Roman invasion of Caledonia (208–211)

Severan invasion of Caledonia
Part of Roman conquest of Britain
Date208–211 CE
Location
Caledonia (present-day Scotland)
Result Roman withdrawal to Hadrian's Wall
Belligerents
Roman Empire Caledonians
Commanders and leaders
Septimius Severus
Caracalla
Unknown
Casualties and losses
50,000 dead (mostly from disease and exhaustion) Unknown

The Roman invasion of Caledonia was launched in 208 by the Roman emperor Septimius Severus. The invasion lasted until late 210, when the emperor became ill and died at Eboracum (York) on 4 February 211. The war started well for the Romans with Severus managing to quickly reach the Antonine Wall, but when Severus pushed north into the highlands he became bogged down in a guerrilla war and he was never able to fully subjugate Caledonia. He reoccupied many forts built by Agricola over 100 years earlier, following the Battle of Mons Graupius, and crippled the ability of the Caledonians to raid Roman Britain.

The invasion was abandoned by Severus' son Caracalla and Roman forces once again withdrew to Hadrian's Wall.