| Cartimandua | |
| Queen of the Brigantes | |
| Succession: | Queen of the Brigantes |
| Reign: | before AD 51 – AD 69 |
| Regent: | Venutius (until divorce) and Vellocatus (from remarriage) |
| Reg-Type: | Co-ruler |
| Successor: | Venutius |
| Native Lang1: | Brythonic |
| Spouse: | Venutius (divorced) Vellocatus |
| Birth Date: | c. 1st century AD |
| Death Date: | after AD 69 |
Cartimandua or Cartismandua (reigned) was a 1st-century queen of the Brigantes, a Celtic people living in modern-day northern England. She is known through the writings of Roman historian Tacitus.
She came to power during the time period that Rome was campaigning against Britain. She was widely influential during her reign. As ruler of the Brigantes, she united various British tribes that eventually surrendered their loyalty to Rome.
Cartimandua is portrayed notoriously in Tacitus's account of her. She is recorded betraying the Celtic chieftain Caratacus, insincerely offering him sanctuary, but instead turning him in to the Romans in exchange for wealth. She also is recorded for her disloyalty to her husband, whom she divorced and replaced with a common military man. She subsequently engaged in extended military conflict with her ex-husband as he staged revolt against her multiple times, eventually losing.
Although Cartimandua is first mentioned by Tacitus in AD 51, her rule over the Brigantes may have already been established when the Roman emperor Claudius began the organised conquest of Britain in 43: she may have been one of the eleven "kings" who Claudius's triumphal arch says surrendered without a fight.[1] If not, she may have come to power after a revolt of a faction of the Brigantes was defeated by Publius Ostorius Scapula in 48.[2]
Being of "illustrious birth", according to Tacitus,[3] Cartimandua probably inherited her power, as she does not appear to have obtained it through marriage.[4] She and her husband, Venutius, are described by Tacitus as loyal to Rome and "defended by our [Roman] arms".
Her name may be a compound of the Common Celtic roots *carti- "chase, expel, send"[5] and *mandu- "pony".[6]
In 51, the British resistance leader Caratacus sought sanctuary with Cartimandua after being defeated by Ostorius Scapula in Wales, but Cartimandua handed him over to the Romans in chains.[7] Having given Claudius the greatest exhibit of his triumph, Cartimandua was rewarded with great wealth.
Tacitus wrote:
"She had later strengthened her power when she was credited with having captured King Caratacus by treachery and so furnished an adornment for the triumph of Claudius Caesar. From this came her wealth and the wanton spirit which success breeds."[8]
Tacitus purports that Cartimandua obtained wealth from her betrayal of Caratacus.
Cartimandua later divorced Venutius, replacing him with his armour-bearer, Vellocatus. In 57, although Cartimandua had seized his brother and other relatives and held them hostage, Venutius made war against her and then against her Roman protectors. He built alliances outside the Brigantes, and during the governorship of Aulus Didius Gallus (52–57) he staged an invasion of the kingdom of the Brigantes. The Romans had anticipated this and sent some cohorts to defend their client queen. The fighting was inconclusive until Caesius Nasica arrived with a legion, the IX Hispana, and defeated the rebels. Cartimandua retained the throne thanks to prompt military support from Roman forces.[9]
Tacitus wrote:
"She grew to despise her husband Venutius, and took as her consort his squire Vellocatus, whom she admitted to share the throne with her. Her house was at once shaken by this scandalous act. Her husband was favoured by the sentiments of all the citizens; the adulterer was supported by the queen's passion for him and by her savage spirit. So Venutius, calling in aid from outside and at the same time assisted by a revolt of the Brigantes themselves, put Cartimandua into an extremely dangerous position. Then she asked the Romans for protection, and in fact some companies of our foot and horse, after meeting with indifferent success in a number of engagements, finally succeeded in rescuing the queen from danger. The throne was left to Venutius; the war to us."[10]
Tacitus refers to Cartimandua's dumping of her husband for Vellocatus as scandalous. He Also discusses how Venutius rallies against her, but fails after she secures aid from the Romans.
Cartimandua was not as successful in the year 69. Taking advantage of Roman instability during the year of four emperors, Venutius staged another revolt, again with help from other nations. Cartimandua appealed for troops from the Romans, who were only able to send auxiliaries. Cartimandua was evacuated, leaving Venutius in control of a kingdom at war with Rome. After this, Cartimandua disappears from the sources.