Battle of the Medway

After losing two initial skirmishes in eastern Kent, the natives gathered on the banks of a river further west to face the invaders.

In the chaos that followed, the bulk of the invasion force, spearheaded by Legio II Augusta under Vespasian, crossed the river, under the overall command of Titus Flavius Sabinus.

The natives were surprised that fully armed legionaries were able to cross the river, and Peter Salway has stated even Dio seems taken aback.

Given the primary roles taken by Geta and Sabinus on different days, it has been suggested by the historian Malcolm Todd that the Romans were operating as two, or possibly three, battle groups.

Other theories, however, note that the river is narrow enough at Aylesford not to pose significant difficulties in crossing, and place the battle closer to Rochester, where a large Iron Age settlement stood at the time.