Description
Caratacus (Brythonic *Caratācos , Middle Welsh Caratawc ; Welsh Caradog ; Breton Karadeg ; Greek Καράτακος ; variants Latin Caractacus , Greek Καρτάκης ) was a 1st-century AD British chieftain of the Catuvellauni tribe, who resisted the Roman conquest of Britain.
Before the Roman invasion, Caratacus is associated with the expansion of his tribe's territory. His apparent success led to Roman invasion, nominally in support of his defeated enemies. He resisted the Romans for almost a decade, using guerrilla warfare, but when he offered a set-piece battle the Romans won it. After defeat he fled to the territory of Queen Cartimandua, who captured him and handed him over to the Romans. He was sentenced to death, but made a speech before his execution that persuaded the Emperor Claudius to spare him.
Caratacus's speech to Claudius has been a common subject in art.
