Roman Britain: From Celtic Tribes to Roman Rule

Posted on Jan 25, 2025 in History

Unit 1: Roman Britain

The British Isles: A Geographical Overview

The British Isles are a group of islands off the northwestern coast of continental Europe that include Great Britain, Ireland, and over six thousand smaller isles. Great Britain, a geographical accident, comprises England, Wales, and Scotland. Together with Northern Ireland, they form the United Kingdom, symbolized by the Union Jack.

Celtic Roots

In 400 BC, two groups of Celts inhabited the British Isles, each speaking a different language: Gaelic and Brythonic.

  • Brythonic speakers settled in what is now England, Wales, and Cornwall.
  • Gaelic or Goidelic speakers settled in Scotland, Ireland, and the Isle of Man (Manx people).

Thus, the first inhabitants of the British Isles were Celts. The Romans later gave different names to parts of Britannia: they called Scotland ‘Caledonia’ and Ireland ‘Hibernia’.

Roman Interest in Britain

The Romans were primarily interested in Britain due to its agricultural productivity and the relatively complex social organization of the southern tribes. Although the Romans may have initially depicted them as backward, they recognized that many of these British tribes were sufficiently similar to the Romans to be integrated into Roman society.

Roman Invasions

Britain was at the edge of the known world and far from Rome. Transporting a large army across the sea from Europe was challenging. Roman general Julius Caesar invaded Britain twice, in 55 BC and 54 BC, but did not conquer it.

Nearly a century later, in 43 AD, Emperor Claudius led a successful invasion, and Rome conquered Britain. Claudius’ army was under the command of Aulus Plautius. The Roman occupation lasted for five centuries.

Key Events During Roman Rule

  • Under Roman governor Agricola (78-85 AD), the northern frontier was advanced to the Tyne.
  • In 57 AD, the western border was established with the current principality of Wales.
  • Boudicca, Prasutagus’ widow, led a significant uprising of the Celts in 61 AD. She defeated the Roman Ninth Legion and destroyed Roman settlements in Colchester, London, and St. Albans. Although Roman rule was threatened, the Romans regrouped and defeated Boudicca’s forces in a major battle in the Midlands.
  • Colchester became the first British city modeled after Rome.

Hadrian’s Wall and Antonine Wall

Rome never conquered northern Britain, which they called Caledonia (modern-day Scotland). In 120 AD, Emperor Hadrian built a 73-mile-long wall marking the boundary of the Roman Empire. Later, between 142 and 154 AD, Antonine’s Wall, spanning 63 kilometers, was constructed.

Coastal Fortifications and Christianity

Emperor Caracalla built the first coastal fortifications on the north coast of Kent to protect maritime borders. In 312 AD, Christianity became the main religion of the Roman Empire.

Romanization of Britain

“Romanization” refers to the impact of the Roman invasion on British culture. Key aspects include:

  • Latin did not replace the Celtic languages in Britain.
  • Roman towns and habits were adopted.
  • The Romans interacted with local Celtic chieftains.
  • A network of roads, houses, and villas was developed.
  • Major cities like London (Londinium) were established.
  • By 300 AD, Christianity was established, with St. Alban being a notable figure in Verulamium.

Decline of the Roman Empire

  • The imperial elite and the quarter-million-strong army placed a heavy burden on the provinces. Society became apathetic, and civic spirit dwindled.
  • Rome’s enemies, particularly the Germans and Goths of central Europe, grew stronger.
  • By the mid-third century AD, the great boom was over. Walls were built around towns, transforming them into fortresses.

Anglo-Saxon Invasions

In 449 AD, Germanic tribes (Angles, Saxons, and Jutes) gradually invaded Britain, placing the Romano-Celtic population under Germanic rule. Britain was cut off from the Empire by Germanic invasions of Gaul in 406/407 AD. Towns and villas fell into ruin within a generation. It is argued that the Anglo-Saxons entered a political and cultural vacuum. The notion that all Eastern Britons fled or were killed by the Saxons is incorrect. Similarly, there was no ‘final withdrawal’ of Italian legions; the few Roman troops remaining in 406 were Britons.