The Roman Conquest of Britain

 

Aulus Plautus, leading senator, led the Roman legions sent by the Emperor Claudius to conquer Britain in Ad 43. His soldier landed at Richborough in Kent without a fight. Britain at that time was not ruled by a single king or queen. There were many tribes, such as the Iceni and the Atrebates. They were no match for the well-armed Roman legions. This is why they took refuge in marshes and forest. They may have hoped the Roman would go away, as Caesar did a hundred years earlier.

When Plautius at last time met them in battle he defeated two important tribal leaders called Caractus and Togodumnus. Despite defeat, the Britons did not give in. they got together to muster a large army. A Roman historian called Dio Cassus, (he crossed over to Britain where he joined the Roman legions waiting for him near the Thames. Taking over command, he crossed the rives and met the barbarians in battle. He captured Camilodunum the capital of Cunobellinus. Many tribes went over to the Roman side, some did so by agreement, other by force).

The Roman legions made Colchester their headquarter in southern England. Another legion commanded by Vespasian, a future emperor off Rome, marched towards the west. They defeated British tribesmen at Maiden Castle in Dorset.

We know about this battle because the remain of some of the Britons killed in the fighting were found there. They were dug up during an excavation. The wounds on these skeletons showed they had been struck by iron arrowheads. Experts worked out that these had been fired by a ballista. This was a large and powerful catapult.

By the year Ad 47 the Roman legions had successfully conquered the whole of the south-eastern half of England. They controlled the land from Devonshire in the south and west, to Lincolnshire in the north and east. But their hold on the country was not yet secure.

Boudicca’s Rebellion

Thirteen year later the Romans nearly lost Britain. Boudicca (sometime known as Bondicea), Queens of the Icen, sacked Colchester, St Albans and London. Her warriors looted treasure, set houses on fire and slaughtered thousands of the inhabitants.

The Briton prepared for war, so the soldiers in Carthage asked for reinforcements. Landon was set a fire, however, Boudicca gained nothing but revenge, Suetonius had time to build up his forces. He defeated her in battle. Boudicca in despair, took poison and ended her life.

The Romans had little trouble further in southern England after they defeat of Boudicca. Many of the Britons living there welcomed the Romans and the Luxuries they brought with them. It was a different matter, however, in northern England, Wales and Scotland. The hills and mountains there mad it easier for tribesmen to harass and hinder the Romans. Even so, Roman troops marched as far north as inverness in northern Scotland. They defeated the tribesmen there at the battle of Mons Graupius.