Caratacus

Caratacus
King of the Britons King of the Catuvellauni
Caractacus before the Emperor Claudius at Rome, 18th-century print, artist unknown (British Museum).
King of the Catuvellauni
Reign	1st century AD, to c. 50
Predecessor	Epaticcus
Successor	None (Catuvellauni territory conquered by Claudius)
King of the Britons
Reign	43–50
Predecessor	Cunobelinus
Successor	Cogidubnus
Born	c. 10? Probably in Catuvellauni territory
Died	After c. 50 Rome
Brythonic	*Caratācos
Greek	Καράτακος / Καρτάκης
Father	Cunobelinus
Mother	Unknown

Caratacus (Brythonic *Caratācos, Middle Welsh Caratawc; Welsh Caradog; Breton Karadeg; Greek: Καράτακος; variants Latin: Caractacus, Greek: Καταράκατος) was a 1st-century AD British chieftain of the Catuvellauni tribe, who resisted the Roman conquest of Britain.

Before the Roman invasion, Caratacus is associated with the expansion of his tribe's territory. His apparent success led to Roman invasion, nominally in support of his defeated enemies. He resisted the Romans for almost a decade, using guerrilla warfare, but when he offered a set-piece battle he was defeated by Roman forces. After defeat he fled to the territory of Queen Cartimandua, who captured him and handed him over to the Romans. He was sentenced to death, but made a speech before his execution that persuaded the Emperor Claudius to spare him. Caratacus' speech to Claudius has been a popular subject in visual art.