AGRICOLA, CNnius Justus, a celebrated Roman gtneral, who long waged war against the ancient inha bitants of Britain. Ile was the son of Julius Grwcinus, and born in the year 40. His father was put to death by Caligula, and his mother afterwards murdered in a pira tical excursion by the fleet of Otho. Agricola studied law and philosophy at Marseilles, and then served in Britain under Suetonius Paulinus, who admitted him to the twist intimate confidence. On returning to Rome, he was made qumstor of Asia ; where, though under .m avaricious proconsul, Titius Salvianus, his integrity was preserved uncorrupted. During the reign of Galba, he was appointed to investigate the gifts and riches of the temples. Immediately on Vespasian's assumption of the empire, Agricola resolved to support him ; in eonsequence of which he was elevated to the patrician rank, and constituted governor of Aquitania. He then .,litaincd the consulship along with Domitian ; when he agreed to bestow his daughter on Tacitus the famous historian, to whom we are indebted for the memoirs of his life.
The Romans had never been able to conquer Britain ; :heir partial successes were counteracted by continual u evolts ; and Bence the presence of a skilful commander was required. This important charge was conferred on Agricola ; who, in the year 78, arrived in Britain, and list attacked the Ordovires, or inhabitants of North Wales, who had recently cut off a squadron of Roman horse I 'at ing carried on several successful campaigns in this island, he endeavoured to secure his conquests, by inculcating a desire for peace among the inhabitants. instead of keeping them in a state (Ji constant warfare. He exhorted them to become more civilized, and to aban don hostilities, and live in tranquillity. Tacitus affirms, that in consequence of this many acquired the Roman language, and adopted the garb of their invaders. But their pacific intentions were of short duration, and Agri cola, in the third year of his residence, extended his inroads as far as the river Tay. He crossed the Forth at Queensferry, A. D. 84, and subdued whole regions formerly unknown to the Romans. In the sixth summer,
which he spent in Britain, the natives surprised his camp, and broke in upon the ninth legion; but the Ro mans having found means to attack them in the rear, they were forced to retreat with great loss, and, if it had not been for the intervening woods and morasses, thiA battle would have terminated the war.
The following summer was most disastrous to the Caledonians. In consequence of their late defeat, they had conveyed their wives and children to places of secu rity. They now armed their youth, collected all their forces, and prepared, under Galgacus, their renowned leader, to resist the Roman general, who approached to attack them on the Grampian hills. Their army, consist ing of 30,000 men, was drawn up on the declivity of a hill, and chariots and horsemen occupied the centre. The Romans having only 11,000 men, Agricola com menced the engagement cautiously. His troops, ad vancing close to the Caledonians, rendered their small shields and unwieldy swords of little avail; and hence, after a keen encounter, they were completely routed. When the Caledonians first gave way, the chariots, mingling with them, and the horses without riders, oc casioned great destruction. They experienced a signal defeat, leaving 10,000 men on the field, while the Romans lost only 340.
Agricola communicated his success to Domitian, who, with affected regard, obtained him a triumph, and had a statue erected to him: but he was soon after recalled from Britain. Domitian led his subjects to expect that Agricola should be appointed governor of Syria ; he contrived, however, to evade his promise, and also in duced Agricola to decline the proconsulate of Asia or Africa. Agricola seems now to have lived in retirement. He died soon afterwards ; but not without suspicion of poison, and of Domitian being accessory to it. By his will, he made this emperor a co-heir along with his wife and daughter, by which he was extremely gratified; from his ignorance, as Tacitus wisely observes, that a good father never gave his inheritance to any prince but a bad one. Sec Tacitus in Vita .,1gricohe. (c)