Long subject to fantastical myth-making, ancient Caledonia’s interaction with the Roman Empire became the subject of vigorous, often politically-fuelled argument during the 18th century. Dr Alan Montgomery explains how the classical past was rediscovered and reinterpreted for a post-union audience
When it comes to the grand narrative of Scottish history, the exploits of the Romans in north Britain are often overlooked, dismissed as an inconsequential footnote in the nation’s long and eventful story. No doubt due to the common misconception that the world-famous Hadrian’s Wall represents the furthest extent of Roman activity on these islands, visitors (and a fair few Scots) are often completely unaware of the country’s wealth of Roman sites and associated sculptures and artefacts. Many are surprised to learn that the Romans even made it into Scotland at all.
300 years ago, the situation was very different. Back then, at a time when Scotland was struggling to redefine itself after a period of unprecedented trauma, the impact of Rome in Scotland was a subject of heated debate, a debate which reveals much about the early modern evolution of Scotland’s national identity. The 18th century was a time when some Scots began to untangle their national history from the myths and legends related by medieval chroniclers, with the beginnings of archaeology allowing some scholars to more fully understand Scotland’s material heritage. Others, however, were determined to retain centuries-old tales of ancient bravery that bolstered patriotic perceptions of the nation’s origins. As a result, generations of Scots would argue over just how successful the Romans had been in conquering and subduing a part of the world referred to in ancient texts as ‘Caledonia’, with their conjectures on the subject often influenced more by 18th-century politics, patriotism and taste than any plausible historical evidence.
Medieval myth-making
Several fantastical tales of Caledonia’s courageous resistance to Roman invasion appear in the Chronica Gentis Scotorum, written in the 14th century by John of Fordun. The first major history of Scotland, this Latin text cited older sources such as Bede and Gildas, but much of it was concocted by Fordun himself. This was, after all, a time when writing national history was more about creating a rousing patriotic narrative than recording true events. Fordun’s work mixes nuggets of history with large helpings
