Stilicho's Pictish War

Britannia had a relatively quiet period after the campaign of Count Theodosius in 368. This period ended when the Picts attacked the northern border area of Britannia and made it unsafe with looting raids. At the same time, the eastern and southern coastal areas were harassed by Saxon invaders and invaded Scots in the east. The expedition army sent by Stilicho to put an end to these attacks probably consisted of the Gallic veterans who previously successfully acted against Gildon's African uprising.^[3] It is uncertain whether Stilicho himself led this expedition or ordered to do so. The outcome of the war was clear, after a series of skirmishes, the Romans defeated the Picts. The Saxons and Scots experienced the same fate. In 400, Stilicho seems to have had repairs carried out to the Wall of Hadrian with money collected during the African campaign. Archaeological evidence that this war has taken place is missing.^[4]

The War of Stilicho is the last great feat of war of the Romans in Britain. In 401 Stilicho was preparing for a new campaign against the Vandals and Alans north of the Alpine region. He moved his Gallic legion from Britannia to join The main force in Italy.^[5] The military presence of the Romans in Britain therefore receded and would create the circumstance that led to the uprising of the British garrison in 407 when Gaul was overrun by the Germans.^[6]