46 CE - Roman Invasion Of Britain

by Iain Mac an tSaoir

Perhaps because of the death of the High King Cunobelinus, Emperor Claudius approved the Invasion of Britain. Aulus Plautius was assigned to be the commander of the expedition. Aulus Plautius selected four tough frontier trained legions to accomplish the task. To these were attached some 25-30,000 auxiliaries, mainly cavalry units, for a combined expeditionary force of 45-50,000 men.

When the invasion commenced, the forces were sent in three divisions. The landings themselves, the major part of which occured at what is today called Richborough, went unopposed. Having secured their beachhead, Platius went about building fortified ports at what is today known as Richborough, Dover and Lympne. When the fortifications were complete, and his supplies were safe, he commenced a march into the interior.

The commander of the Celtic tribes was Caratacos, and he utilized the same hit and run tactics as Cassivelaunos had used against Caesar one hundred years prior. However, as Plautius reached the Medway, Caratacos changed tactics and met Plautius in a major engagement. Plautius met the Caratacos after having sent a legion to cross the river downstream. This legion then came back up the river and hit the flank of the Celtic forces. Defeat was handed to Caratacos, and he fell back to his fortified headquarters at Camulodunum. Aulus Plautius pursued, and once at Camulodunum surrounded the place. At this point, as was arranged, Claudius himself was sent for. When Claudius was brought up to the Camulodunum, he took command of the Roman forces, and then began a concentrated attack. Eventually the Romans took the fort, but not before Caratacos escaped with his family and most of his retinue. The secured area was made a Roman province, and for 16 days tribal chieftains of the area came and made formal submission to Roman rule. Most of these kings were established as client kings, including Prasutagos whose mate was Boudicca, a lady who would launch a ferocious uprising some 20 years later.

From here on out, it was one tribal area at a time that would fall before the Romans. It must be stated though, that in the face of uprisings, attacks by Picts and Irish, each acre was fought for. The Romans eventually succeeded in taking only as far north as the region today known as Aberdeen. With the possible exception of symbolic landings in Ireland, that land was spared from Romans, until it fell to the cleric rulers of the Holy Roman Empire (the Catholic Church).

Sources:

The Battle For Gaul, Julius Caesar, David R. Godine Pub, (c)1980, ISBN 0-87923-306-0

The Celtic Empire, Peter Berresford Ellis, Carolina Acedemic Press, (c)1994,ISBN 0-89089-457-4

The World of the Celts, Simon James, Thames and Hudson Ltd., (c)1993, ISBN 0-500-0567-8

The Celts, Gerhard Herm, St. Martin's Press, (c)1977, ISBN 312-1205-7

The Celts, Jean Markale, Inner Traditions Intl, (c)1978, ISBN 0-89281-413-6

The Celtic World, Amanda Green, Routledge, (c)1995, ISBN 0-415-05764-7

Encyclopedia Brittanica15th Edition, Vol. 2, ISBN 0-85229-591X

History of the World, J.M. Roberts,Oxford Press, 1993, ISBN 0-19-521043-3

prepared by Iain Mac an tSaoir

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