AD 43 - Britain Invaded by Romans
Britain was a land of tribes, commonly known as Celts, each tribe was situated within local regions and were unconnected politically. Seen as a barbaric land by the Romans, the empire attempted to gain control several times during 55 and 54 BC. It was not until AD 43 that a successful attempt was made by Emperor Claudius, who used the enlarging of the empire to boost his public image.
The Romans began in the South and used force to cause the native tribes to capitulate. Having surrendered to Roman law and taxation, homes and infrastructure were built according to Roman design. This greatly improved the lives of many people who previously lived in wood and straw huts. By AD 50, the entire of Southern Britain had been Romanised along with eleven ruling tribes.
A capital city, called Camulodunum, was originally built where Colchester now stands. As the Romans expanded further it became apparent that the Thames valley was the most suitable site, so the capital was relocated to Londinium.
The Romans began in the South and used force to cause the native tribes to capitulate. Having surrendered to Roman law and taxation, homes and infrastructure were built according to Roman design. This greatly improved the lives of many people who previously lived in wood and straw huts. By AD 50, the entire of Southern Britain had been Romanised along with eleven ruling tribes.
A capital city, called Camulodunum, was originally built where Colchester now stands. As the Romans expanded further it became apparent that the Thames valley was the most suitable site, so the capital was relocated to Londinium.
AD 50 - London Is Founded
Where London now stands there was originally a large plain of marshes which surrounded the tidal river Thames. The first building happened when the Romans built a ford which enabled people and carts to cross the Thames safely. From this vantage point, a network of roads were built and these became settled as people and traffic brought opportunity. A quay became the first maritime structure for the area, which encouraged boats from Europe to use Londinium to dock there.
The town grew into a city over the next one hundred years, and by AD 120, Londinium was recognised as the administrative and cultural capital of Roman Britain. Several large mansion houses were built along with central heating, baths, and plumbing. The settlement was severely damaged by fire in AD 130, but this did not deter the Romans, who rebuilt the capital further. By AD 200, Londinium had become an established city with defensive walls and a hive of activity within them.
The town grew into a city over the next one hundred years, and by AD 120, Londinium was recognised as the administrative and cultural capital of Roman Britain. Several large mansion houses were built along with central heating, baths, and plumbing. The settlement was severely damaged by fire in AD 130, but this did not deter the Romans, who rebuilt the capital further. By AD 200, Londinium had become an established city with defensive walls and a hive of activity within them.
AD 60 – The Iceni Rise Up
When the Romans invaded Britain, they used diplomacy to win the support of the local tribes. By showing overwhelming force, they offered capitulation. The offer meant that tribal leaders remained in their position as client kings. This method of empire expansion was typical of the Romans. The Iceni were one such tribe who's leader was called Prasutagus. He was bound by Roman law to hand over his kingdom to the Romans after his death, but he gave them only a portion. The rest was left to his family, as was the tradition.
Because the Iceni disobeyed the Romans, Prasutagus' wife Boudicca was flogged in public then their daughters were raped. Because of this humiliation and assault, Boudicca built an army which rebelled against Roman rule. She and an army of 100,000 which included her daughters razed the then capital of Camulodunum. They then moved on to Londinium, which was still a small quay town, and Verulamium which is now St. Albans. The Romans responded with a heavy handed counter attack with superior technology and tactics. Boudicca is believed to have taken poison before she was captured.
Because the Iceni disobeyed the Romans, Prasutagus' wife Boudicca was flogged in public then their daughters were raped. Because of this humiliation and assault, Boudicca built an army which rebelled against Roman rule. She and an army of 100,000 which included her daughters razed the then capital of Camulodunum. They then moved on to Londinium, which was still a small quay town, and Verulamium which is now St. Albans. The Romans responded with a heavy handed counter attack with superior technology and tactics. Boudicca is believed to have taken poison before she was captured.
AD 122 - Scotland Remains Independent
The Romans found the tribes of Scotland to not be so easy to conquer, and Emperor Hadrian decided to build a wall to stop them from invading the Roman British territories. Hadrian's Wall still exists today as a ruined monument to Roman architecture. It comprised of a ditch to the South and uniformly placed forts where garrisons could be situated. Emperor Antonius Pius attempted to invade Scotland again in AD 138, and built a further wall one hundred miles North of Hadrian's Wall. This was disbanded in AD 164 after the invasion attempts failed. Hadrian's Wall remained the Northern border to the Roman Empire in Britain until they left in AD 367.
3rd Century – Christianity Arrives
After being founded in the 1st Century, Christianity spread throughout Europe. At first, it was an underground alternative religion and by the 3rd Century, it had become part of unofficial British culture. Although not the religion of the Romans at first, who enforced pagan beliefs, Christianity was adopted by many people. Saint Alban is Britain's first Christian martyr. He was converted by a cleric called Amphibolus, who took refuge in Alban's house. When the Roman guards came looking for Amphibolus, to arrest him for his beliefs, Alban pretended to be him and took his place at the execution. There he announced his faith in the one true God who created all things.
AD 306 – Constantine I
The son of a military professional, Constantine followed in the footsteps of his father and became Emperor in 306. His father, Constantius, had only served as ruler for one year until he was killed while fighting in Britain. Constantine had many rivals to the throne of the Roman Empire and was eventually recognised by the majority in AD 324.
During the reign of Constantine I, between AD 272 and 337, the Roman Empire converted to Christianity in AD 306. This gave grater tolerance to the faith, and in 313 the Edict of Milan was signed which protected all members of the Christian faith. In AD 324, once Constantine had secured his position as true Emperor, he united the whole empire through Christianity. Constantine also relocated the Roman capital to Byzantium and renamed the area Constantinople, after himself and his father.
During the reign of Constantine I, between AD 272 and 337, the Roman Empire converted to Christianity in AD 306. This gave grater tolerance to the faith, and in 313 the Edict of Milan was signed which protected all members of the Christian faith. In AD 324, once Constantine had secured his position as true Emperor, he united the whole empire through Christianity. Constantine also relocated the Roman capital to Byzantium and renamed the area Constantinople, after himself and his father.
AD 367 – British Independence
The Roman Empire never truly conquered Britain totally, and tribal uprisings occurred regularly throughout the land. Hadrian's Wall stands as a reminder that the Romans could not even look like they were occupying Scotland. In AD 367, Germanic tribes invaded the East and Scottish tribes invaded from the North simultaneously. The Romans were unable to quell the invasions which had smash and grab policies rather than a conquering agenda.
In 368, once the Romans had regained control of Britain, many cities had been burned, people raped and taken into slavery. Looting had been commonplace during the unrest, and the regained order did not stop the tribes from attempting to invade again. Soon the Saxons, Angles, Jutes, Picts, Caledonians, and Britons were all resisting the Romans in Britain. By the beginning of the fifth century, the Romans had pulled out of Britain all together and left the Britons to the invading tribes.
In 368, once the Romans had regained control of Britain, many cities had been burned, people raped and taken into slavery. Looting had been commonplace during the unrest, and the regained order did not stop the tribes from attempting to invade again. Soon the Saxons, Angles, Jutes, Picts, Caledonians, and Britons were all resisting the Romans in Britain. By the beginning of the fifth century, the Romans had pulled out of Britain all together and left the Britons to the invading tribes.
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