The Algerian Conquest of Scotland

With Britain wracked by anti immigration protests recently, I think its important to remember just how far back Britain's multiculturalism goes.

There is no story that gets this across as succinctly as the Roman Conquest of lowland Scotland.

In 138, a Roman Governor called Quintus Lollius Urbicus was sent to “drive back the barbarians” north of Hadrians wall and build “another wall, of turf" a bit further north.

For me, this is one of the most exciting and unexpected moments in British history because Quintus Lollicus Urbicus was Britain's first - and to my knowledge only - African ruler. His tomb is still visible near the Algerian city of Constantine.

An Algerian Berber from near Tiddis, Urbicus played a crucial role in putting down the Jewish revolt in 2nd century Palestine. He was promoted to legionary general to guard the frontiers along the Rhine and Danube, before finally being sent to Britain.

He then “doubled the size of the Roman fortress at Corbridge, conquered Scotland, built the Antonine Wall, before finally becoming, around ad 142, the first African governor of Britain.”

Under him “it was North Africans who did much of the conquering of north Britain for the Romans.”

Its a reminder that colonialism doesn’t always flow in one direction. For a brief moment, an Algerian Berber ruler was establishing new colonies across Scotland and getting Syrians to settle his new colonies.

Indeed, under Urbicus’ command, army regiments along the Antonine Wall “were organised based on ethnic identity. Tungrians (from modern-day Belgium) and Vardullians (from Spain) were stationed at Castlecary fort. Thracians from Bulgaria manned Mumrills fort. Hamian archers from Syria could be found at the centre of the Wall in Bar Hill fort.”

Even more fascinatingly, many of the pot shards found along the Antonine Wall turn out to have North African origins, and were probably used to make tagines…