History of the Conquest of Britain

Subsequently, sufficient troops could never be found to enforce the tribute again. It was deemed uneconomic also, as Rome made a great deal in taxes on cross-channel trade. The kingdoms in southern Britain (The Cantii of Kent, the Trinovantes of Essex and the Iceni of East Anglia) became gradually romanized. They began to issue coinage and sent friendly envoys to Rome, even sending votive offerings to Roman temples. However, in the north the Parisi of East Yorkshire and the Brigantes of northern England remained independant.

However, at the beginning of the reign of the emperor Claudius, civil war broke out among the grandsons of Cassivellaunus on the death of their father Cunobelinus, who had reigned in peace over much of southern Britain for 40 years. The elder Prince, Bericus, was deposed and forced to flee Britain. He wemt to Rome, where he offered his allegiance to Claudius. The Catuvellaunians were then ruled by his brothers Togodumnus and Caractacus. Because of the weakening of the kingdom, war was threatened by the Icenii to the north and several satellite kingdoms on the south coast.

This internal unreast threatened trade across the channel and provided an excellent opportunity for invasion, as the Icenii were certain to aid Rome in the destruction of the Catuvellaunians. Verica, king of the Atrebates, a small kingdom to the south of the Catuvellaunians appealed for Roman aid. In AD 43 the emperor sent a strong force, lead by Aulus Plautius to crush the Catuvellaunians. He landed unopposed and headed inland. At a battle near the river Thames, Aulus routed an army twice as large as his, killing Togodumnus. He took London, but sustained heavy lossess. Reinforcements, lead by Claudius himself, joined him. The larger force succeeded in crushing the Catuvellaunians at their capital of Camulodunum. Caractacus fled to Wales and the Kings of the Iceni, and the kings of the Cantii and Trinovantes swore allegiance to Rome. Caractacus' empire was declared a Roman province and Aulus was instated as govenor. Claudius was in Britain for just sixteen days.

After his departure, the legions moved to crush the inland Celtic tribes. This was swiftly accomplished and by AD 47, as the Chronical begins, much of Britain is under Roman rule. Even the northern tribes are content to become client states of Rome, whilst retaining a nominal independance. Only in Wales, the heartlands of the Druids, does fierce resistance remain among the Ordovices and Silures.

The Current Situation

The current Roman province in Britain occupies the south east of the country from up to a line running from the Bristol channel in the south-west to the Humber in the north-east. The territory formerly ruled by the Catuvellaunii forms the heart of the Roman administration. The Brigantes to the north have sworn allegiance to Rome and so far seem to be keeping it in good faith.

Still actively resisting Roman rule are the Silurii and Ordovicii in Wales and some tribes of the Dumnoni in the south-west (Cornwall and Devon). The Welsh tribes are fighting a guerilla war from the mountains and it is taking some time to assess their strength and defend the border regions from raids. The territorry of the Dumnoni is also hilly and well supplied with strong hill-forts, which will probably require a full campaign to reduce.

In the south are several client kingdoms made up of various tribes. The most Romanized are the Cantii of Kent, the Trinovantes of Essex and the Icenii of East Anglia. The Celtic nobility in these regions are showing some progress in Romanization and several villas are under construction already, with Roman guidance.

King Antedios of the Iceni is a prominant advocate of co-operation with Rome, as is Verica, King of the Atrebates (modern Hampshire). In this southern area, are the beginnings of several Roman towns. These include Londonium, Camulodium, Verulanmium (St. Albans, 20 miles north of London) and Durovernum Cantiacorum (Canterbury). Another important pro-Roman Celtic king is Cogidubnus, who rules a conglomeration of several small tribes on the south coast.

Cogidumnus is of a noble Gaulish family, one of the Gallic families Claudius hopes to raise to the Senate. Claudius was anxious for them to become fully Romanized, in the hope that they would eventually be admitted to the senate. Cogidumnus had been sent to Rome to complete his education. Claudius then installed him as ruler of some of the smaller southern tribes, in the hope that his good diplomatic gifts would speed their integration.

Cogidumnus was a younger son of the family and therefore unlikely to inherit lands in Gaul. However, Claudius was very impressed with his leadership abilities as well as his loyalty to Rome, so rewarded him with the British position. Still only in his early twenties, he seems to have been quite a success with his new 'subjects'. He fits the Celtic ideals of a good king in being tall dark and handsome, very skilled in combat, with a good knowledge of the sagas and able to drink phenomenal quantities with ease.

Although thoroughly Latinized in manners and dress, Cogidumnus still displays some attatchement to his Celtic roots. No-one is sure how much of this is a neccassary pose to gain the loyalty of the tribes and how much genuine. However, Aulus has never hear a whisper of his being involved in any plot against Rome.

Queen Cartimandua of the Brigantes and her husband Venutius are influential among the more northerly tribes of Britain. She currently has a treaty with Rome.

In Wales is rumoured to be Caractacus, who escaped capture by Claudius at the battle of Camulodunum. Aulus has had intelligence reports that he is currently fighting with the Silurii and may be trying to ally with the other Welsh tribes and possibly even incite a rebellion among the Brigantes.

As in the rest of the Empire, the conquered terrirories are being arranges into ordos (which are usually equivalent to a tribe). The local governement of the ordos is carried out by two magistrates, elected yearly by a council of 100 people, chosen on financial and property qualifications. In practice, there is very little local power, with most decisions made by the govenor of the province. In Brtiain, the ordos have been set up only in a few of the southern tribes.

Londinium

After the conquest, Claudius decreed that the capital of the new province should be at Camulodunum, the site of his victory. However, the convenience of Londonium for trade and travel meant that it quickly took over in importance.

The settlement consists of the military and administration along with Roman and Gallic merchants and a few Celtic nobles. The greater part of the govenor's personal troops, 500 infantry of the XXth Valeria legion from Neuss, and 500 cavalry, are stationed in Londonium, in a fort built outside the city. The commander of the forces is Felix Cassius, a Senator.

Further up the river at Brentford is a purely Celtic settlement, where some of the noblility of the Catuvellaunii live. There is also a Druidic temple in a grove there.