Cartimandua, also spelled Cartismandua, ruled around AD 43 to around AD 69. She was a queen of the Brigantes, a Celtic group living in what is now northern England. Information about her comes from the writings of the Roman historian Tacitus.

She became queen during a time when Rome was fighting in Britain. She was very influential during her rule. As queen of the Brigantes, she helped unite several British tribes that later surrendered to Rome.

Tacitus describes Cartimandua in a way that shows her actions were controversial. He records that she betrayed the chieftain Caratacus by pretending to offer him safety but instead gave him to the Romans in return for money. He also notes that she divorced her husband and married a soldier instead. After this, she fought many battles with her former husband, who led uprisings against her multiple times. Eventually, she lost to him.

History

Cartimandua is first mentioned by the Roman writer Tacitus in the year AD 51. However, she may have already been ruling the Brigantes when the Roman emperor Claudius began conquering Britain in 43 AD. She might have been one of the eleven "kings" listed on Claudius’s triumphal arch as having surrendered without fighting. If she was not among them, she may have taken control of the Brigantes after a group of Brigantes rebels was defeated by the Roman general Publius Ostorius Scapula in 48 AD.

Tacitus describes Cartimandua as being of "illustrious birth," suggesting she inherited her position rather than gaining it through marriage. She and her first husband, Venutius, were loyal to Rome and protected by Roman forces.

Her name may come from two Celtic words: carti-, meaning "chase, expel, send," and mandu-, meaning "pony."

In 51 AD, the British leader Caratacus fled to Cartimandua’s territory after being defeated by Ostorius Scapula in Wales. Cartimandua handed Caratacus over to the Romans in chains. Tacitus wrote that Cartimandua gained power and wealth after capturing Caratacus, which helped Claudius’s triumph.

Later, Cartimandua divorced Venutius and married Vellocatus, his armor-bearer. In 57 AD, she took Venutius’s brother and other relatives as hostages. Venutius then rebelled against her and against the Romans. He formed alliances outside the Brigantes and attacked the kingdom during the governorship of Aulus Didius Gallus (52–57 AD). The Romans had expected this and sent troops to protect Cartimandua. The fighting was unclear until the Roman general Caesius Nasica arrived with the IX Hispana legion and defeated the rebels. Cartimandua kept her throne because of the quick help from Roman forces.

Tacitus wrote that Cartimandua grew to dislike her husband, Venutius, and married Vellocatus instead. This action caused unrest. Venutius gained support from other tribes and the Brigantes themselves, putting Cartimandua in danger. She asked the Romans for help, and after several battles, Roman forces rescued her. Venutius took control of the throne, and the war continued.

In 69 AD, during the Year of the Four Emperors, Venutius rebelled again with help from other nations. Cartimandua asked the Romans for more troops, but they could only send auxiliaries. Cartimandua was forced to leave her kingdom, and Venutius controlled the Brigantes while fighting against Rome. After this, Cartimandua is no longer mentioned in historical records.