Roman Conquest of Britannia

• The Roman Conquest of Britannia, also known as the Claudian Invasion, took place in 43 CE under the Roman Emperor Claudius.
• Britannia remained a Roman Province for 367 years until 410 CE.

Date and Location

• 43 CE on the southeast coast of Britannia, possibly Richborough.

The Reason for the Invasion

• There had been Roman Client Kingdoms in Britannia for almost 100 years, ever since Caesar's First Invasion of Britannia in 55 BCE.
• The Invasion was justified under the pretext of re-installing the Client King Verica of the Atrebates, who had been exiled by his own Tribe.

The Adversaries

• The Roman Imperial Legions under Aulius Plautius. The Emperor Claudius arrived later to accept the submission of the British Tribes.
  • versus:
• The Britons under Caratacus.

The Winner

• Winner: Claudius and the Roman Empire
• Loser: Caratacus, Togodumnus and the Britons

The Commanders

• Aulus Plautius, A Roman Senator who became the first Governor of Britannia
• Vespasian who commanded the Legio II Augusta
• Claudius who arrived with the second invasion force.
  • versus:
• Caratacus, King of the Catuvellauni and his brother Togodumnus.

Strength of the Forces under Aulus Plautius

• 4 Legions:
  • Legio II Augusta
  • Legio VIII Augusta
  • Legio XIV Gemina
  • Legio XX Valeria Victrix
• Auxiliaries and Allies:
• Allied Cavalry:
• Losses:

Strength of the Forces under Caratacus

• Unknown, but a sizeable force.

How the Armies were Deployed

• Suetonius says the Invasion force was divided into three groups and that the second group commanded by Claudius left from Boulogne.
• It is not known where the other two groups also departed from Boulogne or another port, but one probable location for the landing is Richborough in Kent.

Battle of the Medway

• The British tried to oppose the invading army by attacking them when they crossed a major river and by guerilla attacks..
• Battle of the Medway
  • The Roman Legions were opposed by a British force under Caratacus for two days when they tried to cross the River Medway.

Battle of the Thames

• Battle of the Thames
  • The Legions were again opposed by a British force but succeeded in crossing the river, probably at the site of a ford between Lambeth and Westminster.
  • Togodumnus died shortly after.

The Submission of 11 British Kings

• In 43 CE Claudius took submission from 11 British Kings accompanied by his War Elephant at nearby Gosbecks Park, Colchester. This was inscribed on the Arch of Claudius in Rome.
• Britannia was then occupied for 367 years.

Colchester became the first Capital of Britannia

• The Romans founded Colchester as the first Capital of Britannia, and it also became the first and oldest recorded town in Britain.
• Colchester had been the Capital of King Cunobelin, known as ‘Britannia Rex’ or ‘King of the Britons’, according to Suetonius. He had united the Trinovantes and Catevallauni and was expanding westwards. London did not then exist.
• The Romans chose Colchester in all probability because it had been the centre of political power in Britain under King Cunobelin, since he had controlled several Roman Client Kingdoms in Britannia.
• However, after Boudicca's Revolt in 60-61 CE, the Capital was moved permanently to London (Londinium).

Governors of Britannia

• Governors of Britannia. The first Governor was Aulius Plautius who had led the Invasion.

Early Resistance

• Between 43-51 CE, Caratacus, another ‘King of the Britons’, then led a resistance to the Roman Occupation for eight years until he was defeated, captured and sent to Rome.
• In 60-61 CE Boudicca's Revolt almost succeeded in achieving independence until her armies were defeated at the Battle of Watling Street.

Timeline of the Province of Britannia

• The occupation lasted for 367 years, from 43-410 CE.
• Caratacus King of the Britons led an 8 year resistance to Rome between 43-51 CE.
• 60-61 CE Queen Boudicca's Revolt and defeat at the Battle of Watling Street.
• 61 CE The Capital is moved from Colchester to London (Londinium).
• 83 CE Invasion of Scotland, construction of the Inchtucthil Legionary Fortress.
• 118 CE An uprising of the northern Brigantes and the Scottish Selgovae and possible Sea-Invaders, was suppressed by the Governor Falco. Many British coastal cities were burnt.
• 119-121 CE Further major uprisings continued.
• 122-6 CE Hadrian's Wall was built
• 140’s CE Antonine Wall was built.
• 260-274 CE Britannia was part of the breakaway Gallic Empire of Postumus, Governor of Germania Inferior and Germania Superior.
• 286-293 CE Carausius, Commander of the Classis Britannica declared independence during the Carausian Revolt. He was assassinated by Allectus, who in turn was defeated by Constantius I Chlorus.
• 367 CE The Great Conspiracy. This was an Invasion of the Scots, Picts and Saxons.
• 408 CE The remaining two Legions, Legio XX Valeria Victrixand Legio VI Victrix, were taken to Trier in Gallia Belgica, by the usurper Constantine III and never returned.
• 408-9 CE An unprotected Britannia was then devastated by Saxon raids.
• According to Zosimus and Gildas, the consequence was that Britannia revolted against Roman Rule and Law and expelled all the Roman Magistrates from British cities, furious that Rome had not protected them.
• 409-410 CE the Emperor Honorius sent a letter from Ravenna, the Rescript of Honorius, telling them they must look after their own defense. In the same year, Honorius was unable to prevent the First Sack of Rome. This is considered to be the end of Roman Rule in Britannia.

The Outcome

• The Invasion led to the occupation of Britannia for 367 years, from 43 to c.410 CE.

Sources

• Dio Cassius History of Rome

Battle of the Medway (possible location at Strood opposite Rochester Castle)