CHAPTER 1

BRITAIN IN ROMAN TIMES

The roman occupation of Britain lasted 350 years. During this period, the nativeBritons were first conquered and then gradually converted to the Roman way oflife. Hundreds of forts were established and more than 6,000 miles of militaryhighways constructed which transformed the prehistoric trackway system into ahighly organized network of routes of a standard neither equaled nor surpasseduntil comparatively modern times.

Roman forts were always built at locations which were of strategic importance.Thus Chester, Wroxeter, and Gloucester were at positions from which Wales couldbe invaded, and at places where the plain could be defended from the incursionof the mountain tribes. Carlisle, York, and Lincoln all controlled importantroutes and were vital from a military point of view. London was the center ofthe military system which linked with all parts of Roman Britain, and from whichsupplies could be obtained in times of need. Beyond the Straits of Dover, thesystem of roads continued with the entire European network focused on Rome,giving rise to the old saying that "all roads lead to Rome."

One of the most important forts constructed by the Romans during their conquestof Wales was at Caerleon-upon-Usk in Gwent. In A.D. 75 they raised an earthenbank and surrounded it by a moat filled with water. By A.D. 110, a turretedstone wall measuring 540 meters by 450 meters had been built to enclose an areaof 20 hectares. Gradually, a very impressive fortress town was constructed withconsiderable quantities of stone transported from Bath by barge down the Avon,across the Severn, and up the Usk.

The Second Augustan Legion was stationed here with Julius Frontinus commandingthe garrison, which in its heyday consisted of some 6,000 men. This particularlegion was a highly trained force which had been brought here to deal with thedifficult problem of subduing the Silures, who inhabited this area and were ledin battle by the brave Celtic king, Caratacus.

Caer Wysg (Fortress on the Usk) is the ancient name for the settlement, whichwas a center of trade used by the Britons long before the Romans arrived. Butwhen the Romans settled here, they abolished the old British name and their newfort became known as Isca Silurum. They named it Isca after the River Usk, nearwhich it stands, and Silurum after the local tribe to whom they referred asSilures. This was one of three legionary fortresses established in Roman Britainand it was their chief city in South Wales.

The name Caerleon is a Welsh rendering of Castra Legionum and the abbreviatedtitle of the Legion's name—LEG II AVG has been found stamped on countless bricksuncovered during many years of archaeological excavation. When GiraldusCambrensis (Gerald of Wales) came here in 1190, the Roman remains were stillvery impressive and he described them as follows:

[A]n ancient and authentic city, excellently and well built in olden times bythe Romans. Many vestiges of its former splendour may yet be seen, mighty andhuge palaces with gilded roofs in imitation of Roman magnificence ... a townprodigious in size, wonderful bath buildings, the remains of temples andtheatres, all enclosed within fine walls, which are yet partly standing. Youwill find on all sides, both within and without the circuit of the walls,subterraneous buildings, water-pipes, and underground passages, and, moreremarkable than all, stoves contrived with wonderful art to transmit the heatinsensibly through the narrow flues up the side of the walls.

In sunshine, Caerleon certainly became a city of gold, for the many buildingswere roofed with glazed brown tiles which caught and reflected the rays of thesun. Venta Silurum (Caerwent), just 13 kilometers away, must have been eclipsedby the rising splendor of Isca Silurum, which became the chief station ofBritannia Secunda. It was here that the Praetor resided, the Roman eagle wasdeposited, and the principal courts of justice were located.

In A.D. 77, Julius Agricola arrived on the scene and subsequently became themost famous of the governors of Britain. He immediately turned his attention tothe subjugation of the Ordovices and the Deceangli, who inhabited the area weknow today as Clwyd. He went on to capture Anglesey. With the conquest of Walesthus consolidated, he was able to turn his attention to the north.

He established a base at Chester, which was then known as Deva, after the RiverDee, and in A.D. 79 he overcame the Brigante tribe. Next he moved on to make hisheadquarters at Eboracum (York). From here he conducted his northern campaignsand consolidated his position with the construction of roads and a chain offorts. Eboracum became the base of the Ninth Legion and in later years itdeveloped into the chief military center of Roman Britain, known as "AlteraRome"—the other Rome.

The Romanized capital of the Brigantes was situated about sixteen milesnorthwest of York and was called Insurium Brigantium. Today, the site isoccupied by the village of Aldborough, which stands on the road that still marksthe route followed by Agricola on his advance into Scotland. He pushed on viaStirling and Perth to reach Inchtuthill, where another important base wasestablished. In due course, a whole chain of forts was constructed from theFirth to the Clyde and this became the northern limit of the Roman Empire. Itwas decided not to proceed any farther north because of the harsh mountainousterrain and the problems already experienced with the fierce Pictish tribes.

In about A.D. 121, the Emperor Hadrian visited Britain and, after taking a hardlook at the problems being caused by the troublesome Picts, decided that apermanent northern frontier for his province should be established. The locationwhich he selected was much farther south than Agricola's chain of forts;itlinked the Tyne Gap from Bowness on the Solway...