Vindolanda is one of the best preserved and best-studied forts of the Roman frontier, with a remarkable assemblage of organic artefacts and delicate tablets preserved in waterlogged and anaerobic conditions by successive levelling and rebuilding. The history of the fort beyond the end of the 4th century is, on the other hand, as in Roman archaeological sites across Britain, hard to determine. While it is clear that the fort ended its purposes as a permanent military station by the end of the following century, it is less clear what happened to the buildings outside the fort; the vicus, where everyday trade, exchange, craftsmanship and worship took place. One inscription, however, may give some deal of insight.
On a damaged piece of tombstone found in a pile of assorted stones near the old cottage of Chesterholm, the name Brigomaglos was inscribed, together with the Latin 'Iacit' and another fragment of a Latin word, '-us', in lettering similar in style to other memorial inscriptions across Western britain. The antiquarians responsible for the discovery interpreted the name as a Brittonic, or old Welsh, form of the name Briocus. They proposed that the Brigomaglos of 5th century Vindolanda was identical to St Brioc, an early Welsh saint who was ordained by the famous statesman and bishop Germanus of Auxerre. This view continued to find support into the latter half of the 20th century, and annotated as such in volumes of Romano-British inscriptions. The missing third Latin inscription was interpreted as 'qui et Briocus', or 'also known as Briocus'.
It was only in 1982 when the name was imbued with a different meaning; that of a grandiose Celtic title, translated as 'high-chief' or 'mighty prince'. The second element, maglos, is a common element of known early Welsh kings, such as Maglocunus (Maelgwyn), a mid-6th century king of Gwynedd. The first is also found with the reputed grandson of Vortigern, Briagath. The tombstone could have therefore commemorated a man of considerable status, perhaps a regional warlord or petty king, subservient to power centres in Carlisle (Caer Ligualid) or Dumbarton Rock (Alclud). It is impossible to say, however, if this title was an Brittonic development or re-intepretation on a Roman office such as comes, magister or dux, or an entirely native development, representing continuity with pre-Roman concepts of kingship.
If Brigomaglos was, indeed, a chieftain of the immediate post-Roman period, what was his relationship with Vindolanda? He may have used it as a base of operations, sending warbands with some resemblance to formations of limitanei or pseudocomitatenses to conduct raids on neighbouring Britons, probably on behalf of a more powerful authority. Alternatively, he may have been installed, or inherited a role, to protect a kingdom's frontiers. That Vindolanda was the seat of a chieftain is suggested by the unearthing of the foundations of a hall, constructed above an earlier complexes of granary stores.
As noted in previous posts, pre- and post-Roman names of Celtic origin often appear high-sounding enough to fit a prince or member of an elite, but were used by people of all social classes, groups and backgrounds. Brigomaglos could have been a post-Roman warlord, in the service of the king of Rheged, Cunomarcus (Cynfarch) or the king of Strathclyde, Coroticus (Ceredig), or operating indepedent of both, but he could eqaully have been a common solider, a well-loved priest, a son of a wealthy merchant who died young or was killed, or even a Germanic mercenary brought up in a Brittonic society.
The inscription therefore provides a useful glimpse into post-Roman life, supporting the idea of a gradual transition from an interconnected Roman military and administrative frontier to an anarchic political landscape of rulers striking out at neighbours from strongholds formerly meant to guard this frontier. The 'nasty little Britons' which were once the menace of Roman soldiers recruited from across Europe became their natural heirs
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