Calgacus' Speech of Freedom // The Agricola by Tacitus (98AD) // Roman Primary Source

On the edge of the world, the Roman Empire is advancing. The year is 84, and Gnaeus Julius Agricola has finally goaded the Caledonians into battle, a tribe still clinging to independence in the cold north of the island. Much of Britannia has already been subjugated, along with Gaul, and absorbed into the voracious maw of the greatest empire the world has ever seen. Agricola's campaign comes to us through the words of Tacitus (56 - 120 AD), famous Roman historian. Here he gives us a speech from the leader of the Caledonian Confederation, the chieftain Calgacus, urging his followers to reject bondage and fight to their last against Roman slavery. He asks them to fight for their freedom.

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