Although Cartimandua is first mentioned by Tacitus in AD 51, her rule over the Brigantes may already have been established when the Roman emperor
Claudius began the organised
conquest of Britain in 43: she may have been one of the eleven "kings" who
Claudius's triumphal arch says surrendered without a fight. If not, she may have come to power after a revolt of a faction of the Brigantes was defeated by
Publius Ostorius Scapula in 48. Being of "illustrious birth", according to Tacitus, Cartimandua probably inherited her power, as she does not appear to have obtained it through marriage. She and her first husband,
Venutius, are described by Tacitus as loyal to Rome and "defended by our [Roman] arms". Her name may be a compound of the
Common Celtic roots
*carti- "chase, expel, send" and
*mandu- "pony".
Betrayal of Caratacus In 51, the British resistance leader
Caratacus sought sanctuary with Cartimandua after being defeated by Ostorius Scapula in
Wales, but Cartimandua handed him over to the Romans in chains. According to Tacitus:
"She had later strengthened her power when she was credited with having captured King Caratacus by treachery and so furnished an adornment for the triumph of Claudius Caesar. From this came her wealth and the wanton spirit which success breeds." Venutius divorce and conflict Cartimandua later divorced Venutius, taking his armour-bearer,
Vellocatus, as her consort. In 57, although Cartimandua had seized his brother and other relatives and held them hostage, Venutius made war against her and then against her Roman protectors. He built alliances outside the Brigantes, and during the governorship of
Aulus Didius Gallus (52–57) he staged an invasion of the kingdom of the Brigantes. The Romans had anticipated this and sent some
cohorts to defend their client queen. The fighting was inconclusive until
Caesius Nasica arrived with a
legion, the
IX Hispana, and defeated the rebels. Cartimandua retained her throne thanks to prompt military support from Roman forces. Tacitus wrote: ''"She grew to despise her husband Venutius, and took as her consort his squire Vellocatus, whom she admitted to share the throne with her. Her house was at once shaken by this scandalous act. Her husband was favoured by the sentiments of all the citizens; the adulterer was supported by the queen's passion for him and by her savage spirit. So Venutius, calling in aid from outside and at the same time assisted by a revolt of the Brigantes themselves, put Cartimandua into an extremely dangerous position. Then she asked the Romans for protection, and in fact some companies of our foot and horse, after meeting with indifferent success in a number of engagements, finally succeeded in rescuing the queen from danger. The throne was left to Venutius; the war to us."'' Tacitus refers to Cartimandua's leaving her consort for Vellocatus as scandalous. He also discusses how Venutius rallies against her, but fails after she secures aid from the Romans. Cartimandua was not so successful in the year 69. Taking advantage of Roman instability during the
year of four emperors, Venutius staged another revolt, again with help from other nations. Cartimandua appealed for troops from the Romans, who were only able to send
auxiliaries. Cartimandua was evacuated, leaving Venutius in control of a kingdom at war with Rome. After this, Cartimandua disappears from the sources. == References ==