They make a desert and call it peace

• ‘They make a desert and call it peace’ is from the Latin ‘ubi solitudinem faciunt, pacem appellant’.
• The phrase, recorded by the Roman historian Tacitus in ‘Agricola’ Chapter XXX, is a description of the Roman Empire made in a rousing speech by Calgacus, the leader of the Caledonian Confederacy, before the Battle of Mons Graupius in 83 CE.

Battle of Mons Graupius

• The Battle of Mons Graupius (83 CE) took place during the Roman invasion of Scotland.
• It was fought between the Caledonian Confederacy led by Calgacus, and the Roman Legions led by the Governor of Britannia, Agricola.
• The location is unknown, but may have been Inverurie, Aberdeenshire.
• Prior to the Battle, Tacitus recorded a moving speech made by Calgacus to his armies in which he exhorted them to fight the invader.
• The speech is famous for using the phrase where Calgacus described the Roman Empire as They make a desert and call it peace’.
• The Battle resulted in a Roman Victory over the Caledonii.
• Tacitus wrote in his Work, ‘Agricola’, that up to 10,000 Caledonian tribesmen were killed, but at least 20,000 escaped to fight in later battles.