{"id":3954,"date":"2022-03-01T15:32:41","date_gmt":"2022-03-01T15:32:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/englishhistory.net\/?p=3954"},"modified":"2022-03-02T12:07:03","modified_gmt":"2022-03-02T12:07:03","slug":"roman-invasion-of-britain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/englishhistory.net\/romans\/roman-invasion-of-britain\/","title":{"rendered":"Roman Invasion Of Britain – A Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When Did the Romans Invade Britain?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Britain has been invaded by the Romans on multiple occasions. While Julius Caesar was the first Roman agent of Britain’s conquest and invasion, he was most certainly not the last. The last vestiges of Roman influence over Britain die out around the first two decades of the 4th Century CE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Exactly How Many Times Did the Romans Invade Britain?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A Roman invasion of Britain occurred on five notable occasions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Caesar<\/a>‘s initial raid in 55 BCE.<\/li>
  2. Caesar’s return one year later that lead to the defeat of Cassivellaunus.<\/li>
  3. Emperor Claudius’s campaign in 43 CE.<\/li>
  4. Governor Agricola’s push into Scotland in 79.<\/li>
  5. Constantius Chlorus’s northern push in 306.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    <\/div>\n\n\n\n
    \"romans-in-britain-5685648\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Who Were the Emperors and Leading Generals of the Roman Invasion of Britain?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Julius Caesar (100 BCE to 44 BCE)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Julius Caesar led the Roman army in the Gallic Wars, killed Pompey in a civil war and became Rome’s first dictator. He was also the first agent of Rome to invade Britain, doing so when Rome was in its republic government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Claudius (10 BCE to 54 CE)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Claudius was Rome’s fourth emperor, ruling from 41 AD. He was known to have a limp and hearing issues and these traits kept him away from most forms of public office until becoming Consul. It was under his governance that Rome invaded Britain for the first time in the Common Era.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Vespasian (9-79 CE)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Vespasian initially served as general to one of the four legions deployed by Claudius in 43. Vespasian led the Second Legion through the lands of Sussex and Hampshire, Atrebates lands that were loyal to Rome. Just over a quarter of a century later, Vespasian would serve as the final Emperor during the “Year of Four Emperors,” ruling the Roman Empire in 69 CE and founding the Flavian Dynasty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Aulus Plautius<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    A Roman general from the First Century. He lead Claudius’ invasion of Britain and later served as Britain’s first provincial governor from 43 to 46.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Gnaeus Hosidius Geta (20-95+ CE)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    He was the leader of Legio IX Hispana and one of the generals in Claudius’ British invasion. Despite almost being captured during the Battle of the Medway (43 CE), he executed such a successful reversal of fortune that he was awarded the Roman triumph (ornamenta triumphalia) despite never having served as Consul. He was promoted to Legatus in 45 and an inscription found in Rome indicates that he was elevated to the Suffect Consul in 49.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Titus Flavius Sabinus (??-69)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    He was Vespasian’s older brother and served under Aulus Platius during the British invasion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Gnaeus Sentius Saturninus the Younger<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    This man served under Aulus Platius in the British invasion and was co-Consul with Caligula.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Caligula (12-41)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Rome’s third emperor. His relevance to this topic concerns farcical invasion plans that entailed taking sea shells from the British coastline and literally attacking the waters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Publius Ostorius Scapula (??-52)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    A general and the governor of Britain until his death. He is notable for defeating and capturing Caratacus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Quintus Veranius (??-57)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    A general and governor of Britain who pushed for defeating the Silures and annexing Wales.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Gaius Suetonius Paulinus<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    A general who lead the successful massacre of Druids in North Wales during the Battle of Mona in 60. With his forces focused on North Wales, Boudicca’s Revolt was able to amass forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Gnaeus Julius Agricola (40-93)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    A general and governor of Britain from 77 to 85 who made the first major inroads into Caledonia, an area now known as Scotland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Hadrian (76-138)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Hadrian served as emperor beginning in 117. His British endeavors involved commissioning a wall to reduce the frequency of rebellions coming from Caledonia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Lucius Septimius Severus (145-211)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    He served as Rome’s emperor from 119 until death. His British interests were to conquer Caledonia, ultimately resulting in the Caledonians suing for peace, which he granted in exchange for control of the Central Lowlands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Constantius Chlorus (250-306)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Also known as Constantius I, he served as part of Diocletian’s imperial Tetrarchy and held the rank of Caesar from 293 to 305, finishing as Augustus for the rest of his time. 305 was also when he would cross into Britain and launched a successful expedition against the Picts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Quintus Pompeius Falco (70-140+)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    He was a general and governor in the Second Century and stopped a northern uprising in 117 CE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Antoninus Pius (86-161)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    This adopted son of Hadrian was emperor from 138 to 161 and is known as one of the Five Good Emperors. He had the Antonine Wall built in 142.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Ulpius Marcellus<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    He served as governor of Britain from 176-180 but is reported to have endured an incredible mutiny that lasted for years due to his discipline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Pertinax (126-193)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    A freed slave who served as governor of several regions, including Britain, before finishing as emperor for the first three months of 193.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Clodius Albinus (150-197)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    An usurper who killed Emperor Pertinax, declared himself Emperor within Britain and avoided execution long enough to declare himself emperor a second time in 196.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Postumus (??-269)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Emperor of the splinter group known as the Gallic Empire for roughly a decade before his men killed him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Aurelian (214-275)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Emperor from 270 to 275, he saw to the return of Gaul and Britain to the Roman Empire and his efforts at restoring the empire in general earned him the nickname “Restorer of the World.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Carausius (??-296)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    A Roman general who fashioned himself an Emperor of the North and seized power in 286. He reigned for 7 years when he was killed by Allectus, his treasurer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Julius Asclepiodotus<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    A prefect who served three emperors, killed Carausius and restored Roman rule to Britain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Constantine I (272-337)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Also known as Constantine the Great, he was the Roman emperor of Britain, Gaul and Spain from 306 to 337.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Count Theodosius (??-376)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    He was a senior officer under Valentinian I who did much to restore order to Britain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Magnus Maximus (335-388)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    He was a Western Roman usurper-emperor and claimed relation to Count Theodosius who reigned from 383 to 388. Some historians see his death as the end of Roman involvement with Britain and Northern Gaul<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Theodosius I (347-395)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    He was emperor from 379 until his death and assisted in putting down the “Great Conspiracy” of Celtic and Germanic invasions in Britain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/div>\n\n\n\n
    \"roman-invasion-3653718\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Roman Invasion Of Britain – A Timeline of the Invasion and Occupation of Britain by Roman Forces<\/h2>\n\n\n\n