Silures

The Silures (UK: /saɪˈljʊəriːz/ sy-LURE-eez, US: /ˈsɪljəriːz/ SIL-yər-eez)[1] were a powerful and warlike tribe or tribal confederation of ancient Britain,[2] occupying what is now south east Wales and perhaps some adjoining areas.

Words derived from this root in Celtic languages (for example Old Irish síl, Welsh hil) are used to mean 'blood-stock, descendants, lineage, offspring', as well as 'seed' in the vegetable sense.

[6] The Silures fiercely resisted Roman conquest about AD 48, with the assistance of Caratacus, a military leader and prince of the Catuvellauni, who had fled from further east after his own tribe was defeated.

They surrounded and attacked a large legionary force occupied in building Roman forts in their territory; it was rescued by others only with difficulty and considerable loss.

It remains unclear whether the Silures were militarily defeated or simply agreed to come to terms, but Roman sources suggest rather opaquely that they were eventually subdued by Sextus Julius Frontinus in a series of campaigns ending about AD 78.

The Roman Tacitus wrote of the Silures: non atrocitate, non clementia mutabatur – the tribe "was changed neither by cruelty nor by clemency".

To aid the Roman administration in keeping down local opposition, a legionary fortress (Isca, later Caerleon) was planted in the midst of tribal territory.

[2] Its massive Roman walls still survive, and excavations have revealed a forum, a temple, baths, amphitheatre, shops, and many comfortable houses with mosaic floors, etc.

The geological period Silurian was first described by Roderick Murchison in rocks located in the original lands of the Silures, hence the name.