The British troops followed up in pursuit and had begun to chant their hymn of victory, assuming they had already won, when Laetus, one of Severus’ generals, appeared on the scene with his fresh troops that had not been involved in the battle. Reports accuse Laetus of waiting to see the result of the battle and deliberately holding back, keeping his troops fresh in a bid to win the empire for himself. He only appeared when he was informed that Severus had fallen.
Edition :
Herodian. History of the Empire, Volume I: Books 1-4. Translated by C. R. Whittaker. Loeb Classical Library 454. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1969.
Herodian. History of the Empire, Volume II: Books 5-8. Translated by C. R. Whittaker. Loeb Classical Library 455. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1970.
Notes :
Laetus is killed at a later date, supposedly for this event on orders of Septimius Severus, described in: "Iulius Laetus is executed on orders of Septimius Severus."
