Britannia-the Western Frontier – Part 2

The interaction with the Roman Empire had a marked effect on the Irish and Ireland.  A range of loan words entered the Irish language.  Nearly all of them were military terms related to warfare.  Sections of the Irish elite were establishing themselves in Britannia in association with the Roman military. As part of this process, or, before it, the Irish elite took a keen interest in the Roman Army.

The Iron Age Irish sword had been short, sharp and pointed, optimal for thrusting. It was called a colg.  A new sword with a new name entered the Irish lexicon.  It was longer and made for both stabbing and cutting .  Its name was a loan word claideb from the British word for sword.  The British word was presumably describing Roman swords. The Irish shield was of rectangular shape at the time.  It began to be replaced by a circular shield quite small by Roman standards. 

Taken together this suggests a very mobile slashing and stabbing style of fighting.  The warrior would rely on skill, strength and speed to overcome his opponent.  It is interesting to note that when longer Roman sword blades were exported to Ireland they were modified to meet the Irish preference. The small metal bossed shield could also be used offensively.  This could be done by hitting with the boss and also (as the Scéla note) by striking with the edge.  The rest of the warrior’s equipment consisted of a handful of light javelins (gae) and a spear (sleg).  The latter often had a characteristic  door knob spear butt.  We will look  at the distribution of archeological finds of these spear butts in Britannia in a subsequent post.

The spear butts were hollow and likely the same of those recorded by Cassius Dio among the Caledonians.

“a short spear, with a bronze apple attached to the end of the spear-shaft, so that when it is shaken it may clash and terrify the enemy.”

It is possible for us to imagine an Irish warrior array rattling their spears to create a psychological edge over their foes.  Then, they would swiftly advance under a storm of hurled javelins to stab and cut at close quarters.  Their fighting style must have been aggressive as their equipment and lack of armour* precluded effective static defence.  The nearest Roman comparison might be the units of Lanciarii who were lightly equipped and trained in aggressive tactics.

The proximity of the Empire was also increasing social division in Ireland.  The earliest Ogham stones often proclaim both the name and the tribe of the honorand.  Later this gives way to dynastic proclamations.  The tribes of Ireland were coming under the control of aggressive warrior dynasties who named themselves as sons (Uí) or grandsons (Síl) of their martial pro-generator.  This process was a direct result of the Irish -Roman interaction.  Some of these dynasties would establish themselves in Britannia.

Some scholars think there was a sartorial dimension to the process.  They see the Irish elite as emulating elite Roman dress.  If you like - a case of Níall na Noígíallach where’s your troosers?  In this view the Irish elite now go bare legged in tunics and cloaks.  The rank and file Irish tribesman still wore the traditional outfit.  We can note that some Roman loan words relating to clothing colours enter the Irish language at this time. 

Jim Mallory expended a great deal of scholarly energy in analysing the data contained in the Táin bo Cuailgne.  Alongside much other fascinating information he notes the following cloak colours worn by elite Irishmen:  black, dark grey, dun coloured, green, grey, multi coloured, red, striped, purple and yellow.

Significantly, the Imperial cult of Christianity began to accrue Irish adherents.  After a protracted, if apparently pacific, struggle it came to predominate in Ireland.  The immediate catalyst for this was the missionary activities of the Romano British.  The victory was a long time coming but in the process the leading Druid section of the Irish intellectual elite (Na Fíli) were displaced or converted.  As a consequence today our understanding of the old Celtic religion is extremely fragmentary.  A partial exception to this is Ireland’s pagan warrior cult of the Féinid where we can attempt a minimal reconstruction.

The transformations arising from the Irish-Roman interactions were not unique. On every frontier of the Roman Empire similar processes were at work.  These relationships were regularly interrupted by extreme violence as one side or the other sought to adjust the balance of power.  For the Irish-Roman one the crisis came in 367-8 AD.

* The current consensus is that the Irish in our period didn't use armour.  Scéla references to leather protection are thought to be literary borrowings.  That may be so. Yet, we can note the honorand of the early Welsh poem Trawsganu Kynan led a raid into Irish Dyfed and took as part of the loot, "30 Irish battle coats". Clearly, this was some type of armour.  It was thought valuable, worthy of bardic mention and specifically Irish.  Possibly, the Scéla had it right.