Medway, battle of

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Medway, battle of, ad 43. A major battle of the Roman invasion campaign, it is identified only as having taken place at a river between the beachhead and the Thames, almost certainly the Medway. Unusually for the ancient world, it lasted two days. On the first day auxiliary troops swam across and killed the British chariot horses, and legionaries under the future emperor Vespasian also forced a crossing. The decisive combat took place on the second day, when the Roman general Hosidius Geta distinguished himself after nearly being captured.

Alan Simon Esmonde Cleary

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