Stilicho (359-408)

                                       Stilicho’s Pictish War 

Much of Roman Britain’s history is hotly disputed and this especially applies to the role of the Roman Commander-in-Chief Flavius Stilicho in 390’s Britain. Despite being half-German Stilicho had risen to be de facto ruler of the Western Roman empire by the late 390’s AD under the under age Emperor Honorius. He weathered many storms in the Western Empire before reportedly confronting a combined attack by Picts, Saxons and Scots on the Roman province of Britain in 398. Stilicho’s resulting victories included that over an invading Pictish army. This campaign known as Stilicho’s Pictish War is heavily disputed by historians of this period with many denying that he had any direct involvement in the conflict. Many belief that the Picts (Latin : Picti :the Painted or tattooed people) and their allies were driven back by the Roman forces in the province without the aid of Stilicho who was then resident in Italy. Documents indicate he was suppressing the Gildonic revolt in North Africa at the time so could not have been involved in a Pictish war. However the panegyric in Eutropium by Claudian indicates that Stilicho personally campaigned in Britain from 396 too 398 AD against the Picts together with the Saxons and Scots. It also indicates that Stilicho prompted the rebuilding of much of Hadrian’s Wall in the year 400 with resources taken during his suppression of the Gildonic revolt in North Africa. Given the absence of any archaeological evidence it is impossible to say what actually happened during the course of the 390’s .