Invasion of Britain
Breakdown of diplomatic relations
- Expulsion of Verica event that tipped the scales
- Claudius faced with anti-Roman usurper
- Decides to put an end to internal problems in Britain
- Mounted invasion in 43 CE
- Aulus Plautus commanded
- 4 legions dispatched to the island
- Exact site of landing uncertain
Reasons for decision to invade
- Claudius’ personal desire for a military victory
- Acquire control of the mineral wealth there
- Britain last refuge of the Druids
- Caesar’s unfinished business in Britain
- Wrong done a client king
- Defense of the frontiers depended on client kings
- Could not allow a wrong to go unpunished to a client king
- If did, might encourage some clients to change alliances
- Need to defend the coast of Gaul
The Invasion
- 4 legions came from the Rhine and Danube
- Departed from Gersoriacum (1)
- May have landed at Richborough (2)
- Britons retreated into the swamps
- Hoped to exhaust Roman army’s supplies
- Britons not united
- Plautius defeated individual tribes
- 1st force under Caratacus
- Next Togodumnus
- Dobunni surrendered
- Major battle at Thames
- After two days Romans win
- Britons retreat
- Roman army follows
- Advances to capital, Camulodunum
- Meet heavy resistance
- Claudius is sent for
- Arrives in Britain
- Present for capture of capital
- Armies fanned out from here
- Conquered the lowlands of Britain
- Occupied lands of the Catuvellauni
- Reinstated Verica
- Boundary set at line drawn from Devon to Lincolnshire
- Site of provincial capital, Colchester
Colchester
- Claudius built a fort at site of Camulodunum
- Fort abandoned in 48-9 CE
- Established a colonia
- First provincial capital
- Tacitus
- Extensive funds spent
- Construction of public buildings
- Temple of Claudius
- Major monument in the city
- Roman style
- Set on a podium
- 105 x 80 ft.
- Earth-filled vaults
- Columns 6 or 8
- Altar in front
- In a temenos
- Portico on north side
- Massive screen wall on the south side
- Plan of the city
- Maintained plan of a camp
- Basically a grid pattern
- Square blocks
- Location of forum uncertain
- Several shops found
- Insula 19: pottery shop
- Insula 10: warehouse
- City destroyed in Boudiccan rebellion: 60 CE
- Rebuilt afterwards
- Have expansion to the east
- Still not fortified
- Forum still not found
- Remains of houses
- Industry
- Pottery important
- Making tiles, bricks, and glass
- Major source of goods for Britain
- Fortifications
- 2nd century CE
- Modified in 3rd
- City gates part of 2nd phase
- Balkerne Gate
- West gate
- Most imposing gate
- On road to Londinium
- Plan
- Other gates
- Single portal
- Between inturns in the wall
- Surmounted by a tower
- Temple of Claudius rebuilt
- By 100 CE capital had been moved to Londinium
- Colchester remained important center for the worship of the emperor
Internet
Ordnance Survey Maps
Invasion of Britain