Agricola, Gnaeus Julius

Agricola, Gnaeus Julius (37-93 AD), Roman statesman and soldier.

Julius Agricola became governor of Roman Britain in AD78 and three years later completed the conquest of England.

From then until AD85 he fought against the Caledonian tribes in Scotland.

He sent a fleet to the north and it sailed around Scotland. This showed the Romans that Britain was an island.

Agricola defeated the Caledonians in battle but he was unable to control the Highlands. So he built a wall of forts across Scotland from the Firth of Clyde to the Firth of Forth to keep them back.

Agricola returned to Rome in 87 and lived in retirement.

His son-in-law, Tacitus, wrote Agricola's life story and people still read this book today.