Camulodunum

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Contents 1 Prehistoric era 2 43 AD–61 AD 3 Roman town 4 Notes

Camulodumum^[1] (variant spelling - Camulodunum^[2]) or Colonia Claudia Victricensis^[3], is the Roman name for the Ancient settlement which is today's Colchester, a town in Essex, England.

Prehistoric era

Colchester is the oldest town in England as recorded by the Romans, existing as a Celtic settlement before the Roman conquest, when it became the first Roman town, and eventually a Roman military retirement community. There is archaeological evidence of settlement 3,000 years ago. Its Celtic name was "Camulodunon", meaning "the Fortress of Camulos". (Camulos was the Celtic god of war.) This name was modified to the Roman spelling of "Camulodunum" (written "CAMVLODVNVM").

Camulodunon was capital and spiritual centre of the ancient Celtic tribe called the Trinovantes, who built an impressive system of earthwork defences to the west and south of the town. It is thought that around the year 56 BC war broke out between them and their western neighbours the Catuvellauni. In the course of this war the Trinovantes were defeated, their king (thought to be called Imanuentius) was slain, and Camulodunon was for a time annexed by their rivals. This act played a pivotal role in British history because the heir to the throne of the Trinovantes, Prince Mandubracius, fled to Gaul and appealed directly to Julius Caesar (who had just conquered Gaul) to intervene on their behalf and force King Cassivellaunus of the Catuvellauni to withdraw.

Always the opportunist, and having the strongest naval forces on channel at the time, this was clearly just the excuse the ever ambitious Caesar had needed to intervene in British affairs. He had seen how the situation amongst the Celtic population in Gaul was directly affected by the independence of Britannia. Britannia was the centre of the Druidic religion and many ruling members of the conquered tribes of Gaul, in particular the Belgae, had made southern Britannia their home and were encouraging resistance to Roman rule from there.

Caesar intervened sending an scouting expedition, or ineffective effort in the late summer of 55 AD and then crossed in force with four legions in 54 BC, susequently defeated Cassivelaunas and his allies in battle near his tribal centre of Verulamium (modern day St Albans). Cassivelaunas continued to rule but was forced to withdraw from Camulodunon and restore Mandubracius to his father's throne. Caesar withdrew then leaving no occupiing forces, but thereafter the cowed tribes of southern Britain paid tribute to Rome, until the Roman's came to conquer and stay nearly a century later under Claudius.

Camulodunon and the Trinovantes tribe did not retain their independence for long. Clearly they had been significantly weakened in the war with the Catuvellauni. Addedomarus ruled the Trinovantes from c.25 BC - 10 BC and engaged in war with the Catuvellauni once more. Once again the Trinovantes were defeated, Addedomarus was killed or ousted, and the Catuvellauni annexed Camulodunon and made it their own capital. The new Catuvellaunian king, Tasciovanus, issued coins from here in about 10BC.

After the death of Tasciovanus of the Catuvellauni in c.7 AD a final period of Trinovantian independence may have occurred, possibly under a ruler called Dubnovellaunus. However, once the Catuvellaunian succession had been secured by Cunobelin final resistance was crushed and Camulodunon and all the Trinovantian lands were annexed to those of the Catuvellauni.

This combined realm of both the Catuvellaunian and Trinovantian territories north of the Thames allowed Cunobelin to become the most powerful King in Britain. He is often referred to as the High King of Britain. His attempts to further expand his realm by war with the Atrebates (south of the River Thames) lead to a second Roman intervention in Britain and its conquest.

43 AD–61 AD

A Roman legionary fortress was established at Colchester in 43 AD. This was the first permanent legionary fortress to be built in Britain. Later, when the Roman frontier moved north (c. 49 AD), Colchester became a colonia. Colchester was the first Roman capital of Britain before it was moved to the more accessible site of Londinium (London).

A Roman monumental temple was built at Colchester in c. 44 AD and was dedicated to the Emperor Claudius as The Temple of the Divine Claudius. The temple was completely destroyed during Boudica's rebellion in 61 AD.

Roman town

Colchester was the only place in the province of Britannia where samian ware was produced (for a short time). Roman brick making and wine growing also took place in the area. Bricks have been made in Colchester (or in the surrounding area) for around 2,000 years.

Many Roman mosaics and artefacts have been found in subsequent archaeological digs in the town and some can be seen at the Colchester Castle museum. The Roman walls still survive (they are the most complete in the country) and they contain the largest surviving Roman gateway in Britain. Many holes have been cut in the walls over the years and the history of the whole town can be seen in its surviving structure. Medieval buttresses, shops and steps are still present in Colchester, reusing spolia.

Notes

1. ^ A Romanisation of its Celtic name, Camulodunon, "fortress of Camulos"
2. ^ In Roman letters, it looks like CAMVLODVNVM.
3. ^ Written "COLONIA CLAVDIA VICTRICENSIS" - Latin, Claudian colonia of victory

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