In 71 AD the first Roman fort at York was built, as part of the Roman conquest of the Brigantes, the beginning of nearly 400 years of Roman occupation of the North.
Cartimandua, the last Queen of the Brigantes, quarrelled with her husband Venutius and took up with his armour bearer Vellocatus, sparking internal civil wars amongst the Brigantes that divided her kingdom and led ultimately to the Roman conquest of the North.
Memories of Cartimandua’s love-triangle outlived her and may well have been the original inspiration for the later medieval Arthur, Guinevere and Lancelot stories.
Discover Cartimandua’s story and how she has been represented by the Romans and later historians.
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