Provincia Britannia | |||||
Province of the Roman Empire | |||||
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Province of Britannia within the Roman Empire (125 AD). | |||||
Capital |
Camulodunum Londinium |
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Historical era | Classical antiquity | ||||
• | Annexed by Claudius | AD43 | |||
• | Severan Division | c. 197 | |||
• | Diocletian Division | c. 296 | |||
• | End of direct Roman rule | c. 410 | |||
Today part of |
United Kingdom ( England Wales) |
Roman Britain (Latin: Britannia or, later, Britanniae, "the Britains") was the area of the island of Great Britain that was governed by the Roman Empire, from AD 43 to 410.
Julius Caesar invaded Britain in 55 and 54 BC as part of his Gallic Wars. The Britons had been overrun or culturally assimilated by other Celtic tribes during the British Iron Age and had been aiding Caesar's enemies. He received tribute, installed a friendly king over the Trinovantes, and returned to Gaul. Planned invasions under Augustus were called off in 34, 27, and 25 BC. In AD 40, Caligula assembled 200,000 men at the Channel, only to have them gather seashells. Three years later, Claudius directed four legions to invade Britain and restore an exiled king over the Atrebates. The Romans defeated the Catuvellauni, and then organized their conquests as the Province of Britain (Latin: Provincia Britannia). By the year 47, the Romans held the lands southeast of the Fosse Way. Control over Wales was delayed by reverses and the effects of Boudica's uprising, but the Romans expanded steadily northward.