Person

Calgacus

1st century CE · 1st century

Calgacus was a Caledonian leader who, according to Tacitus, led the peoples of northern Britain against the Roman governor Agricola at the Battle of Mons Graupius in 83 or 84 CE. Tacitus gives him a famous speech against Roman imperialism, ending 'they make a desert and call it peace'. He is the first person in what is now Scotland known by name.

Calgacus
Image: Not given in text, but viewable on the sketch · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Mentioned in 1 state history

Caledonii

Great speeches

Calgacus to the Caledonians83 or 84 CE

See also

Cite this entry
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). Calgacus. In The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/calgacus
MLA
“Calgacus.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/calgacus. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “Calgacus.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/calgacus.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Calgacus’, The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/calgacus (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random entry ↻