Gnaeus Julius Agricola

Gnaeus Julius Agricola
A statue of Agricola erected at the Roman Baths at Bath in 1894
Born	13 June 40 Forum Julii, Gallia Narbonensis (now Fréjus, France)
Died	23 August 93 (aged 53) Gallia Narbonensis (now Languedoc and Provence, France)
Allegiance	Roman Empire
Years of service	58–85
Rank	Proconsul
Commands	Legio XX Valeria Victrix Gallia Aquitania Britannia
Battles / wars	Battle of Watling Street Battle of Mons Graupius
Awards	Ornamenta triumphalia

Gnaeus Julius Agricola (/əˈɡrɪkələ/; 13 June 40 – 23 August 93) was a Roman general and politician responsible for much of the Roman conquest of Britain. Born to a political family of senatorial rank, Agricola began his military career as a military tribune under governor Gaius Suetonius Paulinus. In his subsequent career, he served in a variety of political positions in Rome. In 64, he was appointed quaestor in Asia province. Two years later, he was appointed Plebeian Tribune, and in 68, he was made praetor. During the Year of the Four Emperors in 69, he supported Vespasian, general of the Syrian army, in his bid for the throne.

When Vespasian became emperor, Agricola was made a patrician and appointed governor of Gallia Aquitania. In 77, he was made consul and governor of Britannia. As governor, he completed the conquest of what is today Wales and northern England, and led his army to the far north of Scotland, establishing forts across much of the lowlands. In 85, Agricola was recalled from Britain after an unusually lengthy service by Emperor Domitian. After his return, he retired from military and public life and died in 93. Most of what is known about Agricola and his governorship was written in the De vita et moribus Iulii Agricolae,^[1] a primary source, written by Tacitus, Agricola's son-in-law, and detailed archaeological evidence from northern Britain.^[2]