The Roman Empire has been enlarging at great speed since the defeat of Cleopatra in 31AD at Actium. Britain, invaded in 55BC, is not conquered until 43AD. The Celts in Northern Scotland (then Caledonia) were said to be particularly fierce and so this area is never taken. In 82AD Julius Agricola, the Military Govenor of Britain reaches the Mull of Kintyre. The Empire is under pressure elsewhere in Europe and so, fearing that Ireland will be similar to Scotland, he decides not to invade. This had a profound effect on Ireland. The Romans had a strong influence on the cultures they conquered. They introduced new foods, languages, laws, roads, building techniques and art. The lack of this influence on Ireland is one of the major reasons that Ireland remains strongly Celtic. It also means that Ireland remains under the rule and control of a warrior aristocracy. This is refined to a system of High Kings which is set up in 200AD at Tara in county Meath. In 427 Laoighre is crowned the first High King of Ireland.