Britain Becomes Roman Britain
Caesar to Claudius
You must know, till the injurious Romans did extort this tribute from us, we were free.
Cymbeline Cymbeline Act III, Scene 1
Roman Britain Before Claudius?
• Did Rome appoint Commius and another king?
• Changes in coins.– Gold coins more uniform– Inscribed with names; new image style– Lack of mixed early and later coins in hoards
Roman Britain Before Claudius?
• Obsides – hostages?– Creation of Kings in Roman territories (Judea)
• Burials• Construction at Fishbourne, Gosbecks,
Silchester
Kingdoms
Burial: Roman Influence
Welwyn, 50-20 BCE
Aylsford 75-25 BCE
Celtic Burial with Imported Amphorae, Welwyn
From a British Grave c. 1 AD
Pottery Imports from Gaul
c. 15 BCE – 30 CE
Inscriptions on Coins
Catuvellauni
Togodum nisN . o f Tham es
C aratacusS . o f Tham es
Adm in ius
C unobelinus(C ym beline)d. 40-43 C E
Epaticcus
Tasciovanusd. c.10 C E
C assive llaunusd. c. 20 BC E
Cunobelin(us)
Foreign Policy Augustus (27 BCE- 14 CE)
–Trade–Hostages(?)
educated in Rome–Threats (26/7 BCE)–Diplomacy
Is there too little of Roman blood spilled upon land and sea? [And this,] not that the Romans might burn the proud towers of envious Carthage, or that the Britons, hitherto unassailed, might go down the sacred way bound in chains: but that, agreeably to the wishes of the Parthians, this city may fall by its own might.
Horace, c. 29 BCE
Augustus Res gestae
• To me were sent supplications by kings: … of the Britons, Dumnobellaunus and Tincommius
Cunobelin Coins
Cunobelin
Augustus
Homage to the Emperor
Lexden Tumulus
Roman Foreign Policy Tiberius (14 – 37 CE)
• Augustus’ counsel: “the empire should be confined to its present limits”
• Britons tolerate import/export taxes
Homage to Tiberius
Roman Foreign Policy -Caligula
• Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus
• Spectacle and emulation• Surrender of Adminius• ‘Conquest of Ocean’
Atrebates
T incom m ius20 B C E - 7 C E
pe rhaps jo in t ru leN oviom ogus
E ppilius7 -15 C EC a lleva
(S ilchester)
V erica15 -25 C EC a lleva(Berikos?)
C om m ius the Y ounger35 -20 B CE
C om m ius-c. 35 B C E
CoinageTincommius
Cunobelin
Early Fishbourne
Roman-style Military HardwareFishbourne, pre 43 CE?
Internal Conflict
• 25 Verica, ruler at Calleva replaced by Eppilius
Internal Conflict
• 35 Eppilius dies, Verica regains territory• 40 Caraticus defeats Verica
Reasons for InvasionSolicitation by BritonsDesire by Claudius to demonstrate military
successRisk of revolt by legions in Germany to
“restore” the RepublicEconomic Motives – Depletion of Spanish
silver mines
Verica
PlanningIntelligence
• British Collaborators• Experience of Caesar• Season
Selection of troops• Amphibious experience
Transport• Coordination of landing
Invasion Forces
Aulus Plautius• II Augusta (Vespasian)• IX Hispania• XIV Gemina• XX Valeria
(Geta)
20,000 auxiliaries
Opposing Forces
TRIBE STRENGTH Catuvellauni 70,000
Trinovantes 40,000
Atrebates 10,000
Dobunni 7,000
Kentish Tribe 23,000
Opposing Forces
• Caratacus–Emerges as leader of anti-Roman
forces
Kelvedon (Essex) horseman (25 BCE-25CE?)
Kent vs. Sussex
See Handout for some arguments.
Invasion Route
Kent
Richborough
Fishbourne
• Later site of “Palace”• Two military buildings
–Granary with raised floor–Supply depot with cart turn around area
• Possible camp at Chichester
Artefacts - Fishbourne
Invasion Route-Medway
Invasion Route-Thames
Phase II - Claudius
Claudius-16 Days
• Brings members of Senate• Arrives with elephants.• Reviews troops at Thames• Receives allies• Marches on Camulodunum
Invasion Route
Celebrating Victory
Victory Relief at Aphrodisias
Claudius-Triumphal Arch
Claudius-Triumphal Arch
Text? -Triumphal ArchThe Roman Senate and People to Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, son of Drusus, Pontifex Maximus, Tribunician power eleven times, Consul five times, Imperator 22 times, Censor, Father of the Fatherland, because he received the surrender of eleven kings of the Britons defeated without any loss, and first brought barbarian peoples across the Ocean into the dominion of the Roman people.
Another eulogyBritain – what sort of a place it is and what sort of inhabitants it produces – will soon be described more precisely and on the basis of greater exploration.
…the greatest of emperors is opening it up after it has been closed so long, the conqueror of people not only unconquered but unknown to the boot!
Pomponius Mela
Caratacus
• Defeated in the East but regroups in the West
• Druids–Use threat to their religion as a
means of unifying people
Aftermath
• Rome in control of Thames valley and Kent
• Client kingdoms of Regni in Sussex and Iceni in Suffolk
• Face continued opposition from Caratacus, based in Wales
Aftermath-Client
Kingdoms
Frontier
Map With Legionary Forts
Exeter Legio II
Wroxeter Legio XIV
Gloucester Legio XX
What 1st Century Divorce Case Threatened Roman
Britain?
CartimanduaWilliam Whitaker, 1990
• Quisling?• Cruel, treacherous, immoral?• Counterpart to Claudius’ consort Messalina• Loyal?
Out of the Fire Into the Frying Pan
• Caratacus escapes• Allies with Ordovicians in Wales• Defeated• Seeks aid from Roman client, Cartimandua• Is turned over to Romans (51 CE)• Brought to Rome
Caratacus before Claudius
Roman Legions Client Kingdoms
Roman Britain~47 CE
Tribes
Tribes of Wales
What 1st Century Briton joined 20th Century notables: Boy George, Princess Diana and Margaret Thatcher, in the list of “100 Greatest Britons”?
Coming
The Next Steps
• Wales will succumb • Meanwhile back at the ranch the
natives are restless
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