A Brief Introduction to the Picts -

Roman Sources

The earliest references to 'Picts' occur in panegyrics of the very late 3rd and very early 4th centuries. These are speeches given to praise or give thanks to a Roman emperor.

C.E.V Nixon and Barabara Taylor Rodgers, in their book "In Praise of Later Roman Emperors" provide introductions and explanations about the panegyrics. The books also contains their translations of the panegyrics, with latin text provided by R.A.B Mynors.

Two of the panegyrics mention Picts.

The Panegyric of Constantius, dated to perhaps 297 or 298, whilst describing the recovery of the breakaway Empire, of northern Gaul and Britain in either 296 or 297, refers back to Julius Caesar's landing in Britain in the years 45 BCE and 44 BCE.

It describes Caesar defeating Hiberians and Picts, who fought half-naked.

This is usually given as the first reference of the Picts in northern Britain i.e what is now Scotland.

However Julius Caesar only fought and defeated tribes in the south of Britain, therefore in this case the term 'Picts' is referring to the people in the of southern Britain. Hiberians is the Roman name for the peoples of Ireland (Hiberia).

The author is reflecting Caesar's description of the Britons in "The Gallic War", where he describes the Britons as dying their bodies blue.

The second is the Panegyric of Constantine, and dates from between perhaps 307 and 311. In it the author recounts the British expedition of Constantine's father, Constantius. He mentions the forest and swamps of the Caledonians and other Picts.

Here the author includes the Caledonians as Picts. The Caledonians were a group of peoples well-known to the Romans, who lived north of the frontier.

Ammianus Marcellinus wrote a history of the Roman Empire from Nerva to the death of Valens, in 378 CE.

Most of this work has not survived, however books XX to XXVII regarding the quelling of an invasion, of the province in 360 CE by Picts and Scots have done.

"savage nations of Picts and Scots, who breaking the peace to which they had agreed, were plundering the districts on their borders, and keeping in constant alarm the provinces exhausted by former disasters"

In the opening paragraphs of this book, Marcellinus mentions that Constans had previously ventured to Britain, as recounted in earlier books in his work. These have unfortunately not survived. But perhaps this was the peace that the Picts and Scots had agreed.

Marcellinus does not recount whether Lupicinus, who was to command of the expeditionary force, had any success or not as in the same year Lupicinus was recalled from Britain to join the army preparing to fight the Parthians.

In book XXVII dated 367 CE Marcellinus writes

"Count Theodosius defeats the Picts, Attacotti, and Scots, who were ravaging Britain with impunity, after having slain the duke and count of that province, and makes them restore their plunder"

and later in the same book dated 368 CE

That Valentinian had received news from Britain that count Nectaridus had been killed in battle and duke Fullofaudes taken prisoner during an ambush

After sending a number of senior officials, a request was made for a powerful army. Theodosius was appointed and gathered a large force of cavalry and infantry.

Marcellinus then refers back to his account of the emperor Constantine, where he says he described the difficulty of the sea around Britain, it's ebbs and flows.

He then states

"It will be sufficient here to mention that at that time the Picts, who were divided into two nations, the Dicalidones and the Vecturiones, and likewise the Attacotti, a very warlike people, and the Scots were all roving over different parts of the country and committing great ravages"

The question is whether he is describing the Picts at the time of Constantine's expedition to Britain or the one by Theodosius. Although since the introductionary section also mentions "Count Theodosiua defeats the Picts, Attacotti, and Scots, who were ravaging Britain", it seems probable that the Picts in 368 CE were composed of the two nations.

Theodosius defeated the marauding bands recovering booty that they had gathered, including prisoners and cattle.

In book XXVIII Theodosius fully recovers the province, restoring cities and fortresses, and building new stations along the frontier.

Marcellinus was born around 330 CE and died in 395 CE, therefore the events in books XX and onwards happened during his adulthood. He served as a senior military officer before turning to histories.

An interesting find from 1983, in a villa in Vettweiss, Germany is what has been described as a 4th century Roman dice box. Cut out of the front is the phrase,

PICTOS

VICTOS

HOSTIS

DELETA

LUDITA’

which has been translated to mean “The Picts are conquered, the enemy destroyed play in safety”

the dice box is held by VR-LandesMuseum Bonn

Sources

In Praise of Later Roman Emperors by C.E.V Nixon and Barabara Taylor Rodgers

Ammianus Marcellinus, The Later Roman Empire (A.d. 354 -378) - Penguin Classics

Caesar, The Conquest of Gaul - Penguin Classics

University of Warwick Classics & Ancient History Warwick Classics Network (online)