When Ancient Rome decided to add Britain to its empire in 41 CE, it met stiff resistance from the people of Britain, not the least by King Caratacus. He was eventually subdued and sent by the Roman governor Ostorius Scapula back to Rome for the Emperor Claudius to decide his fate. On arriving in Rome and seeing the magnificence of Roman society – the roads, public buildings and luxury private residences – what did Caratacus say?
Answer: ‘And yet the owners of these must needs covet our poor huts in Britain.’ Caratacus impressed Claudius with his dignity and courage and seems to have been granted some sort of pension, dying in honorable captivity in Italy.
Source: Britain: Rome’s Most Northern Province by G M Durant
