auxiliaries were allied forces operating under Roman command and incorporated into the Roman battle-order. Archers, skirmishers, cavalry and specialist troops were almost always auxiliaries from Roman territories, eg the batavians (Dutchies) supplied light horse, as did the Gauls.

Mancetter is notable for having been a victory gained entirely by the use of auxiliaries, as is reoirded. Paulinus didn't engage with his legions at all. Boudicca's forces were so confident of victory that they left their baggage train right behind their line, and with typically celtic indiscipline, broke when their first manic charge failed to dent the Roman line. They got hindered by their waggons, which contained their families along to watch the Romans get a stuffing, and in the ensuing rout, the battle broke up into small unit actions which the auxiliaries easily overcame. Rather difficult to see in the suburbanised Mancetter of tday, but the general topography of the land is still there.