Romanization of Britain II
Establishment of three types of habitation centers
- Coloniae
- Formed by retired veterans
- Given allotment of lands
- Plot in the town
- Plot in the surrounding area (territorium)
- Plot sizes depended on individuals’ rank at time of retirement
- Augustus instituted a cash gift in addition to the land
- Population primarily Roman citizens
- At time the town was founded
- Town given a charter
- Governmental structure similar to that in Rome
- 1st colonia in Britain was Colchester
- Founded in 49 CE
- Given the name Victricensis Glevensium
- 2 more founded between 96-8 CE
- Gloucester (colonia Nervia Glevensium)
- Lincoln (colonia Lindum)
- 4th one established at York
- Transformation of an earlier settlement
- May have been created by Septimius Severus
- Features
- Typical Roman town/city
- Forum
- Theater/amphitheater
- Basilica
- Temples
- Surrounding lands (territorium)
- Municipia
- Lower in rank than a colonia
- Was also a charter town/city
- Given charter at time of founding
- Status could vary
- Full Roman rights
- Latin rights
- Laws governing it could vary
- Roman civil laws
- Native laws
- Features
- Forum
- Basilica
- Surrounding lands (territorium)
- Verulamium (St. Albans)
- Was also a civitas capital
- Held only Latin Rights
- Vici
- Planned villages
- Many had been important sites in Iron Age Period (Pre-Roman Britain)
- Usually founded outside of a fort
- Major ones developed into large towns
- Differences among them
- Due to wealth of town
- Due to opinion about them
- Some of these became civitas capitals
- Originally under military rule
- Some released from military control
- Acquire civitas status
- Some turned into civitas capital of tribal area
- 23 tribal divisions in Britain
- 16 released from military control
- Not a permanent status, could be revoked
- Tribal leaders held political control
- Subject to governor’s veto of undesirable leaders
- Continued to take orders from governor and local military commander
Civitas Capitals: Historical Development
- 3 established during the Julio-Claudian Period (ca. 49-68 CE)
- Verulamium (St. Albans)
- Durovernum (Canterbury)
- Venta Silurum (Caistor by Norwich)
- 8 new ones during the Flavian Period (69-96 CE)
- Noviomagus (Chichester)
- Calleva (Silchester)
- Venta Belgarum (Winchester)
- Isca (Exeter)
- Durnovaria (Dorchester)
- Corinium (Cirencester)
- Ratae (Leicester)
- Viroconium (Wroxeter)
- 4 more added during the Antonine Period (96-192 CE)
- Petuaria (Brough-on-Humber)
- Isurium Brigantum (Aldborough)
- Isca Silurum (Caerleon)
- Charmarthen