Caesar’s Second Invasion of Britannia

• Caesar’s Second Invasion of Britannia (54 BCE) took place a year after Caesar's First Invasion of Britannia (55 BCE), which had only involved two Legions and was more of a Reconnaissance Sortie.

The Reason for the Second Invasion

• For the Second Invasion, Caesar took 5 Legions and 800 ships, with the intention of reinstalling Mandubracious as King of the Trinovantes. Mandubracious had been evicted by King Cassivellaunus.
• However, his real motive was to create a series of Roman Client Kingdoms in Britannia, which would lead to the eventual Roman Conquest of Britannia. This was conducted one hundred years later by Claudius in 43 CE.

Forces under Julius Caesar (July 54 BCE)

Caesar spent two months in Britannia. He redesigned the Galleys by copying the ships of the Veneti, then departed from Portus Itius (location unknown, possibly Wissant or Boulogne.

• 5 Legions:
  • Legio VII Claudia
  • Legio VIII Augusta
  • Legio IX Hispana
  • Legio X Equestris
  • Legio XI Claudia
• 2,000 cavalry
• 1 War Elephant
• 800 ships:
  • 600 warships
  • 200 merchant ships

Forces under Cassivellaunus

• 4,000 Chariots

The Invasion (July 54 BCE)

• In July 54 BCE, the Roman Army set sail and landed in Kent. He was accompanied by an exiled British King, Mandubracious.
• It was met by the British King, Cassivellaunus with an army of 4,000 chariots, who had traveled from north of the Thames.
• Unable to stop Caesar, Cassivellaunus used guerilla tactics to delay his advance. Caesar eventually crossed the Thames, possibly at Westminster, with his cavalry led by an elephant. He took Cassivellaunis’ fortress near St. Albans.

• Caesar reinstalled Mandubracious as King of the Trinovantes. Mandubracious had been evicted by Cassivellaunus who had invaded his territory. Cassivellaunus finally gave Caesar Hostages, and agreed to pay Tribute and leave Mandubracious in power.

• At the end of September, Caesar left Britannia, without leaving any Roman soldiers behind to enforce his Rule.
• There was no Roman Triumph for him in Rome.
• Instead Caesar received news that his 22 year old daughter, Julia, married to Pompey, had died in childbirth, and that the Infant had died days later.

The Outcome

• It was almost one hundred years before the Romans returned under Claudius in 43 CE.
• However, with Mandubracious and the Trinovantes, Julius Caesar established the Roman Client Kingdoms in Britannia, which prepared the way for the successful Roman Conquest of Britannia in 43 CE.

Boulogne (Portus Itius?)