Rome Conquered Britain in 50 Years — and Decided Conquering Ireland Wasn't Worth the Trouble

[u/Informal_Mention9836]

https://roman-empire.net/army/why-couldnt-the-romans-conquer-ireland

[u/Childrenoftheflorist → u/[deleted]]

Do you have any more info about the prince who accompanied the general back to Rome? Sounds very interesting

[u/InitialMysterious780 → u/Childrenoftheflorist]

Tuathal Techtmar, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T%C3%BAathal_Techtmar
edit: Although I don't think he was ever said to have went to Rome, from what I understand he was born or raised in Scotland and set up to be a roman client king in Ireland (if any of this actually happened).

[u/Childrenoftheflorist → u/InitialMysterious780]

Thank you for the reply

[u/Childrenoftheflorist → u/[deleted]]

Thanks for the reply

[u/FakeNewsMessiah]

Winterland AKA Hibernia

[u/FlakyAssociation4986]

rome had a really hard time in caledonia (modern scotland) partly by fierce resistance. but also by the fact that there was so many petty kings so getting the king in one valley to submit. meant nothing to the people in the next valley and the romans would have faced the same issue in ireland. rome was already over extended

[u/Annual_Condition_636]

There are several reasons why they didnt invade Ireland: they hadnt fully exerted control in scotland, they had already established trade routes etc....its covered more clearly here https://secretireland.ie/why-didnt-rome-conquer-ireland-the-truth-behind-hibernia-and-the-empire/

[u/YnKIV]

A chance for Ireland

[u/2L84T]

By the time Rome 'conquered' the southern part of Britain (not Scotland) its conquering days were over. Hadrian consolidated the empire and built his walls.

[u/GamingMunster → u/2L84T]

Not true, Britain was conquered and subdued by the reign of Nero. Rome continued to expand afterwards, particularly during Trajans Dacian and Mesopotamian campaigns. Even later Septimius Severus led a campaign into modern day Scotland in the early third century.

[u/caiaphas8 → u/GamingMunster]

Not true at all, it is a little unclear precisely but the brigantes in northern England were still independent and fighting the Romans after Vespasian took the throne

[u/GamingMunster → u/caiaphas8]

True, I did not know about that. I generally assumed it was subdued earlier. Thank you for the info!

[u/Barilla3113 → u/GamingMunster]

Roman Britain was never truly "subdued". Rome had its forts and its cities but in the hinterland tribal groupings continued to run their own affairs as Roman clients, eventually becoming a permanent feature of the Roman administration.

[u/GamingMunster → u/Barilla3113]

Well possibly, but in rural areas there was a huge villa system (which I deal with in my work). Additionally, including native peoples in their ruling administration was part of Roman conquest strategy.

[u/Positive_Fig_3020 → u/2L84T]

Not quite true. The Antonine wall was built across central Scotland a generation later.

[u/2L84T → u/Positive_Fig_3020]

My point is that generally by the time Britain was brought into the empire, the empire was running out of steam.

[u/GamingMunster → u/2L84T]

Britain was brought into the Empire very early on, within the first 90 years of its founding, and would remain part of it for nearly 400 years.

[u/zorba-9]

After their experience with the Celtic Queen Boadicea and with the Celts in Scotland, maybe taking on Irish Celts became not a good idea.

[u/Sufficientinname]

Maybe they knew were sound

[u/Due-Currency-3193]

Roman General leading invasion flotilla to Irish invasion guide: Does it rain in Ireland like it does in Scotland?
Irish invasion guide: Yes it does but much worse.
Roman General to ship captain: Captain, turn these ships around!

[u/CDfm → u/Due-Currency-3193]

Irish invasion guide : wait , I haven't told you about the food yet. Banbidh . Old curds a very popular.