Solving the Mystery of the Lost Roman Legion | History Hit Series

Tristan Hughes explores what we do know about the Ninth Legion, tracking its history across Britain.

In this documentary, Tristan Hughes tracks the history of the Ninth Legion across the British Isles. From its arrival in Britain during the Claudian Invasion to a dice with death in the Scottish midlands and the last time it is mentioned in history.

Tristan then explores the numerous theories regarding the eventual fate of the Ninth Legion. Was it lost on the northern frontier of Britain, by the Rhine, or massacred in the East?

Featuring Dr Miles Russell, Dr Rebecca Jones, Dr Simon Elliott, Lucy Creighton and Dr David Breeze.

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#historyhit #romanhistory #ninthlegion #historymystery

[Luna-rsrs]

I just love the storytelling of these style of documentaries. "we have a mystery, now lets figure it out!", and in the end they are "We still have this mistery, we didnt figure it out, but we had lovely interviews and had our moderator walk through grass and muddy scenery while gesturing wildly."

[fosterfuchs]

Reading "The Eagle of the Ninth" to a 6-year-old. This is how you get kids interested in history! I salute you, Tristan's dad!

[notenoughodinson]

I live in Silchester, I always go on walks around the Roman Wall, it's stunning. What's left is only the foundation of the inner wall and when you realise how thick the walls were and how big the gates were, its astonishing to imagine it in its full glory. Its never lost on me and I recommend anyone to go and see it

[mickuljatheseagull]

The beauty of history is that it can change in an instance. New discoveries, new theories, don´t you just love it.

[Neilhuny]

The Eagle of the 9th was my introduction to history, too!! A great book that led to a life-long interest in Iron Age to Saxon era history ie Roman Britain, give or take a bit

[cyndiknapp]

I love how these speakers have entire textbooks of information committed to memory and can share it in such an exciting and informative manner.

[gregedmand]

One of the best series of novels written about Rome and Roman Britain were the "Veteran of Rome" series by William Kelso. The fate of the Ninth that makes most sense to me is: weakened by events in Britannia the remnants were shipped off to support the Empire's critical needs. The use of Vexillations, this way, was a common practice. Without a strong patron actively seeing to have it built up to its past glory could have led to it never being reconstituted. Rather than one simple reason for its disappearance, it's most likely a combination of these factors.

[IrishEye]

they went over the Scottish border and discovered whisky. No mystery why they never came back.

[viorelpiscanu]

Hi there! Greetings from Bucarest ROMANIA 🍀... I am big fan of history, British is one of them...😊

[grievousangel]

i consider Eagle of the Ninth and The Daughter of Time to be the books that gave me my love of history. And the fact I'm York born and bred made Eagle of the Ninth compulsory reading!

[leonmarkrodziewicz]

A story that has captivated me since I was about 10 years old (a long time ago) also courtesy of Rosemary Sutcliff. I hope the truth comes to light whilst I'm still around to hear it! The romantic in me hopes that the book got it right!

[peaches]

Could it simply be a case the 9th was disbanded and it’s troops use to replenish the other Legions ? That’s happened may times in history with other armies.

[Andy_Babb]

I loved this on the app but if I’m honest, I like having both episodes together into one full length episode. Tristan is one of my favorite historians along with Matt Hughes

[wandapease-giyo]

The book “The Eagle of the Ninth” seems to have started a number of people into archeology and the common interest in The Romans in England. I remember reading it in the sixties.

[justme]

I just love that Europe doesn't destroy all their history and just work around a lot of them.

[JohnTLyon]

If you enjoyed Sutcliffe's book, check out the film, "The Eagle" Adapted from Sutcliffe's work, it is really quite good!

[belindawebber]

OMG.
I read that book as a 10 year old, which started my love of history. That was 42 years ago.
No one I have met has ever read it!
Thank you!

[ZaaaZ]

I live in the netherlands ...in nijmegen and there are diggs and roman finds from time to time. Its a pitty people are not permitted to search with metal detectors anymore without a permit..Because the increase of finding some interesting roman or WW2 stuff for the world to share has decreased significantly.

[IronWarrior]

The Agricola wrote down his victories and avoided documenting his defeats. It's more than obvious to me the 9th legion was nearly wiped out in the attack on their fort. The Name or Legion number may have been reconstituted later though.

[manfredgrieshaber]

Theodor Mommsen also analysed the collection of roman coins owned by the family von Bar. Their farmers had collected a huge amount of roman coins while plowing in the region east of the city of Osnabrueck in Germany. In 1892 he published his analyse and suggested that the battle of the Teutoburg Forest must have taken place in that area.
Now we know Mommsen was right (see the objects in the Museum of Kalkriese). It's therefore possible that Mommsen was also right when he said the 9th Legion had been wiped out during an uprising in York.