman forces
and by the many rumours of civil was that reached them, the Britons plucked up
courage under the leadership of Venutius, who, in addition to his own natural
spirit and hatred of the Roman name, was fired by his personal resentment
towards queen Cartimandua. She was ruler over the Brigantes, having the
influence that belongs to high birth, and 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. 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 some of our
auxiliary troops, cavalry and infantry, after meeting with indifferent success
in a number of engagements, finally succeeded in snatching the queen from
danger. The throne was left to Venutius, the war to us." Tacitus
(Histories iii, 45).
So there you have my two Vs.
Venutius is mentioned briefly in my historical novel THE BELTANE CHOICE, but he features a lot more in the sequel to it - my current WIP.
Slainthe!
Love it - Eastenders with togas and tribes. I have always thought that Cartimandua's story would make a great film and wonder why nobody has ever done it.
ReplyDeleteHi Cameron. I agree about Cartimandua. I've read a few books where she is featured and they've been very readable. :-)
ReplyDelete