Roman Britain
[[Category:c. 410 disestablishments|Roman Britain, c. 410]]
| Province of Britain Provincia Britannia (Latin) | |||||
| Province of the Roman Empire | |||||
| |||||
.svg) | |||||
| Capital city | Camulodunum Londinium | ||||
| Historical era | Classical antiquity | ||||
| - | Annexed by Claudius | 43 AD | |||
| - | Severan Division | c. 197 | |||
| - | Diocletian Division | c. 296 | |||
| - | End of direct Roman rule | c. 410 | |||
| Today part of | |||||
Roman Britain (Britannia) was the part of Great Britain in the Roman Empire from AD 43 to 409 or 410.[1][2]
History
The first invasion was led by Julius Caesar, in the days of the Roman Republic. He defeated the dominant Catuvellauni tribe in 54 BC near Wheathampstead in Hertfordshire.
Their capital was taken over by the Romans.[3] Trouble in Gaul (mainly modern France & Belgium) prevented Caesar from staying in Britain. The full conquest of Britain was delayed for almost a century.[4]
In 43 AD, the Emperor Claudius sent an invasion force,[5] led by Aulus Plautius, a distinguished senator. He was given four legions, totalling about 20,000 men, plus about the same number of helpers The legions were:
- Legio II Augusta
- Legio IX Hispana
- Legio XIV Gemina
- Legio XX Valeria Victrix
The II Augusta was commanded by the future emperor Vespasian. The other three legions were also led by high-ranking men.
The invasion was one of the most significant events in British history. After the revolt of Boudica there was usually peace and a process of full "romanization" started successfully in southeast Britain.
The Romans considered Britannia as a single territory and administratively they divided the huge island in five provinces: Britannia prima (capital London), Britannia secunda, Flavia Caesariensis, Maxima Caesariensis and Valentia. It seems that they have created also a sixth province -during Agricola conquest- in Caledonia, called Vespasiana.[6]
Roman legions left in 410 AD after almost four centuries, and the administration of the country was taken over by prominent local chieftains. This was known as Sub-Roman Britain, with a Romano-British culture and the people may have used a Latin-based language. It lasted for more than two centuries but gave way to an increasingly Anglo-Saxon England by the start of the seventh century.
Technology
Roman technology made its impact in road building and the construction of villas, forts and cities. During their occupation of Britain the Romans built an extensive network of roads. They were used in later centuries, and many are still followed today. The Romans also built water supply, sanitation and sewage systems. Many of Britain's major cities, such as London (Londinium), Manchester (Mamucium) and York (Eboracum), were founded by the Romans.
There was no writing in Britain before the Romans. They introduced it and, when they left, writing only survived with the help of religion.[7]
The British were skilled in the arts, and produced ornamental jewellery and pottery which was exported to Europe. They built defensive structures such as hill forts. They were proficient in warfare with spears, bows and arrows. Small round stones found in such sites indicate the use of slings or catapults.
To keep Roman control, forts and garrisons were built throughout Britain, and the existing roads improved. The local people had to maintain the Roman roads in Britain, and got tax relief for their efforts.
Roman roads allowed for troop movements and the distribution of supplies. The forts and garrisons needed food and other services. Vast areas produced these goods. For example, the often flooded Somerset levels was like a huge market garden that provided supplies for the garrisons at Exeter, Gloucester, Bath and the forts in between. Local fishermen supplied fresh fish, and farmers reared sheep, pigs, cattle and poultry for the garrisons.
Christianity
Missionaries from Gaul began to introduce Christianity to the West country. Before the end of the first century AD they had a Church of Celtic Christianity. This spread such that by the mid second century much of Cornwall, Devon, Western Dorset, and South Somerset had adopted Christianity. The spread of Christianity continued eastward and strongly northward into Wales through the next two centuries, especially after the adoption of Christianity by Rome. The Romans had built shrines and temples to their pagan gods and continued to patronize these, even after the adoption of Christianity by Rome.
Roman Britain Media
Conquests under Aulus Plautius, focused on the commercially valuable southeast of Britain
Hadrian's Wall viewed looking east from Housesteads Roman Fort (Vercovicium)
Northern campaigns, 208–211
Another possible arrangement, with other possible placements of Valentia noted
4th century Roman towns and villas
4th century: Degree of Romanisation
- Brittain
References
- ↑ Alan and Veronica Palmer (1992). The Chronology of British History. Century. pp. 20–22. ISBN 0-7126-5616-2.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link) - ↑ Hornblower, Simon & Spawforth, Antony (eds) 1998. The Oxford Companion to Classical Civilization. Oxford University Press, 129–131.
- ↑ The Romans renamed it Verulamium, now St Albans.
- ↑ Robinson, Cyril E. 1932. A history of the Roman Republic. London: Methuen, p376/8.
- ↑ Dio Cassius, Roman history 60.19-22
- ↑ "Vespasiana" province in Roman Caledonia
- ↑ Martin, Henri-Jean 1994. The history and power of writing. Chicago University Press, p116. ISBN 0-226-50836-6