The Romans in Britain

The Romans arrived in Britain in 55 BC. The Roman Army had been fighting in Gaul (France) and the Britons had been hel ing the Gauls in an effort to defeat the Romans. The leader of the Roman Army in Gaul! "ulius Caesar! decided that he had to teach the Britons a lesson for hel ing the Gauls # hence his invasion.

Julius Ceasar

$n late August 55 BC! %&!''' Roman soldiers landed about ( miles from )over. Caesar had lanned to land in )over itself! but had to change his lan as many Briton soldiers had gathered on the cliffs ready to fight off the invaders. *ven so! the Britons follo+ed the Romans to their landing lace and a fierce fight too, lace on the beach. The Romans +ere forced to fight in the +ater as the Britons stormed do+n the beach. Caesar +as im ressed +ith the fighting -ualities of the Britons. The Romans were faced with serious problems. These dangers
frightened our soldiers who were not used to battles of this kind, with the results that they do not show the same speed and enthusiasm as they usually did in battles on dry land.

/o+ever! the Romans fought off the Britons +ho +ithdre+. But it +as clear to Caesar that the Britons +ere anything but a ushover and by the end of the year! the Romans had +ithdra+n to Gaul. $f a full0scale invasion +as to ta,e lace! the Romans +ould need far more men in their invasion force. Caesar returned the ne1t year in 52 BC. This time he had 3'!''' soldiers and the Britons +ere not re ared to fight the Romans on the beach. This gave the Romans an o ortunity to establish themselves as a military force in Britain. 4nce they had done this! they too, on Briton tribes one by one. Caesar5s success in Britain meant that he neglected Gaul. This encouraged the Gauls to rise u against the Romans and Caesar had to leave Britain +ith his army to ut do+n the rebellion in Gaul. The Roman Army did not return to Britain for over 6' years. /o+ever! traders from Rome did come to Britain and traded +ith the tribes that lived there. They realised that Britain +as otentially a very +ealthy lace and if the island +as ro erly controlled by the Romans! Rome itself could do very +ell out of it.

The Romans invaded Britain in A) 23. This +as not as a unishment for hel ing the Gauls. $t +as to ta,e over the island. The Romans +ere to stay for many years. The em eror Claudius sent an army of 2'!''' men. $t landed safely. The em eror sent not only foot soldiers but cavalry as +ell. 7any tribes in Britain realised the sheer o+er of this army and made eace -uic,ly +ith the Romans. 8ome too, on the might of the Roman army. These clashes +ent on for many years and in arts of Britain! the Romans never actually gained full control. Though the Roman army has achieved fame for its effectiveness as a fighting force! the Britons +ere s,illed and ferocious +arriors. Caesar! in articular! +as im ressed by their s,ill +ith chariots. Chariots are used like this. First of all, the charioteers drive all over the
field hurling avelins. !enerally, the horses and the noise of the wheels are enough to terrify the enemy and throw them into confusion, as soon as they have got through the cavalry, the warriors ump down from their chariots and fight on foot. "eanwhile, the charioteers then move away and place their chariots in such a way that the warriors can easily get back on them if they are hard pressed by the si#e of the enemy. $o they combine the easy movement of cavalry with the staying power of foot soldiers. Regular practice makes them so skilful that they can control their horses at a full gallop, even on a steep slope. %nd they can stop and turn them in a moment. The warriors can then run along the chariot pole, stand on the yoke and get back into the chariot as &uick as lightening.

9hile the Romans thought highly of Britain as a colony! they +ere less ha Britons themselves. They are tall and bandy0legged +ith croo,ed bodies: (8trabo) 8avages: (Tacitus) Creatures +hich are half0man and half0beast live there.: (Anon)

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