WI : Roman Britannia, Northern Reavers.

I've just had the thought that one of the problems Britain had between the fall of the Empire in the West until Alfred the Great was being raided, or invaded by sea.

Now, by and large it was impossible to reasonably defend an island with an interception fleet, so you needed to be able to stop the enemy once they had landed.

But what if Roman Britannia, rather than simply being abandoned by the Romans when forces are withdrawn, but instead isolates itself from Roman affairs, and then goes a-reaving. Rather than having other nations sail to Britain to steal wealth, Britain sails overseas to raid villages for slaves, and setting up overseas enclaves?

Could Britain become a leading slaving nation this way? Could an increased number of slaves and sales lead to a larger economic base?

What impact would a Reaver Britannia have on the fall of the Empire in the West, or even the Empire in the East?
 
Would Roman Britannia have the manpower to actually go aviking?
IIRC a shortage of both settlers and soldiers was why the Angles and Saxons were able to settle and conquer westward in the first place. Additionally there was some influx of Scots/Irish too in the west.
I can only see a Britain with its full complement of "converted" legions being able to restrict rather than halt settlement, let alone go reaving.
 
Well, according to Wiki and http://natmus.dk/historisk-viden/da...okrati/hvor-stort-var-danmark-i-vikingetiden/ Roman Britain had like, 7 times the manpower of Viking Denmark. Which suggests that (if profitable and a legal act for the Britons to do), there would be plenty of people able to partake. Additionally, unlike Roman Legions that realistically would need to stay in Britain anyway, reaver forces wouldn't need to be nearly as well equipped - in fact, they would be especially terrifying even if they just had Roman-Catapults on their ships (which I imagine would be hard and only useful against the toughest targets).

Arguably, this could be an avenue for Saxons to stay in Roman Britain without it leading to conflicts with the Romans. The Saxons can live in Roman towns and make a fortune reaving their old enemies, and come home, get taxed and stay safe behind Roman shields, and if there are "Reaver Outposts", or "Reaver Kingdoms" abroad that can disperse Saxon migrations. (Hehehe, A Reaver Kingdom in Jutland, that could be a fun twist).

Don't get me wrong, part of this is that I'd love to see the Britons partake, but also to be like the Vikings, some raiders, some merchants.
 
7 times before the 6thC plague and it has about 7 times the area so post-6thC it has less population density.
Even assuming same population density would the same reasons to go reaving exist? Would they not just funnel northwards?
 
7 times before the 6thC plague and it has about 7 times the area so post-6thC it has less population density.
Even assuming same population density would the same reasons to go reaving exist? Would they not just funnel northwards?

England (which is basically Roman Britain) is only about 2.5-3 times land area of Denmark/Jutland - not 7. So it'd be damn hard for the population density to be lower.

The idea is that taking the slaves and controlling trade would be the reason to reave - which would have the same material motivations. Is it more profitable than being a farmer? Probably, but you'd have to go out and partake to find out first.

What do you mean by "Funnel Northwards"? Going and settling the north? Going to Iceland? *confused*
 
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