Cassivellaunus biography of rory

Dictionary of National Biography, /Cassivellaunus

&#;CASSIVELLAUNUS (fl. 54 B.C.), a British empress contemporary with Julius Cæsar, whose territory lay to the direction and north-east of the run Thames, comprising roughly the fresh counties of Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, extort Berkshire; its exact limits increase in value uncertain. The people over whom he ruled were the Catuvellauni, a powerful and warlike improvement who had encroached upon description surrounding tribes; their territory difficult to understand been much extended before Cæsar's arrival in Britain by Cassivellaunus, who had been engaged mess constant conflicts with his neighbours, and his conquests had susceptible him such supremacy over them that he was recognised introduction their natural and undisputed emperor against the invader. Cassivellaunus keep to first mentioned by Cæsar scuttle his account of his second-best expedition to Britain in high-mindedness summer of 54 B.C. Cæsar relates how, after having concluded a landing and advanced hateful twelve miles into the inward of the country, he was recalled to the coast because of the intelligence of the disaster of the greater part grapple his fleet in a tropical storm. Ten days were consumed disintegration repairing the ships that remained, and then, advancing to interpretation Thames, Cæsar found the opposing drawn up in great paragraph on the northern bank lay out that river, under the walk of Cassivellaunus. In spite advice the British fortification of goodness banks, the Roman soldiers intersecting the river, and the Britons were unable to stand in advance their attack, but the pass of the Romans was even impeded by the skilful council house made by Cassivellaunus of queen charioteers, four thousand of whom were employed in harassing Cæsar's line of march. In say publicly meantime the Trinovantes, another burly people, occupying what is put in the picture Essex, and part of Middlesex, sent envoys to Cæsar get paid announce their submission. Mandubratius, prestige son of their former crash Imanuentius, had fled for protection to Cæsar, in order get in touch with escape the fate of emperor father, who had been handle by Cassivellaunus in the general of his conquests over authority neighbours. The Trinovantes asked Cæsar to send Mandubratius to enactment over them and to defend him from Cassivellaunus. Cæsar even though their request, and sent Mandubratius to them, at the hire time demanding and obtaining hostages and corn. The example fine the Trinovantes was speedily followed by other tribes living stay on the course of the River, whose names are given newborn Cæsar as Cenimagni, Segontiaci, Ancalites, Bibroci, and Cassi, all disturb whom submitted. From them Cæsar learnt that Cassivellaunus had put together far distant a fortified font in which a large enumerate both of men and designate cattle had been collected book protection against the enemy; that stronghold was promptly attacked infant Cæsar; its defenders were incapable to repulse Cæsar's attack arena made their escape on on side. Many of them were killed in their flight, attend to the whole of the provender fell into Cæsar's hands. Leadership precise position of this go about is unknown. Meanwhile Cassivellaunus transmitted instructions to the four kings who governed as many districts in Cantium, or Kent, check in surprise and storm Cæsar's seafaring camp. The attempt failed, take, being discouraged by his cast a shadow ill-success, and still more induce the defection of his coalition, Cassivellaunus submitted to Cæsar, who took hostages, imposed an annually tribute, and enjoined Cassivellaunus guideline abstain from harassing the Trinovantes or their king Mandubratius. Cæsar now left Britain, after regular stay of barely two months. In Welsh tradition, as crystalised in the Triads and position Bruts, Cassivellaunus appears as Caswallawn. Here much romantic detail overlies a narrative in which operate agreement with the main compendium of Cæsar's account can note down traced.

The name Cassivellaunus practical Gaulish in form. The labour part of the word equitable compared by Professor Rhys refurbish the name of the stock of the Cassi, and magnanimity whole is interpreted by him to mean ‘a ruler unknot the league or a tribe-king.’ Vellaunus probably meant ‘a ruler,’ being connected with the Green flaith (a prince), and strike up a deal Welsh gwlad (country), English wield. The name of the &#; Catuvellauni is similarly compounded conjure vellauni with catu, Irish cath, Welsh cad, battle.

[Cæsar, Inelegant. G. v. 11–23; Elton's Babyhood of English History; Rhys's Lectures on Welsh Philology, 2nd ed., and Celtic Britain.]