Caledonian Forest

Midi: Phantasmagoria.

Ptolemy, who gave the world Greek astronomy in his  massive work on geography and cartography in the second century A.D., recorded the earliest tribal and place names for northern Britain, including the Caledonian Forest.

Some 850 years ago, Geoffrey of Monmouth wrote the "History of Kings of Britain" and he dared to make the Britons an equal to the Romans and the Greeks, in terms of antiquity and glory. And in the process deflating the bitterness of Roman occupation of the islands of Britain.

Alt-A or Enter- Top of Page.

Roman Conquest

Under the Emperor Claudius, Rome began her conquest of the British Isles.  The accounts given by Tacitus, which was written about a half century after those of Ptolemy, Agricola, who was appointed Governor of the Roman province of Britain, vanquished one tribe after another until a final decisive battle against Calgacue at Mons Graupius in 84 A.D.  Although Agricola may have wished to add Ireland to his conquests, no Roman expedition was ever taken across the Celtic Sea.

The Romans gave the country north of present-day Stirlingshire the name Caledonia.  Much of the terrain is rugged and mountainous.  And almost three-fifths of Scotland are mountain, hill and wind swept moorland.  It was not only the nature of the terrain that caused the Romans to abandon their attempts at conquest but the unimagined terrors of this Celtic world. 

The lowlands, or the borders are a place of contrast.  Great hills rise all over, giving their taller brothers further north with ancient forests, a magical and mystical atmosphere.  Sweeping rivers wind their way through this borderland, carving canyons through the hills and tracing unknown routes through the forests.  Alive and pulsing like an artery feeding the land until it meets the sea.

In a time long ago magic reigned here.  Merlin lived here.

Alt-A or Enter- Top of Page.

History of Kings of Britain

Geoffrey's "history" was widely accepted as the definitive account of the course of British history and remained so for nearly 600 years, until a critical and skeptical world refuted these claims.  The sources that Geoffrey used which can be identified include Bede and Gildas, Nennius , the Annals Cambriae and Legend of St. Goeznovious.  In reading the "history," we get the impression that most of it is there only to provide a backdrop for the story of King Arthur,  Fully one fifth of the narrative focuses on his times and deeds.

"Historical Significance of the Caledonian Forest"

Nennius recorded twelve battles of King Arthur and his defeat at Camlann.  The seventh battle was in the Caledonian Forest, also known at the Battle of Cat Coit Celidon

When Gwenddolau was defeated and killed at the battle of Arderydd, Merlin fled into the wilderness and eventually settled in the middle of the Caledonian Forest in a cave on Hart Fell, north of Hadrians Wall.  Merlin, like King Arthur is one of the most important mythical figures in the western world.  Merlin is also a historical figure, a chief Druid who presided over the coronation of kings, but was in fact a shaman, with healing and prophetic skills.

Alt-A or Enter- Top of Page.

Footnotes and References

Our "new" forest was developed on 221019 after a week of participating in shouts and cheers on behalf of our "Forest" friends in sincere appreciation for the spirited outpouring of well written poetry.

• Merlin, by Robert Lentz

• The Battles of King Arthur, Nennius

• A Consideration of Pictish Names, by Tangwystyl verch Morgant Glasvryn

• Geoffrey of Monmouth, Britannia.

• Ptolemy's Geography.

• Celtic Scotland and Britannia.

• North of the Border, by Julian Southern

Featured Forests:

Domr'emy.
Druid.
Black.
Lebanon.
Gilgamesh.
Swamp Bog.
Wee Folk.
Caledonian.
G and L Main Page.

Alt-A or Enter- Top of Page.