Editing Selgovae (section)

=== Roman Era ===
[[File:Roman.Britain.north.84.jpg|frameless|left|240px]]
Archaeological evidence indicates that the Selgovae lived in two principal settlement types: stone-built huts and so-called "scooped enclosures", some of which were abandoned in the 1st century AD while others were established in the 2nd century and developed into [[Hill fort#Types of hill fort|multivallate]] structures. They had possibly lived in the area since the [[Bronze Age]], and certainly during the pre-Roman [[Iron Age]]. The pattern of forts subsequently established in the area by the Romans suggests that the Selgovae lived in a number of distinct communities and probably had some degree of tribal and political organisation, perhaps influenced by individuals who had fled the Roman advance further south. They are thought to have had a tribal centre at Eildon Hill North near [[Melrose, Scottish Borders|Melrose]]. They built a significant number of [[hillforts]], more so than their neighbours, which may explain why the Romans targeted them before the relatively less organised and therefore less threatening tribes to the west and north.<ref name="Early People">{{cite book|title=Early People of Britain and Ireland: An Encyclopedia, Volume II|editor-last=Snyder|editor-first=Christopher A.|last=Sassin|first=Anne|page=476|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|year=2008|isbn=978-1-84645-029-7}}</ref>

In [[Agricola (book)|his account]] of the campaigns of [[Gnaeus Julius Agricola]] (governor 78–84), [[Tacitus]] says that after a combination of force and diplomacy quieted discontent among the Britons who had been conquered previously, Agricola built forts in their territories in 79. In 80 he marched to the [[Firth of Tay]], campaigning against the peoples there. He did not return until 81, at which time he consolidated his gains in the lands that he had conquered.<ref>{{Harvcolnb|Tacitus|98|pp=364–368}}, ''Life of Agricola'', Chapters 19–23.</ref>{{Broken footnote|date=February 2020}}

The territory of the Selgovae was substantially planted with Roman forts at this time, at Broomholm, [[Blatobulgium]] ([[Birrens]]), Ward Law, Milton, Drumlanrig, [[Dalswinton]], and [[Glenlochar]] on the eastern bank of the [[River Dee, Galloway|River Dee]], which was perhaps the boundary between the Selgovae and the neighbouring [[Novantae]].<ref>{{Harvcolnb|Frere|1987|pp=88–89}}, ''Britannia''</ref> This suggests (but does not confirm) that the Selgovae were among the British peoples who had strongly resisted Roman occupation. This is in contrast to the neighbouring Novantae, where there are no signs of Roman occupation save the fortlet at [[Gatehouse of Fleet]], in the southeast of their territory.

Following the reorganisation of northern Roman Britain and the construction of [[Hadrian's Wall]] (c. 122), the only Roman forts among the Selgovae were at Birrens and Netherby.<ref>{{Harvcolnb|Frere|1987|pp=112–113}}, ''Britannia''</ref> However, with the construction of the [[Antonine Wall]] and the re-occupation of territory north of Hadrian's Wall (c. 142), the territory of the Selgovae was again heavily planted with Roman forts, at Netherby, Broomholm, [[Blatobulgium|Birrens]], Burnswark, Raeburnfoot, Shieldhill, Milton, Drumlanrig, Dalswinton, Carzield, Lantonside, and Glenlochar.<ref>{{Harvcolnb|Frere|1987|pp=130 –131}}, ''Britannia''</ref> There were no Roman forts planted in the territory of the neighbouring Novantae.

When Rome largely abandoned its occupation of territory north of Hadrian's Wall under the reorganisation of [[Marcus Aurelius]] (c. 175), they nevertheless retained forts at [[Blatobulgium|Birrens]] and Netherby,<ref>{{Harvcolnb|Frere|1987|pp=142–143}}, ''Britannia''</ref> though there would never again be a large-scale military occupation of the territory of the Selgovae. Rome permanently abandoned the area by 370.<ref>{{Harvcolnb|Frere|1987|pp=347–348}}, ''Britannia''</ref>