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The Caledonians were Celtic peoples in the north of Britain, in today's Scotland. Rome called the whole land north of the frontier Caledonia.
In AD 83/84 the Caledonians under Calgacus faced the Roman general Agricola at Mons Graupius. They lost to the Roman battle order, yet the north stayed free – Rome could never hold it for long.
Tacitus puts into Calgacus's mouth, before the battle, a famous speech that describes Roman conquest without mercy. Soon afterwards Rome withdrew behind Hadrian's Wall; the free north became proverbial.
"They make a desert and call it peace."Calgacus, after Tacitus, Agricola 30 (public domain, own translation)
The Caledonians stand for the free Celtic north. Continue with the Britons and Silures.
The Britons · The Silures · The Brigantes · The Ordovices · The Celtic Warriors.
