Ah11

1. Caesar to Claudius: Britain
Becomes Roman Britain

2. You must know, till the injurious
Romans did extort this tribute
from us, we were free.
Cymbeline Act III, Scene 1

3. Roman Britain Before Claudius?
• Did Rome appoint Commius and another
king?
• Changes in coins
– Improvements in minting technique: Gold coins
more uniform
– Inscribed with names; new image style
– Lack of mixed early and later coins in hoards

4. Roman Britain Before Claudius?
• Obsides – hostages?
– Creation of Kings in Roman territories (Judea)
• Burials
• Construction at Fishbourne, Gosbecks,
Silchester

5. Kingdoms

6. Burial: Roman Influence
Welwyn, 1st Cent BCE
Celtic Burial with Imported Amphorae, Welwyn

7. Pottery Imports from Gaul
c. 15 BCE – 30 CE

8. Inscriptions on Coins

9. Catuvellauni
Togodumnis
N. of Thames
Caratacus
S. of Thames
Adminius
Cunobelinus
(Cymbeline)
d. 40-43 CE
Epaticcus
Tasciovanus
d. c.10 CE
Cassivellaunus
d. c. 20 BCE

10. Cunobelin(us)

11. 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

12. Augustus Res gestae
• “To me were sent supplications by kings: … of
the Britons, Dumnobellaunus and
Tincommius”

13. Strabo
“there was nothing to fear from the Britons, since they are not
powerful enough to cross over and attack us, nor was there much
advantage to be gained if the Romans were to occupy it”
Dio Cassius 34 BC
“Augustus had set out to lead an expedition into Britain in emulation of
his father (Julius Caesar – by adoption)… when some newly conquered
tribes together with the Dalmatians rose in revolt.”
Dio Cassius 27-26 BC
“He also set out with the intention of leading an expedition into
Britain, but on his arrival in Gaul he stayed there. For it seemed likely
that the Britons would come to terms with him, and affairs in Gaul
were still unsettled since the civil wars had broken out immediately
after their subjugation.”

14. Cunobelin Coins
Cunobelin Augustus

15. Homage to the Emperor
Lexden
Tumulus

16. Roman Foreign Policy
Tiberius (14 – 37 CE)
• Augustus’ counsel: “the empire should
be confined to its present limits”
• Britons tolerate import/export taxes
• Return of shipwrecked sailors

17. Homage to Tiberius

18. Roman Foreign Policy - Caligula
• Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus
Germanicus = Caligula
• Spectacle and emulation
• Surrender of Adminius
• ‘Conquest of Ocean’

19. Atrebates
Tincommius
20 BCE- 7 CE
perhaps joint rule
Noviomogus
Eppilius
7-15 CE
Calleva
(Silchester)
Verica
15-25 CE
Calleva
(Berikos?)
Commius the Younger
35-20 BCE
Commius
-c. 35 BCE

20. Coinage
Tincommius
Cunobelin

21. Early Fishbourne

22. Roman-style Military Hardware
Fishbourne, pre 43 CE?

23. Internal Conflict
• 25 Verica, ruler at Calleva replaced by Eppilius
• 35 Eppilius dies, Verica regains territory
• 40 Caraticus defeats Verica

24. Reasons for Invasion
Solicitation by Britons
Desire by Claudius to demonstrate military
success
Risk of revolt by legions in Germany to
“restore” the Republic
Economic Motives – Depletion of Spanish
silver mines

25. Verica

26. Planning
Intelligence
• British Collaborators
• Experience of Caesar
• Season
Selection of troops
• Amphibious experience
Transport
• Coordination of landing

27. Roman Invasion Forces
Aulus Plautius
•II Augusta (Vespasian)
•IX Hispania
•XIV Gemina
•XX Valeria
(Geta)
20,000 auxiliaries

28. Opposing Forces
TRIBE STRENGTH
Catuvellauni 70,000
Trinovantes 40,000
Atrebates 10,000
Dobunni 7,000
Kentish Tribe 23,000

29. Opposing Forces
• Caratacus
–Emerges as leader of anti-Roman
forces

30. Kelvedon (Essex) horseman (25
BCE-25CE?)
Battersea Shield 350-50 BC
Kirkborn sword and scabbard 300-200 BC

32. Invasion Route

33. Kent

34. Richborough

35. Fishbourne
• Later site of “Palace”
• Two military buildings
–Granary with raised floor
–Supply depot with cart turn around area
• Possible camp at Chichester

36. Invasion Route-Medway

37. Invasion Route-Thames

38. Phase II - Claudius

39. Claudius-16 Days
• Brings members of Senate
• Arrives with elephants.
• Reviews troops at Thames
• Receives allies
• Marches on Camulodunum

40. Celebrating Victory
Victory Relief at
Aphrodisias

41. Celebrating Victory
Silver didrachm of Caesarea, c.
AD 46 Obverse
Ti(berius) Claud(ius) Caesar
Aug(ustus) Germ(anicus)
P(ontifex) M(aximus) (High
Priest)
Tr(ibunicia) P(otestas)
(Tribunician Power)
Reverse
De Britannis (From Britain)

42. Claudius-Triumphal Arch

43. Claudius-Triumphal Arch

44. Text? -Triumphal Arch
The 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.

45. Another eulogy
Britain – 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

46. Caratacus
• Defeated in the East but
regroups in the West
• Druids
–Use threat to their religion
as a means of unifying
people
–Unconscionable to
Romans

47. 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

48. Aftermath-Client
Kingdoms

49. Map With Legionary Forts
Exeter Legio II
Wroxeter
Legio XIV
Gloucester
Legio XX

50. 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 – vanishes
from historical record

51. Caratacus before Claudius

52. Roman Legions Client Kingdoms

53. Roman Britain
~47 CE

54. Tribes
Tribes of
Wales

55. The Next Steps
• Wales will succumb
• Meanwhile back at the ranch the
natives are restless