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Roman
England: 43 AD - 410 AD
With
the Roman Conquest in 43 AD came the first written records of
England's history. Julius Caesar had of course paid earlier visits
to England in 55 and 54 BC however these had only been to please his
adoring public back home in Rome (political propaganda!) In 43 AD
the emperor Claudius resumed the work of Caesar by ordering the
invasion of England under the command of Aulus Plautius.
The
Romans quickly established control over the tribes of southeastern
England. One British chieftain of the Catuvallauni tribe known
as Caractacus, who initially fled from Camulodunum (Colchester) to
south Wales, stirred up some resistance until his defeat and capture
in 51 AD. Dispatched off to Rome, he obviously made friends in
high places, appearing in Claudius' triumphal procession. He was
later released in recognition of his courage and died in Rome.
Resistance to Roman rule continued in Wales, particularly inspired
by the Druids, the priests of the native Celtic peoples.
All
was relatively quiet in England for ten years or so until Prasutagus
the king of the Iceni tribe, died. His queen, Boudicca, a
little upset at having her lands taken from her by the Romans and
her two daughters raped, opted for affirmative action rather than
the diplomatic approach. Under Boudicca' leadership the Iceni
together with their southern neighbours the Trinovantes revolted,
burning to the ground Londinium (London), Verulamium (St. Albans)
and Camulodunum (Colchester). Boudicca poisoned herself after
her army was virtually annihilated by Roman legions returning from
active service in North Wales. They had again been attempting to
quell the Druids in Anglesey.
 During
the 70's and 80's the Romans, under the command of Gnaeus Julius
Agricola extended their control into northern and western
England. Legions were located at York,
Chester and Caerleon marking the limits of the 'Civil Zone'.
Agricola moved northwards defeating the Caledonian tribes under the
leadership of Calgacus at the battle of Mons Graupius in
northeastern Scotland. The Romans gradually gave up their conquests
in Scotland until in 122 AD the emperor Hadrian ordered the
construction of a wall from the west coast of Britain to the east. Hadrian's
Wall ran for eighty miles from Newcastle in the east to Carlisle
in the west. Designed to mark the boundaries of the Roman Empire,
much of the great monument can still be seen today. When
Hadrian died in 138 AD his successor Antonius Pius abandoned the
newly completed wall and again pushed northwards. A new
frontier, the Antonine Wall was established between the Forth and
Clyde rivers in Scotland. Around 160 AD the Antonine Wall was
abandoned and thereafter Hadrian's Wall again became the northern
boundary of the Roman Empire in Britain.
The
Romans never did succeed in subduing all of Britain. They always had
to maintain a significant military presence to control the threat
from the unconquered tribes. But most people in England settled down
to Roman order and discipline. Towns appeared for the first
time across the country, including York, Chester, St. Albans, Bath,
Lincoln, Gloucester and Colchester. All of these major centres are
still linked today by the system of Roman military roads radiating
from the great port of London such as Ermine Street, Watling Street
and the Fosse Way. These roads also allowed for the distribution of
Roman luxuries such as spices, wines, glass etc. brought in from
other regions of the Empire. It is likely that the
Romanisation of Britain principally affected only the rich.
This aristocracy may have increased status by adopting Roman ways
and practices such as regular bathing. The vast majority of the
populace would remain relatively untouched by Roman civilisation,
living off the land and eking out a living.
Accommodation
on Hadrian's Wall
Holmhead Guest House,
Thirlwall Castle Farm, Hadrian's Wall, Greenhead Via Carlisle,
Cumbria
Accommodation
near Hadrian's Wall - North West
Accommodation
near Hadrian's Wall - North East
Living
History - meet the Romans!
The
Ermine Street Guard
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