60 AD – Attack on Mona (Anglesey)

What Happened

In AD 60, the Roman governor of Britain, Gaius Suetonius Paulinus, launched a major military campaign against the island of Mona (modern-day Anglesey) off the northwest coast of Wales. Mona was a stronghold of the Druids, the powerful Celtic priestly class, and served as a refuge for British rebels fleeing Roman rule. Suetonius recognized that to fully pacify the turbulent tribes of Wales, particularly the Ordovices and Silures, he needed to destroy this spiritual and political centre of resistance.

The Roman army, consisting of the XIV Gemina and XX Valeria Victrix legions, along with auxiliary troops, marched to the Menai Strait, the narrow channel separating Mona from the mainland. The Romans constructed flat-bottomed boats to transport the infantry, while the cavalry swam across or found shallow fords. As they approached the shore, they were met by a terrifying sight. According to the historian Tacitus, the beach was lined with a dense array of armed warriors, interspersed with women dressed in black like Furies, their hair dishevelled and brandishing torches. Around them stood the Druids, lifting their hands to the sky and pouring out terrible curses upon the invaders.

The sheer strangeness and ferocity of the spectacle initially paralyzed the Roman soldiers, who stood motionless, exposing themselves to the enemy's missiles. However, urged on by their general and encouraging each other not to fear a "fanatical band of women," the Romans regained their discipline. They charged forward, cutting down the defenders and enveloping them in the flames of their own torches. Following the victory, Suetonius established a garrison on the island and systematically destroyed the sacred groves dedicated to the Druids' "savage superstitions," which allegedly involved human sacrifice and divination using the entrails of captives.

Why It Mattered

The attack on Mona in AD 60 was a crucial event in the Roman conquest of Britain, marking the systematic destruction of the Druidic order as a political and spiritual force. The Druids were not merely religious figures; they were the custodians of Celtic law, history, and culture, and they played a vital role in uniting the disparate British tribes against Rome. By eliminating their sanctuary and leadership, Suetonius aimed to break the ideological backbone of the resistance in Wales and beyond.

The campaign also demonstrated the Roman military's ability to overcome significant geographical and psychological obstacles. The successful crossing of the Menai Strait and the defeat of a deeply entrenched and fanatical enemy reinforced the image of Roman invincibility. However, the attack on Mona had unintended consequences. While Suetonius was occupied in the far west, a massive rebellion erupted in the east, led by Boudica, queen of the Iceni. The absence of the governor and his main forces left the newly established Roman settlements vulnerable, leading to the near-collapse of the province.

Human Perspective

For the Roman soldiers, the assault on Mona was a deeply unsettling experience. They were accustomed to fighting conventional armies, not confronting a terrifying array of women and priests hurling curses and brandishing fire. The initial paralysis described by Tacitus highlights the profound psychological impact of encountering a culture so alien and seemingly demonic to the Roman mindset. Overcoming this fear required immense discipline and a reliance on the familiar structures of military command and unit cohesion. The subsequent destruction of the sacred groves must have been a grim and methodical task, reinforcing their sense of cultural superiority and the necessity of imposing Roman order on a "barbaric" land.

For the Britons, the attack on Mona was a catastrophic cultural and spiritual trauma. The island was a sacred sanctuary, a place of refuge and resistance against the overwhelming power of Rome. The sight of the Roman legions crossing the strait and slaughtering their spiritual leaders and defenders must have been a profound shock, symbolizing the inescapable reality of conquest. The destruction of the sacred groves represented the deliberate erasure of their religious heritage and the imposition of a foreign worldview. Yet, the fierce resistance they mounted, even in the face of certain defeat, stands as a testament to their enduring commitment to their beliefs and their way of life.