Lesson 2: Who Were the Britons in the Age of Arthur?

The Romans

In 55 BC, Julius Caesar made his first landing on Britain’s shores. From that moment on, he and Rome intended to have Britain. In AD 43, the emperor Claudius completed the initial conquest. Some native chieftains submitted with little resistance. Over a number of years, others fought bitterly to throw off Roman occupation. The most well known of these revolts is that of the Iceni Queen Boudicca, in AD 61.

In time, things settled down in the south. However, the north remained hostile and Rome continued its aggression all the way into the highlands of Scotland. By AD 82-90, they reached the Forth-Clyde line along which a series of forts was built. In AD 84, Agricola won a decisive battle at Mons Graupius. Hadrian’s Wall was built AD 120-123, and the Antonine Wall in AD 142. The walls and the forts were built upon the realization that the northern tribes were too difficult to subdue.

Though the conquest initially spilled much Celtic blood, the legions and organized government deterred invasions from other outsiders. When raids did occur, they were repelled. It is estimated that up to 55,000 Roman troops were needed to maintain control. With the advent of relative peace that continued for four hundred years, many Britons found an incentive to keep their Roman governors.

For further information about Roman Britain, click on this link: Roman Britain

As the Neolithics co-existed with the Celts, the Celts co-existed with the Romans. The degree to which Britain became Romanized continues to be debated. Different areas became more Roman than others, the southern region taking on the most characteristics because of its thicker Roman population.

Towns developed around Roman fortresses, organized after Roman standards. Governmental city-states, called civitates, were established and roughly based on early tribal regions. In AD 214, the emperor Caracalla granted Roman citizenship to all free people in the Empire. A series of forts along the southeastern shore (the Saxon Shore) were built to guard against Saxon pirates.

Agriculture remained the fundamental industry throughout Roman Britain, and coinage became the medium of trade instead of barter. Mining was gradually developed, though not in great quantity. Villas, bathhouses, temples, theatres, amphitheatres and roads were built. Latin was imported with the conquerors, but only those in the highest levels of British society who could afford an education, learned the language.

In the early days of the occupation, temples and shrines devoted to Celtic gods and goddesses were kept and even combined with Roman deities. This remained in practice throughout the occupation. When Christianity was adopted as Rome’s official religion in 313, it only entered Britain slowly and modestly. Churches were generally built in urban centers.

In spite of the many Roman impositions of political, military, and economic rule, native Britons kept their languages, culture and basic way of life. In the countryside and remote areas to the north and west, life remained Celtic.

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