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