Damnonii
The Damnonii (also referred to as Damnii) were a
The Romans under Agricola had campaigned in the area in 81, and it was Roman-occupied (at least nominally) between the time that Hadrian's Wall was built (c. 122), through the building of the Antonine Wall (c. 142), until the pullback to Hadrian's Wall in 164. Ptolemy's Geography was written within this timeframe, so his account is contemporary.
Etymology
The tribe's name is nearly identical to that of the Dumnonii, a fellow British tribe who lived in
Historiography
The sole record of the Damnonii and their towns is their mention by Ptolemy (c. 80 – c. 168). They are found in no other source.
Ptolemy says that the towns of the Damnonii were Vanduara, Colania, Coria, Alauna, Lindum, and Victoria. However, there were no towns as such in the area at that time, so he was likely referring to
Reflecting the lack of evidence, there is little agreement on assigning modern locations to the towns. Among the assignments made by those whose work is considered to be authoritative (to varying degrees) are those of
Alauna is suggested to be the Camelon that is near and to the west of Falkirk, or at Stirling, or Kier (about 4 miles (6.4 km) NNW of Stirling, on the Allan Water), or the island of Inchkeith. Colania is suggested to be Lanark or Carstairs (about 5 miles (8.0 km) NE of Lanark), or some other place on the east side of Clydesdale. Coria is suggested to be Lynekirk (about 4 miles (6.4 km) WNW of Peebles, or some other place on the east side of Clydesdale. Lindum is suggested to be Kirkintilloch (about 16 miles (26 km) NE of Glasgow), or Linlithgow, or near Ardoch (the one about 10 miles (16 km) NNW of Stirling). Victoria is suggested to be Dalginross (about 5 miles (8.0 km) W of Crieff, or Abernethy (about 5 miles (8.0 km) SE of Perth). Vanduara is suggested to be Paisley or Renfrew (both about 6 miles (9.7 km) to the west of Glasgow), or some 20 miles south of Glasgow at Loudoun Hill.
From 1757, initial studies of the Damnonii were heavily influenced by the
Later history
After the final retreat of Rome from Scotland in the year
Relations with Rome
No evidence, either literary or archaeological points to any battle between the Damnonii and the Romans, suggesting then that the two co-operated. However the large surge in forest cover over Scotland in the 2nd century does point to a drop in the native population, most likely due to disease. Southern Scotland essentially acted as a frontier zone between Britannia Inferior and the Caledonians to the north. However, attacks on Hadrian's Wall later in the 2nd century may show a change in relations between the two. In 364, a people known as the Attacotti despoiled Roman Britain, along with the Irish, Picts and Saxons. It is possible the Damnonii were a part of this mysterious people.
See also
- Ptolemy's Geography
- Scotland during the Roman Empire
- Roman Britain
- Novantae
- Otalini
- Selgovae
- Walls Loch
Notes
- ^ De Excidio 28: inmundae leaenae damnoniae tyrannicus catulus constantinus "Constantine, the tyrannical whelp of the unclean lioness of Damnonia". Gildas' reference is sometimes taken as referring to the Dumnonii of southwestern Britain, but for a northwestern origin argument, see for example Lloyd Laing (1975) The Archaeology of Late Celtic Britain and Ireland c.400-1200 AD, London, p102
- ^ "The Damnoni". 2 February 2020. Archived from the original on 7 January 2008.
- ^ Baxter, William (1719), Baxter, John (ed.), Glossarium Antiquitatum Britannicum (2nd ed.), London: T. Woodward, C. Davis, J. Hazard, W. Bickerton, & R. Chandler (published 1733)
- ^ Camden, William (1607), "Description of Scotland", in Sutton, Dana F. (ed.), Britannia, The Philological Museum (published 2004)
- ^ Horsley, John (1732), Britannia Romana, London: John Osborne and Thomas Longman
- ^ Skene, William Forbes (1876), Celtic Scotland: A History of Ancient Alban, vol. I, Edinburgh: Edmonston & Douglas
- ^ Chalmers, George (1890), Caledonia, vol. VI (New ed.), Paisley: Alexander Gardner
- ^ Roy, William (1793), The Military Antiquities of the Romans in Britain, London: The Society of Antiquities of London, archived from the original on 26 April 2009
- ^ Henry, Robert (1805), The History of Great Britain on a New Plan, vol. II (3rd ed.), London: A. Strahan, T. Cadell Jr. and W. Davies, in the Strand (published 1800), pp. 403–404
- ^ Bertram, Charles (1757), The Description of Britain, Translated from Richard of Cirencester, London: J. White and Co (published 1809), pp. 55–59, 72, 75