Stilicho's Pictish War

Stilicho's Pictish War is a name given to a war between the forces of the Western Roman Empire led by Stilicho and the Picts in Britain around 398 AD. Little is known about the conflict. The only real source is the panegyric In Eutropium by Claudian which indicates that while Stilicho was dealing with the Gildonic revolt in Africa, Britain suffered from attacks by the Saxons, Picts and Scots, and ended with "the Saxon conquered, the Ocean calmed, the Pict broken, and Britain secure." Another poem by Claudian refers to a possible expedition to Britain by Stilicho in 396-398.^[1]

Stilicho's Pictish War
Date 398 (disputed) Location Britain Result Imperial victory
Belligerents
Western Roman Empire	Picts Saxons Gaels
Commanders and leaders
Stilicho	Unknown

It has been surmised that the Picts attacked the northern frontier of Britain but were defeated. In 400 Stilicho seems to have ordered repairs to Hadrian's Wall.^[2]

References

1. Vermaat, Robert. "Claudian". www.vortigernstudies.org.uk. Vortigern Studies. Archived from the original on 20 February 2023. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
2. M. Miller "Stilicho’s Pictish War.” Britannia, Vol. 6, (1975), 141–144