The Ordovices
Background to the Ordovices
Location of the tribe
Central Wales from the coast to the Englsih border. This area is now known as Gwynedd and south Clwyd
Background information
The Ordovices had no self-government and wre not awarded their own Civitas capital by the Romans. During the reign of Agricola, the Ordovices were rule directly from Londinium (London) rather that through a Client King. .
Most of the tribe lived either in the hillforts of which there is archaeological evidence that there were many in existence., or in the immediate surrounding area. This would have enabled the dwellers outside these forts an easy retreat in times of incursion.
Frontinus established several garrison forts in Ordovice territory following his defeat of the the Silures of South Wales
Immediately before Agricola, the Ordovices almost wiped out a regiment of Roman cavalry stationed in their territory. Shortly after his arrival in Britain, Agricola took the XX Legion into north Wales, massacred the Ordovices and conquered the stronghold of the Druids on Mona in a single psuh late in the campaign season of 78AD. The outcome of this Agricola’s campaign was a near total wipeout of the Ordovices, and they did not recover until the third century AD.
Principal towns and settlements in Ordovices territory
Mona – (Anglesey Island, Gwynedd) – Probable Civitas capital.
Brithdir- (Gwynedd) – Minor Settlement.
Caer Gai – (Gwynedd) – Minor settlement and fort.
Caersws – (Powys) – Possible southern border settlement and fort.
Llanfor – (Gwynedd) – Fort.
Llwyn y Brain – (Powys) – Southern Border Fort nearby Caersws.
Magnola – (Pennal, Gwynedd) – Probable southern border settlement and fort.
Segontium – (Caernarfon, Gwynedd) – Settlement and fort.
Tomen y Mur (Gwynedd) – Fort.
