Bede (673735):
Ecclesiastical History of the English Nation, Book I;
CLAUDIUS, THE SECOND OF THE ROMANS WHO CAME INTO BRITAIN, BROUGHT THE ISLANDS ORCADES INTO SUBJECTION TO THE ROMAN EMPIRE; AND VESPASIAN, SENT BY HIM REDUCED THE ISLE OF WIGHT UNDER THEIR DOMINION
IN the year of Rome 798, Claudius, fourth emperor from Augustus, being desirous to approve himself a beneficial prince to the republic, and eagerly bent upon war and conquest, undertook an expedition into Britain, which seemed to be stirred up to rebellion by the refusal of the Romans to give up certain deserters. He was the only one, either before or after Julius Caesar, who had dared to land upon the island; yet, within a very few days, without any fight or bloodshed, the greatest part of the island was surrendered into his hands. He also added to the Roman empire the Orcades, which lie in the ocean beyond Britain, and then, returning to Rome the sixth month after his departure, he gave his son the title of Britannicus. This war he concluded in the fourth year of his empire, which is the fortysixth from the incarnation of our Lord. In which year there happened a most grievous famine in Syria, which, in the Acts of the Apostles is recorded to have been foretold by the prophet Agabus. Vespasian, who was emperor after Nero, being sent into Britain by the same Claudius, brought also under the Roman dominion the Isle of Wight, which is next to Britain on the south, and is about thirty miles in length from east to west, and twelve from north to south; being six miles distant from the Southern coast of Britain at the east end, and three only at the west. Nero, succeeding Claudius in the empire, attempted nothing in martial affairs; and, therefore, among other innumerable detriments brought upon the Roman state, he almost lost Britain; for under him two most noble towns were there taken and destroyed.
Invasion
In AD43, following a delay caused by initial misgivings amongst the troops, a Roman army, under the command of Aulus Plautius, set sail from Gaul to invade Britain.
This is a extract from Dio Cassius 'Romaika' (Roman History);
"Their delay, however, had made their departure late in the season. They were sent over in three divisions, in order that they should not be hindered in landing - as might happen to a single force - and in their voyage across they first became discouraged because they were driven back in their course, and then plucked up courage because a flash of light rising in the east shot across to the west, the direction in which they were sailing. So they put in to the island and found none to oppose them. For the Britons as a result of their inquiries had not expected that they would come, and had therefore not assembled beforehand. And even when they did assemble, they would not come to close quarters with the Romans, but took refuge in the swamps and the forests, hoping to wear out the invaders in fruitless effort, so that, just as in the days of Julius Caesar, they should sail back with nothing accomplished."
It is often stated, as a fact, that the Romans landed at Richborough, in Kent. As can be seen from Dio Cassius' narrative, no name is given for the landing site, indeed, since the army was divided into three divisions, they may not have all landed in the same vicinity. There are Roman military remains, from around this time, at Richborough, but, similarly, there are remains at Fishbourne, in Sussex. Based on the notion that the main Roman force landed in Kent, the battle, which Dio Cassius goes on to describe, took place on the River Medway, however, proponents of the idea that the main landing site was in Sussex, suggest that it could be the River Arun. At the moment, the weight of opinion is in favour of a Kent landing site, or sites. In the immediate post invasion period, Rutupiae (Richborough) became the main port and gateway to Britain. A marble faced, four-way, triumphal arch (estimated to have been around 85 feet/26 metres high) was constructed (during the late AD80s), through which all arrivals passed, and Watling Street offered a direct link to Londinium (London), via Durovernum (Canterbury) and Durobrivae (Rochester).
Although Roman historian Tacitus mentions four legions' involvement during the early years of the Roman conquest of Britain (2nd, 9th, 14th and 20th), Dio Cassius does not specify the size of the army involved in the initial landings. It is perfectly possible for a legion to have been in Britain without leaving any archaeological trace, so, unless there is a literary reference, its presence could well be undetectable. A dedication to a centurion of the 8th legion (who committed suicide in AD65) exists which includes the remark that he was decorated by Claudius in the British war. This does tend to suggest that the 8th legion, or a vexillation (a detachment) from it, took part in the invasion.
"Plautius, accordingly, had a deal of trouble in searching them out; but when at last he did find them, he first defeated Caratacus and then Togodumnus, the sons of Cynobellinus [Cunobelin], who was dead. (The Britons were not free and independent, but were divided into groups under various kings.) After the flight of these kings he gained by capitulation a part of the Bodunni , who were ruled by a tribe of the Catuellani ; and leaving a garrison there, advanced farther and came to a river. The barbarians thought that Romans would not be able to cross it without a bridge, and consequently bivouacked in rather careless fashion on the opposite bank; but he sent across a detachment of Germans, who were accustomed to swim easily in full armour across the most turbulent streams. These fell unexpectedly upon the enemy, but instead of shooting at any of the men they confined themselves to wounding the horses that drew their chariots; and in the confusion that followed not even the enemy's mounted warriors could save themselves. Plautius thereupon sent across Flavius Vespasian [who later became emperor] also and his brother Sabinus, who was acting as his lieutenant. So they, too, got across the river in some way and killed many of the foe, taking them by surprise. The survivors, however, did not take to flight, but on the next day joined issue with them again. The struggle was indecisive until Gnaeus Hosidius Geta, after narrowly missing being captured, finally managed to defeat the barbarians so soundly that he received the ornamenta triumphalia, though he had not been consul. Thence the Britons retired to the river Thames at a point near where it empties into the ocean and at flood-tide forms a lake. This they easily crossed because they knew where the firm ground and the easy passages in this region were to be found; but the Romans in attempting to follow them were not so successful. However, the Germans swam across again and some others got over by a bridge a little way up-stream, after which they assailed the barbarians from several sides at once and cut down many of them. In pursuing the remainder incautiously, they got into swamps from which it was difficult to make their way out, and so lost a number of men."
"Shortly afterwards Togodumnus perished, but the Britons, so far from yielding, united all the more firmly to avenge his death. Because of this fact and because of the difficulties he had encountered at the Thames, Plautius became afraid, and instead of advancing any farther, proceeded to guard what he had already won, and sent for Claudius. For he had been instructed to do this in case he met with any particularly stubborn resistance, and, in fact, extensive equipment, including elephants, had already been got together for the expedition."
Claudius duly arrived and:
"... joined the legions that were waiting for him near the Thames. Taking over the command of these, he crossed the stream, and engaging the barbarians, who had gathered at his approach, he defeated them and captured Camulodunum [Colchester, Essex], the capital of Cynobellinus. Thereupon he won over numerous tribes, in some cases by capitulation, in others by force, and was saluted as imperator several times, contrary to precedent; for no man may receive this title more than once for one and the same war. He deprived the conquered of their arms and handed them over to Plautius, bidding him also subjugate the remaining districts. Claudius himself now hastened back to Rome, sending ahead the news of his victory by his sons-in-law Magnus and Silanus. These on learning of his achievement gave him the title of Britannicus and granted him permission to celebrate a triumph. They voted also that there should be an annual festival to commemorate the event and that two triumphal arches should be erected, one in the city and the other in Gaul, because it was from that country that he had set sail when he crossed over to Britain. They bestowed upon his son the same title as upon him, and, in fact, Britannicus came to be in a way the boy's regular name... Claudius came to Rome after an absence of six months, of which he had spent only sixteen days in Britain, and celebrated his triumph. In this he followed precedent, even ascending the steps of the Capitol on his knees, with his sons-in-law supporting him on either side. To the senators who had taken part in the campaign with him he granted the ornamenta triumphalia, and this not alone to the ex-consuls but to the rest as well, a thing he was accustomed to do most lavishly on other occasions on the slightest excuse... he held the triumphal festival, assuming a kind of consular power for the occasion. The festival was celebrated in both theatres at the same time; and in the course of the spectacles he often absented himself while others took charge in his place. He had announced as many horse-races as could take place in a day, yet there were not more than ten of them. For between the different races bears were slain, athletes contested, and boys summoned from Asia performed the Pyrrhic dance. Another festival, likewise in honour of his victory, was given by the artists of the stage with the consent of the senate. All this was done on account of the successes in Britain; and in order that other peoples should more readily come to terms ..."
Meanwhile, Vespasian and the II Augusta Legion had marched west, where Roman biographer Suetonius (writing c.AD110) says: "... he fought thirty battles with the enemy. He reduced to subjection two powerful nations, more than twenty towns, and the island of Vectis [The Isle of Wight], near Britannia, partly under the leadership of Aulus Plautius, the consular governor, and partly under that of Claudius himself."
An entry in Dio Cassius (from now, in 'Epitome' form) adds that:
"In Britain Vespasian had on a certain occasion been hemmed in by the barbarians and been in danger of destruction, but his son Titus, becoming alarmed for his father, managed by unusual daring to break through their enclosing lines and then pursued and destroyed the fleeing enemy.... There is evidence of Vespasian's campaign at Hod Hill, where eleven catapult bolts have been discovered, and at Maiden Castle, where two skeletons have been found which exhibit battle injuries. One has an iron weapon tip embedded in its spine and a sword injury to the jawbone; the other has a wound to the skull in the shape of a Roman pilum (javelin).
.... Plautius for his skilful and successful conduct of the war in Britain not only was praised by Claudius but also obtained an ovation." Dio Cassius provides a glimpse of the fate which might await British prisoners:
"In the gladiatorial combats many persons took part, not only of the foreign freedmen but also the British captives. He [Claudius] used up ever so many men in this part of the spectacle and took pride in the fact."
