Name

Terminology

fought naked and used narrow shields, a spear and a sword...

The term Vacomagi was used by the Romans to distinguish between those Caledonians whose territory was in the lower plains to the east of the Grampian Mountains, from the Caledonii whose territory was in the Highland glens further west. Ptolemy's map is the only classical source to mention the Vacomagi by name; other classical sources generally used a generic term, for example Britons or Caledonians.{{efn| The Roman historian Tacitus used the term Britons in his account of the Battle of Mons Graupius.

See Contents History Mons Graupius AD c.83.}}

Terminology — from 2nd century AD to 4th century AD:{{efn|name="Foster_page3"|Sally M. Foster – Picts, Gaels and Scots

• Map (a) 2nd century AD
  • Caledones east of the Great Glen;
  • Vacomagi east of the Caledones.
• Map (b) 3rd – 4th century AD
  • Caledones occupy a larger area east of the Great Glen.}}

Etymology

The name is sometimes seen as a derisory insult to the enemy of the Roman army:

1. Latin ..."lazy, idle".
2. Latin ...plural of magus.
3. Latin ..."sorcerer, trickster, conjurer".

Other etymologies were proposed, including Isaac (2005) etymology *wako-mago, 'Those inhabiting curved fields', Macbain (1909) referred to the "vaco" element as "obscure", mentioning its possible cognate with Welsh "gwag" (empty), possibly of Latin origin.

The Picts are reported to have believed in the magi – people with supernatural powers; for example the magus Broichan, who was alleged to have the ability to influence the weather.

Ptolemy's map

Principal places

..."below Caledonia are the Vacomagi, among whom are the following settlements: — Claudius Ptolemy (AD c.100–c.170*)*

Pinnata Castra

Tuesis

Tamia

Bannatia

The principal places of the Vacomagi are known only from Ptolemy's map of Albion island of Britannia – the First Map of Europe.

The historian Graham Robb has used scaling factors to compensate for the anomaly whereby Scotland appears to tip wildly into the North Sea, in order to determine the possible locations:Graham Robb – The Debatable Land – Appendix

Fig. 12: Ptolemy's map of Caledonia. () Robb has calculated that Tamia and Bannatia were further south than previously thought, probably on the Tay and Forth respectively. It might be expected that those settlements were near maritime navigation routes, since most of Ptolemy's data originated from seafarer's travel records.

Tuesis

It has in the past been conjectured that Tuesis was the Romano-British name for the River Spey, however historian Graham Robb has calculated that Tuesis was further east, possibly the Burnfield camp on the River Deveron.

Etymology

The name element esis (or isis) may derive from eíschusis (*eis-sis), translated from Ptolemy’s ancient Greek text.

The name Tuesis (or Toúesis) was also discussed as being a conflation of the Gaulish deities Toutatis and Esus:{{efn|name="Oliver_Twinning"|Neil Oliver – Ancient Britain

..."Twinning of gods and goddesses was a tactic the Romans employed all across the Empire... }}

1. Toú – Toutatis – God of the tribe.{{efn|The local tribes were:
2. Vacomagi
3. Taexali – to the east.
4. Caledonii – to the west.}}
5. esis – Esus – God of the river.

Toutatis and Esus were famously associated with the deity Taranis in the poem Pharsalia by the Roman poet Lucan.{{efn|name=Horrid_Esus| Miranda Aldhouse-Green – Dictionary of Celtic Myth and Legend ..."The Roman poet Lucan described in a poem, the Pharsalia ...the journey of Caesar's troops through southern Gaul and their encounter with three Gaulish gods: Taranis, Toutatis and Esus...(Pharsalia I, 444-6)...Lucan describes this triad as cruel, savage and demanding of human sacrifice... }}{{efn|name="TTE_triad"|The triad of Gaulish deities mentioned in the poem Pharsalia:

1. Taranis (Tanarus) – God of thunder.
2. Toutatis – God of the tribe.
3. Esus – God of the river.}}

Hadrian's Wall

The cult of Esus was possibly introduced into North Britain by the movement of legions and auxiliaries from Roman Gaul (France) and Hispania Tarraconensis (Spain).{{efn| name="Contents_XX"|See also: Vacomagi

• History
  • Legio XX Valeria Victrix}} A bronze bowl (known as the Amiens Skillet) found at Amiens, France, has the inscription:The inscription is a list of the Roman fort's on Hadrian's Wall. The last fort on the list is Æsica (Great Chesters); the name derives from Esus (or Æsus).{{efn|Alan G. James – The Brittonic Language... ..."Latinised as Esus, Æsus, Hesus....the fort-name Æsica or Esica...on Hadrian’s Wall at Great Chesters ...is pretty certainly formed from the Latinised name + the Celtic adjectival suffix –icā-... }} A pottery mould that is believed to depict the Gaulish deity Taranis was found at the Coria Roman fort near Hexham. Similar moulds were used to create relief decoration for fine pottery.

Tamia

The historian Graham Robb has calculated that Tamia was possibly near the city of Perth. It has been conjectured that the Bertha Roman fort near the River Almond – Tay confluence was originally called Tamia, derived from a native name for the River Tay.

The name element Tam is a common river name, as there are many examples in England; a famous example is the River Thame, one of the major tributaries of the Thames.{{efn|P. H. Reaney – English Place Names ..."The earliest forms of Thames, Tamesa, Tamesis ...adopted by the Anglo-Saxons as Tamis, Temes..."The common ME Tamise is a French form, as is the modern spelling with the French Th– for T– (Thamis 1220) ... }} It has been conjectured that the name element Tam may derive from a Sanskrit word meaning "dark water".{{efn|P H Reaney – English Place Names ..."The name is considered to be related to the Sanskrit Tamasa ("dark water"), the name of a tributary of the River Ganges ... }} Another possibility was suggested that Tam is the nickname of a Celtic god, goddess or deity, it is known that the Celts worshipped rivers, and gave votive offerings.{{efn|P H Reaney – English Place Names ..."That the Celts worshipped rivers is suggested by the name of the French Marne, Gaulish Matrona 'mother'. The Matronae were the Gaulish mother-goddesses ... }}

Inchtuthil and Carpow

Inchtuthil and Carpow were both Roman legionary fortresses based on the River Tay. They were the only legionary fortresses north of Hadrian's Wall, and therefore of strategic importance. Inchtuthil was only occupied for a short time, and Carpow was occupied much later, from the late second century AD until the early third century AD. It is not known if there was a base at Carpow when data was collected for Ptolemy's map.

River Tay

The Legio XX Valeria Victrix built and occupied the legionary fortress at Inchtuthil on the River Tay 82–86 AD. A Roman altar found in Chester may provide evidence that the Legio XX worshipped the Gaulish deity Taranis, but using the variant name Tanarus. The Romano-British name for the Tay – Taus – may derive from Tanarus (Ta---us) – god of thunder.

Bannatia

Graham Robb has calculated that Bannatia might have been Camelon Roman fort at Falkirk, south of the River Carron. The name Bannatia may derive from Welsh bannau ("peaks"). This might relate to the views of the Munro peaks, to the north of Stirling, for example Stùc a' Chroin and Ben Vorlich. The etymology suggests that Bannatia was between the Firth of Forth and the Firth of Tay,{{efn|Noble and Evans – The Picts... ..."the inhabitants of the Maiatai territory...continued to speak ...Brittonic – a P-Celtic language, from which modern Welsh...descended ..."The use of Brittonic as far north as the Ochils was perhaps due to...connections with southern neighbours... }} and validates Graham Robb's methodology for re-evaluating Ptolemy's co-ordinates.

The area around Stirling was historically known as Manau (or Manaw Gododdin). This area has always been strategically important because of its location just north of the Clyde–Forth isthmus.

History

Mons Graupius

Main article: Battle of Mons Graupius

The Battle of Mons Graupius took place in 83 or 84 AD between the Roman army and a coalition of Vacomagi, Caledonii and other native tribes. The combined might of the Roman army resulted in a decisive victory for the Roman general Agricola.

The location of the battle ("Graupius mountain") has never been convincingly identified, however most historians agree that it was somewhere east of the Highlands and north of the Forth (in other words – Vacomagi territory – or thereabouts). Some historians believe that Bennachie, near Inverurie in Aberdeenshire, might have been a possible location.

The Roman army

The Roman army consisted of:{{efn| Guy de la Bédoyère – Roman Britain ..."At the Battle of Mons Graupius in AD 83 or 84, Agricola had all, or most, of the IX and XX legions with him. Tacitus says that he also had 8,000 auxiliary infantry and 3,000 auxiliary cavalry...we have...11,000 legionaries...11,000 auxiliaries...The auxiliary cavalry were decisive...it was never necessary to order the legionaries to take part... }}

The Caledonians

During the previous years the Roman advance had destroyed farms and crops;{{efn|name="Moffat_harvest"| Alistair Moffat – Scotland, A History...

..."destruction to farmland and harvest caused by the Roman advance... }} this had probably been worse for the Vacomagi, whose territory was in the lower plains to the east – than for the Caledonii, whose territory in the Highland glens was more protected.

and still there were pressing in all the youth of the country, with all whose old age was yet hale and vigorous, men renowned in war and bearing each decorations of his own. — Tacitus (AD c.56–c.120) }}

triginta milia ...30,000 armatorum ..."armed men" aspiciebantur..."to be seen"}}

Tacitus

The Roman historian Tacitus gave this account:

..."For the Britons, indeed, in no way cowed by the result of the late engagement, had made up their minds to be either avenged or enslaved, and convinced at length that a common danger must be averted by union, had, by embassies and treaties, summoned forth the whole strength of all their states.

..."More than 30,000 armed men...

..."Meanwhile, among the many leaders, one superior to the rest in valour and in birth, Calgacus by name, is said to have thus harangued the multitude gathered around him and clamouring for battle...

— Tacitus (AD c.56–c.120)

Legio XX Valeria Victrix

Main article: Legio XX Valeria Victrix

The Legio XX Valeria Victrix from Clunia in Hispania Tarraconensis (Spain) took part in the Battle of Mons Graupius AD c.83 and built and occupied the castra at Inchtuthil on the River Tay AD 82–86. They evacuated Inchtuthill c.87 and arrived at Deva Victrix (Chester) AD 88 where they were based for another two centuries.

Chronology:

Glen Tanar

A Roman altar found in Chester, AD 1653, may provide evidence that the Legio XX worshipped the Gaulish deity Taranis, but using the variant name Tanarus. There is a natural association between Tanarus – God of thunder – rain and rivers.

It is possible that the Water of Tanar – in Glen Tanar – derives its name from the Gaulish deity Tanarus. At the entrance to Glen Tanar is the Bridge o' Ess, suggesting that this part of the river was previously known as the Ess (or Esk, a common river name) possibly derived from the Gaulish deity Esus – God of the river. The Tanar rises on the north side of Mount Keen, the most easterly of the Scottish Munro's.

Mount Keen is in a geographic area known as the Mounth, an expanse of high plateau that extends west to east from the Cairngorms across to the North Sea coast. It forms a physical barrier to north-south travel – historians sometimes refer to the Mounth in the context of it being a geo-political border that historically separated the north and south of Pictland.

Mount Keen is also part of a range of hills that defined the west to east boundary between the former regions of Grampian and Tayside.

The Mounth Road is a high level track that connects Glen Esk (south of the Mounth) with Aboyne on the River Dee (north of the Mounth). The track traverses the west flank of Mount Keen before descending down into Glen Tanar. Historically the Mounth Road connected the north and south of Pictland.

2nd century

The Vacomagi were a confederacy of smaller tribes, each one a separate polity with its own hierarchy of leaders. According to the data collected by Ptolemy, the Vacomagi were spread out over a wide area between the Moray Firth and the Firth of Forth; to the east of the Cairngorms and north of the Clyde–Forth isthmus. This area was also occupied by neighbouring tribes: Taexali (north-east), Venicones (south-east) and Caledones (west).

3rd century

By the late 2nd century – early 3rd century, only two tribes are known (from classical sources) to have occupied the original territory of the Vacomagi: Caledones and Maeatae. It has been conjectured that the Vacomagi and other tribes realigned their allegiances towards two main polities, those of the Caledones and Maeatae, in order to better coordinate their defence against the Romans.{{efn| Noble and Evans – The Picts... ..."As elsewhere on Roman frontiers, one result of the Roman presence may have been the amalgamation of polities bordering Roman Britain, into fewer but larger units. While describing the major Roman campaigns ...north of Hadrian's Wall from AD 208–211 ...Cassius Dio ...noted that:

7th century

It was only by about the late 7th century that the descendants of the Vacomagi and Caledones became the contiguous group that is knows as the Picts, ruled by a single Pictish king.

References

Citations

Notes

Sources

• {{cite book |last1= de la Bédoyère |first1= Guy |author-link= Guy de la Bédoyère

• {{cite book |last1= Coleman |first1= Keith

• {{cite book |last1= Foster |first1= Sally M.

• {{cite book |last1= Green |first1= Miranda J |author-link= Miranda Aldhouse-Green

• {{citation |last= Green |first= Miranda J |author-link= Miranda Aldhouse-Green

• {{cite web |last1= James |first1= Alan G.

• {{cite book |last1= Moffat |first1= Alistair |author-link= Alistair Moffat

• {{cite book |last1= Moffat |first1= Alistair |author-link= Alistair Moffat

• {{cite book |last1= Noble |first1= Gordon |last2= Evans |first2= Nicholas

• {{cite book |last1= Oliver |first1= Neil |author-link= Neil Oliver

• {{cite book |last1= Oliver |first1= Neil |author-link= Neil Oliver

• {{cite book |last1= Rabbitts |first1= Paul |last2= Rabbitts |first2= David

• {{cite book |last1= Reaney |first1= P. H.

• {{cite book |last1= Robb |first1= Graham |author-link= Graham Robb

• {{cite book |last1= Roberts |first1= Alice |author-link= Alice Roberts

• {{cite book |last1= Rodgers |first1= Nigel |author-link= Nigel Rodgers

• {{cite journal |last1= Strang |first1= Alastair

References

1. Alexander Macbain (1909), Outlines of Gaelic Etymology
2. (2010). "Roman Britain (Historical Map and Guide)". [[Ordnance Survey]].
3. (28 January 2009). "Perth and Bertha". Tim Clarkson – "Senchus".
4. "RIB 452. Altar dedicated to Jupiter Tanarus Optimus Maximus". [[Roman Inscriptions of Britain]].