A.D. 162. Calphurnius Agricola, in consequence of a threatened revolt, is sent to Britain as lieutenant. A.D. 169. Lucius Verus dies, about the end of the

year.

A.D. 180. Marcus Aurelius dies, March 17; is succeeded by Commodus.

A.D. 181 (circa). Lucius, king of the Britons, sends an embassy to Pope Eleutherus on religious affairs.

The northern Britons pass the rampart, and kill a Roman general; they are defeated by Ulpius.

Marcellus sent by Commodus against them.

A.D. 183. Ulpius Marcellus concludes the war. A.D. 184. Commodus takes in consequence the title of Britannicus.

• This title is given him by Nennius, who also informs us that his native name was Lever-maur (Great Light). Nennius ascribes the transaction to the year 164, and the Saxon Chronicle to 167. Archbisho Ussher has collected from various writers no fewer than twenty-three different dates, ranging from 137 to 199, to which it has been referred that given in the text is the one esteemed best supported by the Editors of the Monumenta. Lucius is traditionally said to have founded several bishops' sees, as at London and Llandaff. A brass plate in the church of St. Peter, Cornhill, London, professes to point out his place of sepulture.

A.D. 185. Perennis, prætorian præfect, is slain, as the enemy of the soldiers in Britain.

A.D. 187. Helvius Pertinax quells the revolt.

A.D. 192. Clodius Albinus, the commander of the Roman forces in Britain, is suspected by the emperor, and a successor named.

Death of Commodus, December 31.

A.D. 193. Severus becomes emperor, after the deaths of Pertinax and Didius; he confers the title of Cæsar on Albinus, who has possession of Britain.

Albinus is proclaimed emperor in Gaul.

A.D. 196. Virius Lupus, proprætor.

A.D. 197. Albinus, who had crossed into Gaul, is defeated and killed by Severus, near Lugdunum (Lyons). The account given by Herodian of this, the first battle fought by a British army on the continent, may be interesting.

"When the army of Severus had arrived in Gaul, there was some skirmishing in different places; but the decisive battle was near Lugdunum, a great and opulent city, in which having shut himself up, Albinus remained, but sent forth his forces to the fight. A severe conflict ensuing, the fate of victory on either side for a long time continued dubious; for the Britons yield nothing either in courage or sanguinary spirit to the Illyrians. Such noble armies, therefore, encountering, the overthrow of neither was easy; and, as some of the historians of that time who write for truth's sake and not for favour relate, that division of Albinus's army to which Severus with his army was opposed, had greatly the advantage; insomuch that he was put to flight, fell

from his horse, and threw off his imperial robe to conceal himself.

...

"The Britons now pursuing, and shouting as though already victorious, they say that Lætus, one of Severus's commanders, came in sight with the army he commanded fresh and untouched from not having yet been in action ... Severus's party took courage, placed him on his horse, and again clad him in his imperial robe. Albinus's troops supposing themselves already victorious, and, in consequence, having their ranks somewhat disordered, when this noble and fresh army fell suddenly upon them, gave way after but little resistance. A desperate rout ensuing, the soldiers of Severus pursued, and slew them until they threw themselves into the city. The number of the slain and captive on either side is differently recorded, as the inclination of the several historians of those times dictated.

"Severus's army having plundered and burnt the city Lugdunum, and captured Albinus, they cut off his head, and brought it to Severus. Such was the end of

Albinus, who for a little time had partaken of honours which led to his own destruction."

A.D. 201. Virius Lupus purchases peace from the Meatæ P, who had joined the Caledonians.

A.D. 204. Southern Britain, now considered as conquered, is by the emperor's order divided into two provinces; Virius Lupus being still proprætor.

A.D. 205 or 206. Alfenus Senecio appointed proprætor,

P The Meatæ occupied the country in the immediate neighbourhood of the Wall of Antoninus.

A.D. 207. The wall of Severus in progress of construction.

An insurrection of the Britons; the proprætor requests further forces or the presence of the emperor.

A.D. 208. Severus repairs to Britain.

A.D. 209. Severus, leaving Geta, his younger son, in the southern part of Britain, advances into Caledonia, refuses all treaty with the natives, and subdues them, not, however, without severe loss to his army.

in

"Severus," says Xiphiline, "advanced into Caledonia, and in traversing the country underwent indescribable labour in cutting down woods, levelling hills, making marshes passable, and constructing bridges over rivers: for he fought not a single battle, nor did he see any army array. The enemy moreover threw sheep and oxen in our track, on purpose that the soldiers might seize them, and thus being enticed farther onward, might be worn out by their sufferings. From the waters too they suffered dreadfully, and ambuscades were laid for them when dispersed. And if no longer able to proceed they were dispatched by their very comrades lest they should be taken: so that by this means 50,000 of them perished."

A.D. 210. The wall of Seyerus finished. Severus assumes the surname of Britannicus. Caracalla, the emperor's son, attempts his life.

A.D. 211. Death of Severus at Eboracum (York), February 4. His sons Caracalla and Geta succeed him.

This strengthening of the Wall of Hadrian is to be taken as an evidence of the unconquered spirit of the Britons, and not as indicating any advance of the Roman power, which on the contrary was already giving way, as is shewn by the conduct of Virius Lupus. * See Coin, p. 16.

Caracalla appoints Papianus præfect of Britain, makes a treaty with the natives, and leaves the island.

Very slight mention is made of Britain by historians for a period of more than 60 years after this time. The names of a few of its governors (given hereafter) have been preserved to us by inscriptions, but nothing is certainly known of the part taken by them, or by the legions in Britain, in the struggles which for the greater part of the time convulsed almost every other part of the empire, where aspirants to the purple rose and fell in rapid succession. It is probable that the governors were in reality almost independent; for it is not till the year 276 that any act of sovereignty over Britain is ascribed to a Roman emperor.

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