PC: Roman Caledonia

Three Question To Answer Before any Expedition is sent.

Are the rewards worth the cost spent?

What would they achieve?

When do they launch the assault?
 
How plausible is it that the Romans could have taken and held Caledonia?

Taken? Yes. They came quite close twice.
Held? Doubtful. Terrain is a bitch, and there's little in the way of anything useful to justify the cost of taking down the locals, except the strategic advantage of keeping Britannia safe. If they manage to stay long enough (generations), tough, it frees up a couple of useful legions for elsewhere (and denies them to potential Britannian-based Imperial pretenders down the line).
 
If Britain somehow increased in productivity, do y'all think that would be a good enough reason for the Empire to take Scotland?
 
The Romans could have pushed further North certainly. The problem wasn't one of possibility but one of motivation. The British territory was already the furthest North of the Roman Empire and the fringe of the fringe. If the raids into Britannia Inferior were more frequent and more problematic, and if an Emperor needed some kind of campaign to cement his legitimacy, and if the East was more peaceful and less threatened then I do believe it could happen.

However, it would probably be seen in hindsight as an expensive mistake unless they find some nice resources to exploit. If we look at Agricola's campaign we see the basic strategy. Hold the Scottish Lowlands across what will later become the Antonine Wall, and then push to the Firth of Tay. And then establish a string of forts up and around the highlands to the Moray Firth.

To hold the area, enslave large numbers of natives and replace them with loyal citizens and either move one of the legions in Chester North to maybe Newcastle or install a new legion bringing the total up to 4. It would be quite brutal an occupation, at least for the hundred years or so, until some signs of Romanisation comes into play. The Highlands proper could probably be left alone so long as they leave Roman Britain alone.

The right Emperor and the right incentives and it could happen. Getting that into place probably has more to do with PODs in the halls of Rome and Parthia than a POD originating from the islands themselves.
 
Romans planned genocide in case of conquering these territories for a reason- locals were a real pain for them (whether inside or outside of RE borders). I guess that if they manage to crush Caledonians and then preemptively massacre every village in their way, it can become quiet and peaceful region. Although rather empty- until it's resettled by Romans.
 
Maybe it would be.

I think that's not the case- Romans planned expeditions to Caledonia and even completed some. Commanders were sadly recalled before they could pacify province though. That's one of the reasons why northern part of Roman Britain was just semi-romanized, with strong tribes influence.

If Agricola is not recalled we can have both Roman Caledonia and Ireland- he planned to get both, but sadly has been recalled. Real shame, it could have saved Roman Britain in the distant future.
 
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