1. The Testudo and the battle of Caer Caradoc
The Romans
Chapter 9: Case study

2. Sources for the Battle of Caer Caradoc, AD 50
Literary: Roman account provided by Tacitus’ Annals His father-in-law served extensively in Britain, not long after the battle.
Archaeological remains: the site of the battle has not been conclusively identified. There is an Iron Age fort with a name that means ‘Caratacus’ fort’, but it does not fit the description of the site in Tacitus’ account. However, there are remains that could fit his description.

3. The Battle of Caer Caradoc
Location: Hertfordshire, possibly near Caer Caradoc Hill
Roman general: P. Ostorius Scapula
Troops: c. 21,000 Ninth Legion Hispana and Twentieth Legion Valeria Victix
Casualties: c. 1,200
British general: Caratacus
Troops: unknown
Casualties: unknown

4. Battle of Caer Caradoc Account in Tacitus, Annales 12.33-38
Briton Caratacus Vs
Roman P. Ostorius Scapula
Step 3: Scale fort; break Britons’ line
between legions and
auxiliaries
Step 2:
Testudo;
remove stone
ramparts
Step 1:
Forge river
Source:

5. Roman army in testudo (‘tortoise’) formation
‘Testudo formation’ by Neil Carey - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike
2.0 via Wikimedia Commons:

6. The testudo on Trajan’s Column, early 2nd C. AD