BBC - History - Ancient History in depth: Roman Colchester: Britain's First City Print this page Pre-Roman Colchester It is very difficult to represent pre-Roman Colchester, because the site was so nebulous. The best physical indications of it are the Gosbecks dykes, of which the most impressive is Grym's Dyke; but even these just look like big, overgrown ditches. There are some nice burial goods from the Lexden Tumulus (itself less than impressive), and it is possible to see the outline of Cunobelin's farmstead in crop marks. ...after a botched attempt in 55...Caesar returned to finish the job in 54 BC. Colchester was called Camulodunum, which is a Romanisation of its Iron-Age name: the Fortress (-dunum) of Camulos, God of War. The original site of the Iron-Age settlement was some 3 miles south-west of the current city at Gosbecks. There, a sprawling Iron-Age farmstead was established, covering a roughly triangular area of approximately 10 miles which was surrounded by rivers on two sides and a complicated system of dykes on its open western end.

It is these dykes which are the only real vestiges of the settlement today, forming great,sunken lanes in the flat Essex countryside. The Trinovantes and Catuvellauni Camulodunum was a hugely important site in pre-Roman times. It was most likely the royal stronghold of the Trinovantes, on whose behalf Julius Caesar invaded in 55 and 54 BC. At this time, the Catuvellauni under their king Cassivellaunus were spreading their authority as southern Britain's largest tribe across the south-eastern counties. It seems that Cassivellaunus invaded Trinovantian territory and murdered its king, whose son, Mandubracius, fled to Caesar for help. This gave Caesar the excuse he was looking for to invade, and after a botched attempt in 55 (which even his own propaganda cannot quite disguise), Caesar returned to finish the job in 54 BC. He chased Cassivellaunus back to his stronghold, which he stormed from two sides, forcing Cassivellaunus to flee and come to terms. A modern day Celtic couple © It is a moot point where this encampment was.

Our best guess is Wheathamstead, Herts, but it is possible (though I do not think probable) that Cassivellaunus had transferred his capital to Camulodunum. Part of the problem is one of dating, since we do not know when Camulodunum came into Catuvellaunian hands. Our best dating criteria are by coins, but the earliest coins in the area are for the Catuvellaunian king, Tasciovanus, who ruled c.25-15 BC. By c.AD 10, Cunobelin the nephew of Cassivellaunus, had taken over the area and his coinage reflects this. The last Trinovantian king was called Addedomaros. It is possible that his remains are buried in the Lexden Tumulus, close to Gosbecks. The king who was buried here had been ritually burned along with his goods, which were a mixture of Celtic and Roman ornaments. Among them were the fragments of a small casket, within which was a medallion bearing the head of the Emperor Augustus.

Top The Claudian invasion A gravestone commemorating a centurion of the 20th Legion, dating from before AD 60. © When Claudius became Roman emperor in AD 41, he understood that in order to survive he needed a triumph. He used the appeal of the British chieftain, Verica, as his excuse for action. Verica was a king of the Atrebates who had been driven out by Cunobelin's successor, Caratacus. The Roman legions under Aulus Plautius landed at Richborough, surprised the British army at the River Medway and pushed Caratacus back to his stronghold at Camulodunum (Colchester). Camulodunum was of immense strategic importance... There, Plautius waited for the Emperor Claudius to arrive from Rome, bringing additional troops including a force of elephants with him. Claudius himself led the final storming of the Catuvellauni stronghold, which went very like Caesar's earlier assault. Caratacus and his followers escaped in their chariots from the back of the fort and went on the run.

He was eventually betrayed by Queen Cartimandua of the Brigantes and handed over to Rome, to be paraded in chains through Rome. Gravestone of a centurion © As the royal stronghold of the major tribe in the south-east, Camulodunum was of immense strategic importance, which is why a legionary fortress was immediately begun on an spur of flat land nearby. Britain had never seen anything like it. Vast quantities of timber, sand, gravel and clay were brought from the surrounding area to create a huge, regimented settlement completely unlike the sprawling hill-forts the Britons were used to. For the first time, bricks and mortar were used in Britain to create buildings which we would not find unfamiliar today. Top Britain's first city Gladiators on a vase from Colchester. The gladiator holding up his finger is asking for mercy. © Even before it was complete, the function of the fortress had been changed. The conquest of Britain had moved on and instead of a military base, what Rome needed now was a colony. The Roman word colonia was a specific term for a planned town inhabited by military veterans.

They would be allocated plots of land within the bounds of the settlement in order to establish a Roman presence within the conquered area. This is what the Roman fortress of Camulodunum was turned into. It became Britain's first-ever city. Doing this, the Romans quite literally brought civilisation to Britain, as the word derives from the Roman word civitas, meaning 'city'. The city of Colonia Victricensis (The City of Victory) was deliberately placed within the bounds of the Roman fortress, using its street plan and converting the barrack blocks into houses. ...a monumental arch was built, commemorating the Claudian conquest of Britain. In place of the military gate at the western entrance to the fort, a monumental arch was built, commemorating the Claudian conquest of Britain. Later, when the city acquired walls, this was incorporated into the western gate of the city and though nothing of the actual arch now remains, what is left of the gate and its walls still stand at the Balkerne Gate. Similar monuments were erected in Rome, Gaul and at Aphrodisias in Turkey.

Some fragments of these survive and because the Romans used the same formula for their monuments all over the empire, it is possible to use these to reconstruct pretty accurately what this arch and gate would have looked like. The inscription will have read: 'To Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, son of Drusus, Pontifex Maximus, with Tribunician Power for the eleventh time, Consul 5 times, hailed as Imperator 22 times, Censor, Father of his Country, the senate and people of Rome grant this because he received the surrender of 11 kings of the Britons conquered without loss, and he first brought the barbarian peoples across the Ocean under the authority of the Roman people'. A copy of the head of Claudius © The annexe of the old fortress was converted into the precinct for a monumental Temple to the imperial cult. Today the site is occupied by a Norman castle, built directly onto the foundations of the old temple out of re-used Roman stone. However, it is possible to see what the original temple precinct must have looked like by going to Nimes, where the Maison Carée still stands, surrounded by colonnades.

Once again, nothing like it had ever been seen in Britain before. Within the temple stood a life-size bronze statue of the Emperor Claudius, of which the head still survives. The local tribal magnates were recruited into the temple cult, but the financial burden of running the temple and the arrogant maltreatment of the locals by the colonists was to cause resentment which boiled into the Boudiccan revolt. Top Devastation At the time of the revolt, the Romans were so sure of their hold on East Anglia that the only troops in the area were 200 members of the procurator's guard. Even joined by the veteran colonists, these were woefully inadequate to stop the tribal tide that descended upon an undefended Colchester. Tacitus says that: 'It seemed easy to destroy the settlement; for it had no walls. That was a matter which Roman commanders, thinking of amenities rather than needs, had neglected.' (Annals xiv.30), and the archaeological record confirms that the walls of the legionary fortress had been filled in to make way for the temple precinct and other amenities.

Terror in the temple It was to this precinct that the survivors of the attack retreated, barricading themselves into the inner sanctuary of the temple, which was burned to the ground with them in it. It is possible today to huddle inside the foundations of that temple and envisage those last hours: men, women and children crammed within a dark space like this, waiting in terror for relief that never came, as they listened to thousands of bloodthirsty Britons destroying their town outside. Eventually they could smell the choking smoke and feel the crackling flames that spelled the end. The temple was burned to the ground. Only the foundations survive. The cult statue of Claudius that stood within it was smashed to pieces, and its head was discovered a few years ago in the River Alde a few miles from the town. Archaeological evidence The entire town was burned to the ground, leaving a black destruction layer and rubble in the soil. There is evidence of this destruction throughout the town, though it can only be accessed through rostrum pics from the archaeological excavations and a few remains. The entire town was burned to the ground, leaving a black destruction layer and rubble in the soil.

In some places, like Lion Walk, more tangible evidence of this destruction has survived. From a house in this site, the burned remains of a couch was recovered, its carbonised upholstery still intact. In the same house, a bowl of carbonised dates (and one plum) were also recovered. Each of these is a remarkable preservation of organic materials which do not usually survive. Interestingly, with the single exception of a charred skeleton from North Hill, no human remains unequivocally linked to the Boudiccan Revolt have been recovered. This may be because the townsfolk fled or were taken elsewhere to be massacred (Dio paints a chilling picture of mass sacrifices in sacred groves: Dio LXXII), though in my opinion nobody ever takes into account the clean-up operation that must have occurred afterwards. On a more speculative note, the skulls and incomplete remains of six men were found in the legionary ditch at the Balkerne gate. Two of the skulls show evidence of wounds inflicted to the back of the head, one of which was hit a couple of times by poorly-aimed blows intended to sever the neck. These are invariably interpreted as executions, and I would not argue with that.

However, since other evidence shows an arm chopped off above the elbow, I wonder whether these might be remains from the revolt, rather than the judicial executions they are usually thought to be? Top A new city Roman artefacts found at Colchester © The ephemeral nature of the Boudiccan Revolt is evidenced by the speed with which the city rose from its ashes. By AD 65 it was surrounded by a newly built city wall. However, the Roman administration took this opportunity to move the capital south to the better-placed Londinium. ...the remains of Roman Colchester's buildings are completely hidden... Since it is so built-up, the remains of Roman Colchester's buildings are completely hidden, though you can still see the shape of the Roman town in the lines of its walls and main streets. The best example of a Roman town is Wroxeter, where the undisturbed remains of the Roman city of Viriconium have been painstakingly excavated by Birmingham University. The foundations of its forum and bath-house now form an English Heritage monument, and it is possible to see the layout of the whole site from the air. The best Roman bath-house site is of course the Temple of Aquae-Sulis at Bath.

Comic figurines © For Roman villa life, we should go to Bignor, which is in my opinion the most impressive Roman villa site in Britain. Much of its walls survive, as well as an impressive collection of mosaics. From all of these sites there is a wealth of artefacts with which to illustrate the minutiae of Roman life. One of my favourites is the little set of comic figurines from a child's grave in Colchester. These depict a Roman dining party, with reclining figures, servants and even couches and chairs on which to put the figures. By AD 200, Colchester itself was a modestly wealthy town. Its inhabitants could afford large, well-appointed town houses, whilst the wealthiest lived outside the towns in country villas. However, by the fourth century, most Roman towns were shrinking as those who could afford to do so shirked their civic responsibilities by living in ever more elaborate villa sites outside the city walls.

Top After the Romans Colchester Castle © Both the sub-Roman Britons and the invading Anglo-Saxons were desperate to maintain some semblance of Roman civilisation - after all, this is precisely what made the empire so attractive to the barbarians - but the former no longer had the power and the latter did not have the experience to make it work. If Gildas is to be believed, the sub-Roman aristocracy refused to co-operate with the barbarian invaders and withdrew into Wales, whilst the Anglo-Saxons occupied the old Roman sites. Without the infrastructure of the Roman imperial machine in place to run the show, Roman civilisation could not be maintained, and the safest place to be was behind the walls of re-used hill forts and the abandoned towns. ...it became impossible to maintain any semblance of civil life... This is what happened to Colchester. Anglo-Saxon settlers moved in and established grubenhauser style huts on the remnants of the Roman city almost immediately. At Lion Walk, a fifth-century hut like those found at West Stow in Suffolk was built directly on top of an abandoned Romano-British house soon after its abandonment.

We can imagine the old sub-Roman population gradually moving out as it became impossible to maintain any semblance of civil life; the uncared for buildings eroding and the new settlers moving within the protection of the city walls to set up house on top of the rubble - all within a generation. They even used the same street plan, so that the High Street of modern Colchester still runs along the route of the Via Praetoria of the old Roman fort, with Head Street and North Hill forming a T-junction at one end along the line of the Via Principalis. Yet just because civil life had to be abandoned, it does not mean that everyone moved out of the cities completely. There is not enough evidence to say anything much about Colchester but in Wroxeter, there is good evidence that the bath-house was still being used as a public space throughout the fifth century. Though it had ceased in its original function, its ceiling was deliberately dismantled and used to create a tiled square some time between 490 and 550. After that, a Roman-style winged building was erected inside the shell and remained in use for at least 75 years.

This means that people were living a recognisably Roman style of life in Wroxeter well into the seventh century. As the new settlers became more sophisticated in their building techniques, they began to erect public buildings out of the rubble that was lying all around them. Colchester has several outstanding examples of this practice, the most significant of which is Holy Trinity Church. Built fairly late, during the eleventh century, it is made entirely out of re-used Roman stone: the perfect example of an Anglicised Roman institution (the Church) built out of the rubble of Roman Britain. Finally, Colchester Castle, founded by William the Conqueror himself, was built once again out of re-used Roman stone, and was deliberately placed around the base of the old Roman temple to give its foundations strength. This great monument to the last of Britain's conquerors was therefore placed directly on the spot where the first great monument to the conquest of Britain had been erected over 1,000 years before. Camulodunum - The Full Wiki The Full Wiki Note: Many of our articles have direct quotes from sources you can cite, within the Wikipedia article! This article doesn't yet, but we're working on it!

See more info or our list of citable articles . Related top topics List of places: UK • England • Essex Camulodunum is the Roman name for the ancient settlement which is today's Colchester , a town in Essex , England . Camulodunum is claimed to be the oldest town in Britain as recorded by the Romans, existing as a Celtic settlement before the Roman conquest, when it became the first Roman town, and eventually a settlement of discharged Roman soldiers, known as Colonia Claudia Victricensis. There is archaeological evidence of settlement 3,000 years ago. Its Celtic name was "Camulodunon", meaning "the Fortress of Camulos " (Camulos being a British god equated with the Roman Mars ). This name was modified to the Roman spelling of "Camulodunum". Contents 5.1 Bibliography Prehistoric era Camulodunon was the capital of the Trinovantes tribe, who built an impressive system of earthwork defences to the west and south of the town.

It was probably established as their capital by Addedomarus , a king known from his inscribed coins dating to around 25 - 10 BC (at the time of Caesar's invasions of Britain in 55 and 54 BC, the tribe were probably based at Braughing ). For a brief period around 10 BC Tasciovanus , a king of the Catuvellauni already issuing coins from Verlamion , also issued coins from Camulodunon, suggesting that the Trinovantes' capital had been conquered by the Catuvellauni, but he was soon forced to withdraw, perhaps as a result of Roman pressure – his later coins are no longer marked with the Latin REX (for "king"), but with the Brythonic RICON – and Addedomarus was restored. His son Dubnovellaunus succeeded him, but was soon supplanted by Tasciovanus' son Cunobelinus . Cunobelinus then succeeded his father at Verlamion, beginning the dominance of the Catuvellauni over the south-east.

[1] Cunobelinus was friendly with Rome, marking his coins with the word REX and classical motifs rather than the traditional Gallo-Belgic designs. Archaeology shows an increase in imported luxury goods, probably through the port of Caulodunon, during his reign. [2] He was probably one of the British kings that Strabo says sent embassies to Augustus. Strabo reports Rome's lucrative trade with Britain: the island's exports included grain, gold, silver, iron, hides, slaves and hunting dogs. [3] Early Roman Camulodunum Cunobelinus had died prior to the Roman invasion under Aulus Plautius in 43, and the British defence was led by his sons Caratacus and Togodumnus . Plautius secured a crossing point of the River Thames , halted, and sent word for the emperor Claudius to lead the march to Camulodunon. Claudius arrived with reinforcements, including artillery and elephants, [4] but as Suetonius and Claudius' triumphal arch state, the British kings surrendered without further bloodshed.

[5] A Roman legionary fortress or castrum , the first permanent legionary fortress to be built in Britain, was established at Camulodunum in 43. A veteran colony was established in an effort to subdue the Silures and as part of an attempt at Romanisation . [6] Later it became a colonia – a settlement of discharged Roman soldiers – and the principal city of Roman Britain. A Roman monumental temple was built there c. 44 and was dedicated to the emperor Claudius. [7] According to Tacitus, in 60/61 when the Iceni and Trinovantes under Boudica revolted against Roman rule, the city was undefended by fortifications, [8] and was only garrisoned by 200 members of the procurator's guard. [9] The rebels destroyed the city. The settlement was a target for the rebels because the veterans who inhabited the city "drove people out of their houses, ejected them from their farms, called them captives and slaves". [8] The temple, where the citizens had taken refuge, was destroyed after a two day siege.

After the defeat of the uprising, the administrative centre of the Roman province moved to the newly established commercial settlement of Londinium ( London ). [10] 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 artifacts 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 .

See also Camelot References ^ John Creighton (2000), Coins and power in Late Iron Age Britain, Cambridge University Press; Philip de Jersey (1996), Celtic Coinage in Britain, Shire Archaeology ^ Keith Branigan (1987), The Catuvellauni, Alan Sutton Publishing Ltd, pp. 10-11 Camulodunum - definition of Camulodunum by The Free Dictionary Camulodunum - definition of Camulodunum by The Free Dictionary Also found in: Encyclopedia , Wikipedia . Col·ches·ter (kōl′chĕs′tər, -chĭ-stər) A borough of southeast England near the North Sea. It was an important pre-Roman city and the site of the first Roman colony in Britain. Colchester (ˈkəʊltʃɪstə) n (Placename) a town in E England, in NE Essex; university (1964). Pop: 104 390 (2001). Latin name: Camulodunum Col•ches•ter n. a city in NE Essex, in E England. 149,100.

Want to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us , add a link to this page, or visit the webmaster's page for free fun content . Link to this page: Maldon References in periodicals archive ? THE Emperor Claudius spent just 16 days in Britain, long enough to lead his troops into Camulodunum and have his army build a huge fortress. Copyright © 2003-2017 Farlex, Inc Disclaimer All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional. Camulodunum - Unionpedia, the concept map Yes, please No, thanks Camulodunum Camulodunum (or; camvlodvnvm), the Ancient Roman name for what is now Colchester in Essex, was an important town in Roman Britain, and the first capital of the province.

[1] Anatolia Anatolia (from Greek Ἀνατολή, Anatolḗ — "east" or "(sun)rise"; in modern), in geography known as Asia Minor (from Mīkrá Asía — "small Asia"), Asian Turkey, Anatolian peninsula, or Anatolian plateau, is the westernmost protrusion of Asia, which makes up the majority of the Republic of Turkey. Archaeology Archaeology or archeology, is the study of human activity in the past, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that has been left behind by past human populations, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts (also known as eco-facts) and cultural landscapes (the archaeological record). Astures The Astures or Asturs, also named Astyrs, were the Hispano-Celtic inhabitants of the northwest area of Hispania that now comprises almost the entire modern autonomous community of Asturias, the modern province of León, and the northern part of the modern province of Zamora (all in Spain), and east of Trás os Montes in Portugal.

British Iron Age The British Iron Age is a conventional name used in the archaeology of Great Britain, referring to the prehistoric and protohistoric phases of the Iron Age culture of the main island and the smaller islands, typically excluding prehistoric Ireland, which had an independent Iron Age culture of its own. Cassius Dio Lucius (or Claudius) Cassius Dio (alleged to have the cognomen Cocceianus; Δίων Κάσσιος Κοκκηϊανός Dion Kassios Kokkeianos, c. AD 155–235), known in English as Cassius Dio, Dio Cassius, or Dio, was of Greek origin, Roman consul and noted historian who wrote in Greek. Constantine the Great Constantine the Great (Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinus Augustus; Greek: Κωνσταντίνος ὁ Μέγας; 27 February 272 ADBirth dates vary but most modern historians use 272". Lenski, "Reign of Constantine" (CC), 59.

– 22 May 337 AD), also known as Constantine I or Saint Constantine (in the Orthodox Church as Saint Constantine the Great, Equal-to-the-Apostles), was a Roman Emperor from 306 to 337 AD of Illyrian ancestry. Coracle The coracle is a small, lightweight boat of the sort traditionally used in Wales but also in parts of Western and South West England, Ireland (particularly the River Boyne), and Scotland (particularly the River Spey); the word is also used of similar boats found in India, Vietnam, Iraq and Tibet. Council for British Archaeology The Council for British Archaeology (CBA) was established in 1944 and is an educational charity working throughout the United Kingdom to involve people in archaeology and to promote the appreciation and care of the historic environment for the benefit of present and future generations. English Channel The English Channel (Manche, "Sleeve"; Mor Breizh, "Bretons Sea"; Mor Bretannek, "British Sea"), also called simply the Channel, is the body of water that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the southern part of the North Sea to the Atlantic Ocean.

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Gaul Gaul (Latin: Gallia) was a region of Western Europe during the Iron Age that was inhabited by Celtic tribes, encompassing present day France, Luxembourg, Belgium, most of Switzerland, parts of Northern Italy, as well as the parts of the Netherlands and Germany on the west bank of the Rhine. Insula (building) In Roman architecture, an insula (Latin for "island," plural insulae) was a kind of apartment building that housed most of the urban citizen population of ancient Rome, including ordinary people of lower- or middle-class status (the plebs) and all but the wealthiest from the upper-middle class (the equites).

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The subgenus is distinguished from other subgenera (peaches, cherries, bird cherries, etc.) in the shoots having a terminal bud and solitary side buds (not clustered), the flowers in groups of one to five together on short stems, and the fruit having a groove running down one side and a smooth stone (or pit). Roman army The Roman army (Latin: exercitus Romanus, literally: Roman Army; Ancient Greek: στρατός/φοσσᾶτον Ῥωμαίων, transcription: stratos/fossaton Romaion) is a term encompassing the terrestrial armed forces deployed by the Roman Kingdom (to c. 500 BC), the Roman Republic (500–31 BC), the Roman Empire (31 BC – 395/476 AD) and its successor the East Roman or Byzantine Empire.

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Camulodunum is claimed to be the oldest town in Britain as recorded by the Romans, existing as a Celtic settlement before the Roman conquest, when it became the first Roman town, and eventually a settlement of discharged Roman soldiers, known as Colonia Claudia Victricensis. There is archaeological evidence of settlement 3,000 years ago. Its Celtic name was "Camulodunon", meaning "the Fortress of Camulos " (Camulos being a British god equated with the Roman Mars ). This name was modified to the Roman spelling of "Camulodunum". Prehistoric era Camulodunon was the capital of the Trinovantes tribe, who built an impressive system of earthwork defences to the west and south of the town. It was probably established as their capital by Addedomarus , a king known from his inscribed coins dating to around 25 - 10 BC (at the time of Caesar's invasions of Britain in 55 and 54 BC, the tribe were probably based at Braughing ).

For a brief period around 10 BC Tasciovanus , a king of the Catuvellauni already issuing coins from Verlamion , also issued coins from Camulodunon, suggesting that the Trinovantes' capital had been conquered by the Catuvellauni, but he was soon forced to withdraw, perhaps as a result of Roman pressure – his later coins are no longer marked with the Latin REX (for "king"), but with the Brythonic RICON – and Addedomarus was restored. His son Dubnovellaunus succeeded him, but was soon supplanted by Tasciovanus' son Cunobelinus . Cunobelinus then succeeded his father at Verlamion, beginning the dominance of the Catuvellauni over the south-east. Cunobelinus was friendly with Rome, marking his coins with the word REX and classical motifs rather than the traditional Gallo-Belgic designs. Archaeology shows an increase in imported luxury goods, probably through the port of Caulodunon, during his reign. He was probably one of the British kings that Strabo says sent embassies to Augustus.

Strabo reports Rome's lucrative trade with Britain: the island's exports included grain, gold, silver, iron, hides, slaves and hunting dogs. Early Roman Camulodunum Cunobelinus had died prior to the Roman invasion under Aulus Plautius in 43, and the British defence was led by his sons Caratacus and Togodumnus . Plautius secured a crossing point of the River Thames , halted, and sent word for the emperor Claudius to lead the march to Camulodunon. Claudius arrived with reinforcements, including artillery and elephants, but as Suetonius and Claudius' triumphal arch state, the British kings surrendered without further bloodshed. A Roman legionary fortress or castrum , the first permanent legionary fortress to be built in Britain, was established at Camulodunum in 43. A veteran colony was established in an effort to subdue the Silures and as part of an attempt at Romanisation . Later it became a colonia – a settlement of discharged Roman soldiers – and the principal city of Roman Britain. A Roman monumental temple was built there c. 44 and was dedicated to the emperor Claudius.

According to Tacitus, in 60/61 when the Iceni and Trinovantes under Boudica revolted against Roman rule, the city was undefended by fortifications, and was only garrisoned by 200 members of the procurator's guard. The rebels destroyed the city. The settlement was a target for the rebels because the veterans who inhabited the city "drove people out of their houses, ejected them from their farms, called them captives and slaves". The temple, where the citizens had taken refuge, was destroyed after a two day siege. After the defeat of the uprising, the administrative centre of the Roman province moved to the newly established commercial settlement of Londinium ). 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 artifacts 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 . See also Camulodunum, Roman Colchester Camulodunum, Roman Colchester BY DAVID ROSS , EDITOR Camulodunum was the capital of the Trinovantes tribe in the years immediately preceeding the Roman invasion of Britain. The settlement is sometimes identified with modern Colchester, but that identification needs to be qualified. The original site was at Gosbeck's Farm, just outside Colchester. Around the year 5 AD Camulodunum fell to Cunobellinus (Shakespeare's Cymbeline) of the Cattevellauni tribe, who established a new capital covering 12 square miles at Sheepen. When the Romans invaded, this tribal settlement became the site of the capital of all of Roman Britain.

After 49 AD a new colonia was founded for veteran soldiers, and the former legionnary barracks were adapted for civilian use. The city was extended and a new temple built to the God-Emperor Claudius, but the city was levelled in the Boudiccan revolt of 63 AD. It took at least 15 years for Camulodunum to recover from the ravages of Boudicca, by which time London had become the new provincial capital. Related: Camulodunum : definition of Camulodunum and synonyms of Camulodunum (English) List of places: UK • England • Essex Camulodunum is the Roman name for the ancient settlement which is today's Colchester , a town in Essex , England. Camulodunum is claimed to be the oldest town in Britain as recorded by the Romans, existing as a Celtic settlement before the Roman conquest, when it became the first Roman town, and eventually a settlement of discharged Roman soldiers, known as Colonia Claudia Victricensis. There is archaeological evidence of settlement 3,000 years ago.

Its Celtic name was "Camulodunon", meaning "the Fortress of Camulos " (Camulos being a British god equated with the Roman Mars ). This name was modified to the Roman spelling of "Camulodunum". Contents 6 External links Prehistoric era Camulodunon was the capital of the Trinovantes tribe, who built an impressive system of earthwork defences to the west and south of the town. It was probably established as their capital by Addedomarus , a king known from his inscribed coins dating to around 25 - 10 BC (at the time of Caesar's invasions of Britain in 55 and 54 BC, the tribe were probably based at Braughing ).

For a brief period around 10 BC Tasciovanus , a king of the Catuvellauni already issuing coins from Verlamion , also issued coins from Camulodunon, suggesting that the Trinovantes' capital had been conquered by the Catuvellauni, but he was soon forced to withdraw, perhaps as a result of Roman pressure – his later coins are no longer marked with the Latin REX (for "king"), but with the Brythonic RICON – and Addedomarus was restored. His son Dubnovellaunus succeeded him, but was soon supplanted by Tasciovanus' son Cunobelinus . Cunobelinus then succeeded his father at Verlamion, beginning the dominance of the Catuvellauni over the south-east. [1] Cunobelinus was friendly with Rome, marking his coins with the word REX and classical motifs rather than the traditional Gallo-Belgic designs. Archaeology shows an increase in imported luxury goods, probably through the port of Camulodunon, during his reign. [2] He was probably one of the British kings that Strabo says sent embassies to Augustus .

Strabo reports Rome's lucrative trade with Britain: the island's exports included grain, gold, silver, iron, hides, slaves and hunting dogs. [3] Early Roman Camulodunum Roman sphinx sculpture found in Colchester Cunobelinus had died prior to the Roman invasion under Aulus Plautius in 43, and the British defence was led by his sons Caratacus and Togodumnus . Plautius secured a crossing point of the River Thames , halted, and sent word for the emperor Claudius to lead the march to Camulodunon. Claudius arrived with reinforcements, including artillery and elephants, [4] but as Suetonius and Claudius' triumphal arch state, the British kings surrendered without further bloodshed. [5] A Roman legionary fortress or castrum , the first permanent legionary fortress to be built in Britain, was established at Camulodunum in 43. A veteran colony was established in an effort to subdue the Silures and as part of an attempt at Romanisation . [6] Later it became a colonia – a settlement of discharged Roman soldiers – and the principal city of Roman Britain.

A Roman monumental temple was built there c. 44 and was dedicated to the emperor Claudius. [7] According to Tacitus, in 60/61 when the Iceni and Trinovantes under Boudica revolted against Roman rule, the city was undefended by fortifications, [8] and was only garrisoned by 200 members of the procurator's guard. [9] The rebels destroyed the city. The settlement was a target for the rebels because the veterans who inhabited the city "drove people out of their houses, ejected them from their farms, called them captives and slaves". [8] The temple, where the citizens had taken refuge, was destroyed after a two day siege. After the defeat of the uprising, the administrative centre of the Roman province moved to the newly established commercial settlement of Londinium ( London ). [10] Roman town Roman Mosaic found at Colchester 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 artifacts 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 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 . In 2005, what is up to now the only known Roman circus in Britain was discovered at Camulodunum. The structure is almost completely buried under current structures and occupations. See also Camulodunum - Gosbecks Archaeological Park destination Colchester's vision for Gosbecks. the future of the park, public consultation, the bigger view of Colchester's heritage, etc. The Historical Background. Evidence of human activity, as far back as 150,000 years, has been discovered. But apart from substantial archaeological finds from pre-history and the Bronze Age, we can only properly start to tell Gosbecks' story from the Iron Age period (500 BC to 43 AD). Let us start with the map shown here.

This shows how the southern part of Iron Age Britain was divided up by powerful tribal kingdoms of that time. The area that we now know as Essex and much of Suffolk was controlled by the British tribe known as the Trinovantes. We first learn of them from the historical record of Julius Caesar, from his two exploratory British campaigns in 55 and 54 BC. He told us that his principal opponents during the 54 BC campaign were the Catuvellauni and the Trinovantes. Just before Caesar's arrival, the Catuvellaunis had defeated and killed the Trinovantian king, whose young son, Mandubracius had then sought the protection of Caesar. His tribe had therefore become Caesar's allies. Camulodunum is the name that has come down through the annals of time. It was, many centuries ago, the name of the Colchester that we know today. Its meaning - the fortress of the war god Camulos. Camulos was a Celtic god, whose Roman equivalent would have been Mars. Here lived the Trinovantes. To the west were the Catuvellauni, to the north the Iceni and to their south, the Cantiaci.

Trinovantian lands stretched over a large part of modern day Essex and Suffolk and inter-tribal warfare was commonplace. The place called Camulodunum occupied an area of land that was located between the River Colne to the north and Roman River to the south. Over a period of time it became protected from attack by an incredible system of man made dykes, a series of earth banks and ditches. Most of these are still visible today. To give a good account of Gosbecks, we need to understand the people that once lived here. Gradually, the indigenous British people were being enjoined by Belgic people, from the continent, who probably came to Britain as a result of, or to escape, the upheaval caused by the expanding Roman Empire and, in particular, the Roman conquest of Gaul. Archaeologists are able to easily identify these Belgic incomers from a clear culture change. The Belgae brought with them; coinage (quite rare in Britain up until that time), metal brooches and different artistic styles. They brought wheel made pottery for the first time and their burial rites were quite different to that of the native inhabitants.

The indigenous Brits must have been seen as quite culturally backward by Belgic standards at that time. The picture by Peter Froste shows a group of Trinovantes at a graveside, burying one of their warriors. Several graves like this have been studied by archaeologists; the most famous ones being the tumulus at Fitzwalter Road and the Doctor's and the Warrior's graves at Stanway. With extensive gravel quarrying in the area, perhaps many more such sites have already been lost forever. We cannot say how smooth the transition of culture was, but the Belgae were renowned for their 'oppidae'. Their most important defended sites were known as oppidums, large areas of (usually low lying) land defended by massive linear dykes, behind which settlements and farmland could be better protected from attack. Gosbecks fits this description perfectly. The above map shows Camulodunum as it would have been after the Roman invasion of 43 AD. It shows how it was situated between the River Colne to the north and the Roman River to the south. Its defences to the east and west were substantial dyke systems.

Modern day Gosbecks formed only a small part of the settlement, with today's Colchester now covering most of the land that, under Cunobelin, became the largest and best defended 'oppidum' known in Britain. The area at Gosbecks would have been one of the most important areas of the whole of Camulodunum. Sheepen was known to have been an area of industry - but that is another story for another page. For now we concentrate on Gosbecks, at the centre of Camulodunum. Coin Evidence. So, from archaeological evidence, Gosbecks' history can certainly be traced to the middle of the first century BC. Coins were introduced to Britain by the Belgic people and give archaeologists a powerful tool for dating finds. Whilst the Belgic coinage that arrived in Britain gradually spread in use throughout the land, ascribing a mint or a date to it is not an easy matter. The first identifiable inscribed coinage to emerge in this area is that of Addedomaros, dating to around 35 BC. He issued gold staters (a large coin), as well as a range of silver and bronze coinage.

It is believed that he was the leader of the Trinovantes, whilst his contemporary was Tasciovanus of the neighbouring Catevellauni tribe, whose coins were being minted in Verulamium (modern day St Albans). For a time, Tasciovanus was minting coins from Camulodunum, with the tell-tale letters CAMU, suggesting an alliance or a conquest of some sort. He died around the year 7 AD. In due course, Addedomarus was succeeded by Dubnovellaunus and then Tasciovanus' son Cunobelin. It has been suggested that the Lexden Tumulus (as it is known, in Fitzwalter Road) was the burial place of Addedomarus, dated to around the year 1 AD. The grave contents were extensive and clearly belonged to a man of great importance. Cunobelin united the territories of the Trinovantes and the Catuvellauni to form the most powerful kingdom in Celtic Britain for the three decades before the Roman conquest in 43 AD.

The Roman Seutonius, in his 'Lives of the Caesars', described Cunobelin as 'Britannorum rex' - the king of the Britons. The several illustrations here show some of the images depicted on coins of the period. Cunobelin's first coins were minted in Camulodunum, with CAMU on one side and a two horse chariot or biga (as encountered by Caesar many years before), on the obverse. His later coins adopted an ear of wheat or barley, also CUNO, short for Cunobelin, as well as a single horse. Archaeologists have not only found many examples of Cunobelin's coins but also the coin moulds, found in the industrial area of Camulodunum at Sheepen. Tasciovanus died around the year 7 AD and was succeeded by his son Cunobelin. It is believed that Cunobelin was responsible for the merging of the Catuvellaunian kingdom with that of the Trinovantes. Cunobelin died around 41 AD.

His son Caratacus succeeded him but appears to have fled to Wales with another of his sons, Togodumnus, following the Claudian invasion. The opportunity for a Roman invasion was provided in 42 AD by the flight to Rome of Verica, King of the Atrebates of modern day Sussex. The Atrebates had been steadily encroached upon by the increasingly powerful Cunobelin and his sons. In 42 AD they were overrun by Caratacus and Togodumnus. Verica appealed to Claudius for assistance, giving the Romans a convenient reason for a full scale Roman invasion. After landing in Kent, the Roman army made their way to the most important settlement at Camulodunum, having dealt with attacks by Caratacus and Togodumnus on the way. They waited for Claudius to join them from Italy, before making the final leg of their journey, allegedly with elephants, leading a victorious army into Camulodunum. Note the coin on the right of the page above. What is the significance of the images? Is this the face of Cunobelin, with spiky hair and strong features.

On the reverse side, a winged seated goddess - an angel perhaps? The angel is very similar to that shown on the top of Longinus Sdapeze 's tombstone, now in the castle museum. In fact, take a look here at the virtual tour for the castle for other details of Gosbecks related material. So that is the background over with! Let us now talk about what we know of Camulodunum - and Gosbecks in particular. British warriors were renowned for their fighting techniques, using chariots, darting in and out of the defensive dyke system, harrying their opponents. Also, their hunting dogs were of great renown. This is a picture by Peter Froste showing warriors at Gosbecks, with the dyke structures in the background. With their spiky hair and blue woad war paint, they must have been formidable in battle. On the death of Cunobelin, his son Adminius took flight to seek help from the Emperor Caligula. His eldest son Togodumnus took over his father's kingdom and Caratacus embarked on invading lands to the south. Verica of the Atrebates then sought the help of the Emperor Claudius.

Gosbecks is probably where the Roman emperor Claudius accepted the surrender of eleven British kings in the year 43AD, after his short campaign of invasion and the conquest of south east Britain. We do not know this for sure but the presence of a Roman fort nearby, must give a fair clue to the significance of this particular area of Camulodunum. Of course it took many more years to conquer Britain; a task that was never actually completed. Among the eleven 'kings' were probably leaders of the neighbouring territories of the Iceni and the Coritani. Those who voluntarily submitted to Rome at Camulodunum were treated favourably, being allowed to govern themselves, but under Roman supervision. We know of two 'client kings', Prasutagus, king of the Iceni and husband to Boudica, and Cogidubnus (Tiberius Claudius Cogidubnus) who ruled in the south. These kings had a nominal authority over their people but were obligated to maintain Rome's interests rather than their own. They would have acted as a buffer between Roman held territory and any potential enemies. . The Trinovantes however, would have been treated very differently.

They were a defeated people who had few rights afforded to them. Their immediate future was to be a difficult one. A callous brutailty is recorded as being meted out on the Trinovantes. Their warring son Caratacus could not have helped their cause very much. Their lands were appropriated and given to the Roman soldiers who had settled in the new colonia that was fast becoming the new capital of Roman Britain. Thereafter, Gosbecks became a place of peace and of worship; a place where the British people lived alongside their Roman masters. The colonia at Camulodunum became a place where retired legionary (therefore Roman) soldiers could live and to relax in pleasant, and hopefully peaceful, surroundings - for a while at least! They were being rewarded with the gift of land taken from the native peoples. We should of course also mention Queen Boadicea at this point. She was the widow of the Iceni king Prasutagus who, when he died, was treated very badly by the Romans.

She was so enraged that she formed an army and marched south to the unfortified and undefended Camulodunum, where she was joined by the Trinovantes in destroying the Roman colonia, before continuing on to Londinium and then Verulamium - and then on to a nasty death at some unrecorded location. History does not record what punishment was visited on the people of Gosbecks but it must have been brutal. Eventually life would have returned to a peaceful state and the further romanisation of the British would have continued up until the Romans upped and left these shores in the year 410 AD. Two sides of a coin of Caratacus. CARATACUS One British king who did not bow down to Roman rule was Caratacus, another son of Cunobelin. For a short while Caratacus had formed a kingdom and was issuing coins in his name; although this was to be short lived. He was eventually captured by Scapula in 50 AD after Caratacus was betrayed and taken prisoner by Queen Cartimandua of the Brigante tribe.

To cut a long story short, Caratacus had won great acclaim and the people of Rome were anxious to see this famed Celtic hero. He and his family were taken to Rome to be paraded through the streets and to an uncertain end. However, it all seems to have ended well, with him remaining in Rome and living on astate pension as a Roman citizen. Did he ever return? We will never know. A FEW PERSONALITIES OF THE TIME Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus - known as the Emperor Claudius - 41 to 54 AD Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus - better known as the Emperor Nero - 54 to 68 AD Aulus Plautius become the first governor of Britain 43 to 47 AD. Publius Ostorius Scapula was appointed by Claudius as the second governor of Britain in 47 to 52 AD. Aulus Didius Gallus became the third governor of Britain 52 to 57 AD THE FAMILY TREE OF CUNOBELIN The above maps give a concentrated view of Gosbecks, showing the important temple and theatre locations and some of the many dykes and crop marks.

We have then added what we know of archaeological finds to modern day ordnance survey maps and aerial views, so that you can getter a good idea of how Camulodunum was situated in relation to modern day landmarks. Here you have an opportunity to explore your area and to imagine how our ancestors once lived 2000 years ago. Note the Roman road that leads directly to the colonia and would have brought people to the site for worship and/or entertainment. The illustration shows the type of Iron Age round house that the Trinovantes would have lived in. Archaeologists have identified the locations of these across Camulodunum by the marks made in the soil by the wooden posts. Very few round houses have been found at Gosbecks, perhaps because the site was special, a place of worship, a place for burying the dead, perhaps for animal management. Being on relatively high ground, the people would have lived on lower ground near to the rivers or where the spring water was nearby. Interpreting the landscape is not an easy matter, after over 2000 years of occupation and subsequent modern day farming methods.

Today, the site is protected as a Scheduled Ancient Monument, afforded the highest protection possible against damage of any kind. Roman Gosbecks The Roman invaders built a fort very close to Gosbecks, no doubt to keep a watchful eye on their troublesome subjects. This can be seen on the above map. However, this seems to have been short lived, with a further fortress being built on a nearby hillside, overlooking the whole of Camulodunum. This was located in the area of Head Street and St Mary at the Walls in the town centre. In the goodness of time, with the British people subdued and resigned to their new masters, that hilltop fortress became a colonia, a town by any other name. Here lived retired Roman soldiers in peace and harmony, together with a growing populace of British peoples, tradesmen and mercenaries, many from far flung places of the Roman empire. Meanwhile, the Romans spread further afield, intent on making the whole of Britain the northern frontier of the Roman Empire.

Gradually Camulodunum lost its importance, as Londinium (London) was developing as a major port (due to the all important and strategic bridge that was built to cross the Thames) and garrisons at York, Lincoln, Caerleon, etc. were established. At Camulodunum the Romans built two theatres and many temples. One of the theatres was at Gosbecks. A huge, and presumably very important, pre-Roman, Celtic temple at Gosbecks was enhanced with a Roman portico. This place would have been visited by thousands of people, as the size of the structures can testify. The following pictures show how both the theatre and temple at Gosbecks might have looked in the 1st and 2nd centuries AD. The theatre at Gosbecks (above). One of only five that we know of in Roman Britain and this one was the largest of them all. Today, only a slight earthwork remains, marked on the ground and with an information board close by. The other theatres that we know of in Britain are: another in Colchester centre and another in St Albans ( Verulamium ).

The theatre at Verulamium is surprisingly well preserved and has been put on view to the public. A visit is to be recommended. Then there is the Roman theatre at Canterbury (Durovernum Cantiacorum) and what is thought to be a theatre at Cirencester. Not to be confused with amphitheatres, theatres hosted events such as plays, pantomimes, choral events, and orations. Their design, with its semicircular form, enhances the natural acoustics, unlike Roman amphitheatres constructed in the round and which would feature races and gladiatorial events. We do not know whether Colchester had an amphitheatre. One has never been found and hopefully none ever will be. Wouldn't an amphitheatre spoil our image as a place of peaceful retirement, for the pursuit of the arts and to encourage harmony with the indigenous people of Britain? The Temple at Gosbecks. The central part of the temple dates from at least 100 years before the Roman invasion and comprised a ditched enclosure with a shrine. During the Roman period, a massive portico was built to surround it, with a single entrance point.

This would have been for what we now term 'pagan' worship. Christianity was not to come to Britain until 330 AD. Today, the temple footprint is marked out on the ground and with a nearby information board. Both the theatre and the temple are marked out in the grass at Gosbecks today as part of the park interpretations. The above illustration is of how archaeologists believe the temple structure would have looked. It is this design that is felt should be reconstructed at Gosbecks, for educational and interpretation purposes. The Roman builders followed set mathematical standards of construction. Just as the Temple of Claudius, over which our Norman castle was built, had a standard layout for its columns, the portico for the Gosbecks temple followed the same rules.. The rules were those of the Roman architect Vitruvius. One of Colchester Museum's most important artefacts is a statue of the Roman god Mercury. It was ploughed up by a farmer in the 1940's close to the temple and remained in his shed for many years. Experts tell us that it is from the Roman period, although we can only guess at any significance attached to where it was found.

It is said to be one of the finest Roman bronze sculptures so far found in Britain. Our modern day Mercury Theatre in Colchester took its name from this statue and a replica is to be seen on the roof of the building. Today's Gosbecks Archaeological Park The above aerial view shows modern day Gosbecks Archaeological Park, with the boundary coloured in blue, the Temple, the Theatre, the Fort and the Roman Road leading to the colonia, in red. Also shown is a suggested location for a full sized marking out of the 2004 discovered Roman circus. It has been suggested that the shape could be mowed into the grass for open day chariot racing activities of a very Roman type. Gosbecks is the modern day name (taken from a medieval period land owner) for an area that formed a part of Iron Age Camulodunum. It is located on a gravel spur overlooking the Roman River. The present day Gosbecks Archaeological Park, 66 hectares in area, makes up approx. 2% of the total area that was Camulodunum of around 3200 hectares. A Timeline.

Sadly, history does not record the people of Gosbecks, the indigenous Britons, the Trinovantes, etc. after Boadicea's destruction. We can only conclude that the idea of tribal identity gradually disappeared as the Roman way of life became the only way that was allowed. Today we have no concept of ancestral connection with the Trinovantes, having become used, instead, to our ancestral associations with other, more recent, invaders, the Anglo-Saxons, the Normans, the Hugeonots, etc. The writings of Tacitus, Dio Cassius, Ptolemy, etc. only recorded the lives of Britons in the 1st century AD, mainly due to their warlike activities and the bruatl suppression meted out by the Romans. Over the many centuries since the Romans left, the Dark Ages brought Danes and Saxons and perhaps a Viking or two. William the Duke of Normandy built the largest Norman keep over the Temple of Claudius in the old colonia and life went on - as it tends to do.

The land that became known as Gosbecks was farmed, the materials used by the Romans to build the theatre and the temple at Gosbecks was robbed away very effectively (probably in the 11th century) to enable other buildings to be constructed. In so doing our Roman heritage was largely destroyed. The ditches and dykes either flattened down through natural forces or were infilled and levelled, so that better use could be made of the land through farming. Then along came the industrial revolution, Watt's steam engine, the Victorians and their inventions that led to the production of flying machines, later named aircraft. The First World War saw aircraft technology improve and, when the war was over, aircraft became a rich man's pastime. One of those early pilots looked out of his cockpit one day and saw odd looking marks on the ground below. These turned out to be crop marks, made by the process of soil quality dispersal over hundreds (if not thousands) of years, brought about by long gone ditches and man made earth workings. The next step was to photograph these marks and then to dig some holes in the ground to see what they were all about.

Whilst farmers had known of the presence of substantial stone foundations below ground from early days (recorded from the 1840's at least) due to their ploughs making contact with them, gradually it dawned on archaeologists the significance of what had been found. The following picture shows an example of aerial photography, together with an inset sketch of what turned out to be Iron Age enclosures. Later archaeological excavations made some incredible discoveries. Sadly, the quest for gravel, meant that this site was completely destroyed by quarrying. But not before the site had given up many of its secrets, from a time around 2000 years ago. This Iron Age burial site is what has become known as the Stanway Graves site, now swallowed up by quarries and landfill sites. Perhaps we will give details of the finds here at a later date. Again, here is another aerial photograph, showing what has been called Cunobelin's Homestead,. Whether or not his home, this piece of land is in private ownership and it would be good if it could be brought into public ownership. See the map above to see where this fits in. The temple is shown bottom right, the theatre bottom left.

1980's The Barbour Family, who had farmed the land for many years, decided on a plan to develop some of the land for housing and to donate the archaeologically interesting area to the borough. They had been severely limited by heritage led restrictions to what ploughing depth they could use on the land, making the land unprofitable for farming. Oct 1989 National Archaeology Days for 5 years. 600 people in wet summer of 1995. In 1997 numbers had risen to 3,500. Public very supportive - no adverse comment detected. In 1997, Colchester Borough Council agreed in principle to develop Gosbecks Archaeological Park into a £10 million heritage attraction. A team of consultants was engaged with a view to providing a visitor attraction that would interpret the historic nature of the site whilst developing its environmental character. By 1998, their plans had been finalised and they had submitted a Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) bid for the new Visitor Centre. The bid was unfortunately turned down.

· Apart from some of the donated money (around £60,000) being spent on developing the site by providing a car park, some fencing, the marking out of the temple and theatre and some signs,etc, the balance is in the bank and being used for site maintenance. This is a source of disappointment to both: the Barbour family, who had owned and farmed the land for many years and who had given the money for the stated purpose and to the people of Colchester, who had expected great things to be done for the park - rather than to make it the dog walking park that it has since become. However, CBC see this money as future maintenance funding to be used as they see fit. Only public opinion would change their minds, we believe. History Alive On 18th July 2010, our Town Guides came to Gosbecks to present their 'History Alive' display, a series of five playlets, explaining to guests some of the history of Camulodunum Park at Gosbecks. The following photographs gives a flavour of their presentation. A British women of the Trinovantes explains about the food that she has prepared, the ingredients and her dislike for the Romans.

She demonstrated cooked nettles, various beans, ale, breads, fruits, herbs, etc. Togodumnus, brother of Caratacus received an earbashing from his nagging wife who wants to be queen, now that Cunobelin is dead. But he would rather go fishing . A group of British women discuss the likelihood of a Roman invasion and how their life might change as slaves under the Romans. Two druids discuss the future under threat from the Romans and how they might fare. The casting of divining rods and the study of animal entrails led them to conclude the worst. Marcus Favonius Facilis, a Roman centurion, gave a talk to the Brits about how things were going to be under Roman occupation and all the nasty things that were going to happen under their peaceful rule. The druids decided to scarper, closely followed by a Roman soldier with murderous intent. The finale. An excellent series of stories, worthy of inclusion as part of the new interpretation centre displays.

Our Vision In 2010, we made Camulodunum Park at Gosbecks the subject of a campaign to develop the site in accordance with the wishes of the Barbour family (who donated the park with a £500,000 dowry) and for the benefit of Colchester in general. Our vision was turned into a Vision Document which may be downloaded and viewed here . We, at Camulos, started a process of consultation and implementation of our aims through media, open day activities, schools awareness events, etc. However, this was soon brought to a speedy close when we were told by the LibDem leader of Colchester Borough Council that the money given for development of the site in 1997, not only does not grow with investment interest but that it was to be used for maintenance only, not development. Grass cutting, fence repairs, weed control, etc. is all that the money is to be used for. Such is the interest in Colchester's fantastic heritage by Colchester Borough Council. If you believe in our vision and would like to get involved or kept informed, please contact us at Epilogue What would have been the worst nightmare for the Trinovantes when Cunobelin died?

Here was a powerful king who had terrorised tribes all over the south of Britannia. He was probably a quite unpleasant sort of person. Only 100 years previously, within living memory, his Belgic ancestors had fled Gaul to escape the tyranny of the equally unpleasant Roman Empire and had come to Britain to start a new life. Gradually the Belgae had become Trinovantes and had worked their way up to such an extent that they had become the rulers of their new people and homeland. They had successfully fought off Julius Caesar's attempt at an invasion in 54 and 55 BC. The Romans had always been at their door but had never been allowed to get a proper foothold. The Trinovantes had clearly enjoyed much trade with Rome, judging by the archaeological finds - especially the funerary ones. Cunobelin had inherited his warrior mentality from his father Tasciovanus, and his sons were heading the same way. Their aim seemed to be to rule the whole of southern Britain. As a result, after Cunobelin died, his sons stepped up the pressure on the Atrebates, leading to their chief, Verica, pleading for help from the Roman emperor Claudius.

Thus the Romans invaded Britain. The Belgic people, who had escaped Roman domination in Gaul and had fought so hard to keep the Romans at bay, were at last forced to accept Roman rule as a result of their own behaviour towards a neighbouring tribe. They had, effectively, brought trouble upon themselves. An interesting question would be - how many modern day Trinovantes (especially the people of Colchester) have true British blood? A few hooligans at the Weston Homes Community Stadium could perhaps find a DNA connection with Cunobelin himself. It's an interesting thought! We are attempting to find out. Why not find out more here ? With special thanks to Peter Froste for permission to use his conjectural drawings and illustrations shown on this page. Also to:

Question: Camulodunum was the roman name for which town?
Answer: Colchester