1000+ images about Antonine Wall of Scotland on Pinterest | Emperor, Bar and Search Forward The Bridgeness Slab (RIB 2139) was found in Bo'ness, Scotland in 1869 on a promotory close to Harbour Road. The slab is a Roman Distance slab, marking a portion of the Antonine Wall built by the Second Legion, (Legio II Augusta) and was created around 142 CE. See More BBC - Scotland's History - The Antonine Wall Scotland's History Articles The Antonine Wall The Antonine Wall Great walls stretching across the country from coast to coast. Roads, forts, bathhouses, bridges and art works. All this graphically proclaimed the might of Rome. They brought a style of civlisation which influenced the peoples of Scotland long after they had packed up and gone back to Rome, an influence which was violently resisted by the tribes of the north. Hadrian's Wall In 122 AD the Emperor Hadrian ordered the construction of a wall: running for 120 km between the Solway and the Tyne it was designed to establish the bounds of the Roman Empire, but not of Roman power.

North of Hadrian's Wall the Romans built forts like Newstead on the River Tweed, made treaties with local tribes to protect their frontier, and kept a careful eye on the locals through a system of scouts. Relationships with the Caledonian tribes north of the wall were, however, tenuous. Antoninus Pius was the man who gave his name to the Antonine Wall of 142 AD, which runs between the the Rivers Clyde and Forth, extending Roman Britannia north from Hadrian's Wall. The wall was designed as a frontier for the empire, and a barrier to raiding Caledonian tribes. The Antonine Wall The Adobe Flash player and Javascript are required in order to view a video which appears on this page. You may wish to download the Adobe Flash player . As successor to Hadrian, Antoninus Pius found that he needed the prestige of a military triumph to boost his imperial reputation in Rome. In 138 AD he ordered his legions to advance to the Forth/ Clyde isthmus and construct a new frontier. Just 20 years after the construction of Hadrian's Wall, another was in progress.

The Wall stretched from West Kilpatrick on the Clyde to Carriden on the Forth. It took the 6th and 20th legions, with auxiliary troops, only two years to construct its 36 miles of rampart, ditch, road way and the 20 or so forts long its length. It was occupied for over 25 years. It is a tribute to the skill of the Roman engineers that the great engineers who built the Forth Clyde Canal or the Edinburgh to Glasgow Railway used the same line across the country. The wall's rampart was 39,726 Roman paces or 36 miles, 620 yards long. Made of turf taken from local pastures it rose to a height of around 20 ft from a 24ft stone foundation. On its northern side, along the whole length of the wall, ran a huge ditch, 20 feet deep and 40 feet wide, which some believe could have been filled with water if the northern tribes threatened. Along the wall were probably about 20 forts: three at each end and one every two miles between.

Some of these were possibly sited on forts Agicola had used before he invaded northern Scotland in 83 AD. All the forts were connected by a roman road, known as the military way, that ran behind the southern side of the rampart for communication and moving troops. Beacons were also sited along the wall's length as an early warning system in the event of attack. The Antonine Wall served to protect the province of Britainnia from the Caledonian tribes. If they did attempt to raid across the wall they would have to breach its defences. Once they managed that, the Romans would have allowed them to cross over, then would have cut them off with troops arriving from the wall's major garrisons along the military way. The wall may also have operated as a customs and surveillance post. Trade flowed across the frontier but it all had to pass through the gates of the wall forts where information could be gathered and taxes collected. Small settlements near the forts would thrive on the cross border trade and the revenues from supplying the troops with local goods. Soon after the Emperor Antonine died, his successor, Marcus Aurelius, moved the frontier back to the more easily defendable Hadrian's Wall.

Antonine's symbolic triumph was no longer required. More articles Castlecary Roman Fort and Tower | Argyll, Clyde and Ayrshire | Castles, Forts and Battles History A Roman Fort at Castlecary was first established in the AD 80s during the campaigns of General Gnaeus Julius Agricola. Since his appointment as the senior Roman military commander in Britannia, he had mounted successful attacks in Northern England and Wales. By AD 81 he had moved into Scotland but, before advancing on Grampian, consolidated his advance by establishing a number of forts along the Clyde/Forth isthmus. Unfortunately archaeological evidence for where these forts were located is scant. Based on a limited number of finds the following locations have been mooted; Old Kilpatrick, Balmuildy, Cadder, Mumrills and Castlecary itself. The fort was probably occupied throughout AD 82 and AD 83 during which Agricola was campaigning in the north culminating in his victory at the Battle of Mons Graupius and establishment of a Legionary base at Inchtuthil .

In AD 86 Rome shifted from a four to three Legion policy for Britannia with the Second Adiutrix Legion (Legio II Adiutrix Pia Fidelis) redeployed to Dacia (modern day Moldova). With the removal of the 5,000+ man Legionary force plus a large number of supporting Auxiliary regiments, sustaining an occupation of Scotland was no longer viable. The Romans commenced a phased withdrawal to the Solway/Tyne isthmus which was eventually consolidated into Hadrian's Wall in AD 122. Castlecary was abandoned as part of this general drawdown. Hadrian died in AD 138 and his successor, perhaps for political reasons, pursued an expansionist policy. The Roman Legions once again moved into Scotland re-establishing the frontier along the Clyde/Forth isthmus. The Antonine Wall , running from Bo'ness to Old Kilpatrick, controlled this strip of land with forts spread along its length. Although the plan for the frontier's configuration was modified as the Wall was constructed, both original and revised intentions required a fort at Castlecary. Accordingly the fort here was rebuilt albeit now aligned with the rampart.

Castlecary Fort enclosed an area of three and a half acres. Configured in the traditional playing card shape, it was one of only two forts on the Antonine Wall that was built of stone rather than turf and timber (the other was Balmuildy). The fort was supported by an annexe - a fortified area attached to the eastern side of the defences - that provided a secure compound presumably for workshops and other military activities. Occupied for the entire duration of the Antonine Wall, the fort was garrisoned by the First Cohort of Tungrians (cohors I Tungrorum milliaria peditata), a Regiment recruited in Northern Spain. At some point during the forts use they were replaced by the First Cohort of Batavians (cohors I Batavorum) from modern day Holland. Like nearby Rough Castle , there is some evidence of significant fighting at Castlecary between AD 155 and 166 which may well have accounted for the change in Regiment. The fort was abandoned when the Romans returned the frontier to Hadrian's Wall around AD 160 although it is possible there was periodic, perhaps expeditionary, use of Castlecary into the later second century.

Castlecary Tower The earliest references to a post-Roman fortification at Castlecary date from 1304 when Edward I ordered military forces to muster there. Perhaps this structure was a motte-and-bailey but evidence for its existence is scant. There was still some form of residence there in 1450 when a posthumous record relating to Robert Livingstone noted his forfeiture of the estate. It clearly returned to his family as his son, Henry Livingston, was credited with raising Castlecary Tower. Built re-using stone from nearby Castlecary Roman Fort, it was originally intended to be constructed in an 'L' plan configuration but either this was abandoned or else it was later partially demolished. The site was originally surrounded by a curtain wall. Henry granted Castlecary Tower his son, Patrick, in 1491 and it remained with the Livingston family until the mid-seventeenth century. Thereafter it was sold to Patrick Baillie and later passed to James Dundas when he married Bethia Baillie. The Dundas family were prosperous merchants and opposed the Jacobite rebellions; accordingly Castlecary Tower was attacked and burnt during the 1715 rebellion.

It was later restored and today the site is a private residence with no public access. Bibliography Bailey, G B and Moore, M (2003). The Antonine Wall: Rome's Northern Frontier. Falkirk Council, Falkirk. Breeze, D.J (2011). The Frontiers of Imperial Rome. Pen and Sword Books Ltd, Barnsley. Breeze, D.J (2006). The Antonine Wall. Birlinn Ltd, Edinburgh. Burns R (2009). The Last Frontier: The Roman Invasions of Scotland. Neil Wilson Publishing, London. CANMORE (2016). Castlecary. Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland Fields, N (2005). Rome’s Northern Frontier AD 70-235. Osprey, Oxford. MacDonald, G (2010). The Roman Wall in Scotland. General Books, London. Maxwell, G.S (1989). The Romans in Scotland. Mercat Press, Edinburgh. RCAHMS (2008). The Antonine Wall, 1:25,000 Scale.

RCAHMS, Edinburgh. Robertson, A. S and Keppie, L (1990). The Antonine Wall: A handbook to the surviving remains (4th edition). Glasgow Archaeological Society, Glasgow. Shotter, D (1998). The Roman Frontier in Britain. Carnegie Publishing Ltd, London. Skinner, D. N (1973). The countryside of the Antonine Wall: A survey and recommended policy statement. Countryside Commission, Perth. Southern, P (2011). Ancient Rome - The Empire 30 BC to AD 476. Amberley Publishing, London. Tranter, N (1962). The fortified house in Scotland. Edinburgh. Hadrian's Wall - Ancient History Encyclopedia Hadrian's Wall by Joshua J. Mark published on 15 November 2012 Hadrian ’s Wall (known in antiquity as the Vallum Hadriani or the Vallum Aelian) is a defensive frontier work in northern Britain which dates from 122 CE. The wall ran from coast to coast at a length of 73 statute miles (120 km).

Though the wall is commonly thought to have been built to mark the boundary line between Britain and Scotland , this is not so; no one knows the actual motivation behind its construction but it does not delineate a boundary between the two countries. While the wall did simply mark the northern boundary of the Roman Empire in Britain at the time, theories regarding the purpose of such a massive building project range from limiting immigration, to controlling smuggling, to keeping the indigenous people at bay north of the wall. Its military effectiveness has been questioned by many scholars over the years owing to its length and the positioning of the fortifications along the route. Regarding this, Professors Scarre and Fagan write, Archaeologists and historians have long debated whether Hadrian’s Wall was an effective military barrier…Whatever its military effectiveness, however, it was clearly a powerful symbol of Roman military might. The biographer of Hadrian remarks that the emperor built the wall to separate the Romans from the barbarians. In the same way, the Chinese emperors built the Great Wall to separate China from the barbarous steppe peoples to the north. In both cases, in addition to any military function, the physical barriers served in the eyes of their builders to reinforce the conceptual divide between civilized and noncivilized.

They were part of the ideology of empire . (Ancient Civilizations, 313) The suggestion that Hadrian’s Wall, then, was built to hold back or somehow control the people of the north does not seem as likely as that it was constructed as a show of force. This seems to be the best explanation for the underlying motive behind the construction of Hadrian’s Wall. The Romans had been dealing with uprisings in Britain since their conquest of the region. Although Rome ’s first contact with Britain was through Julius Caesar ’s expeditions there in 55/54 BCE, Rome did not begin any systematic conquest until the year 43 CE under the Emperor Claudius . The revolt of Boudicca of the Iceni in 60/61 CE resulted in the massacre of many Roman citizens and the destruction of major cities (among them, Londinium, modern London) and, according to the historian Tacitus (56-117 CE), fully demonstrated the barbaric ways of the Britons to the Roman mind. Boudicca’s forces were defeated at The Battle of Watling Street by General Gaius Suetonius Paulinus in 61 CE.

At the Battle of Mons Graupius, in the region which is now Scotland, the Roman General Gnaeus Julius Agricola won a decisive victory over the Caledonians under Calgacus in 83 CE. Both of these engagements, as well as the uprising in the north in 119 CE (suppressed by Falco) substantiated that the Romans were up to the task of managing the indigenous people of Britain. The suggestion that Hadrian’s Wall, then, was built to hold back or somehow control the people of the north does not seem as likely as that it was constructed as a show of force. Hadrian’s foreign policy was consistently “peace through strength” and the wall would have been an impressive illustration of that principle. In the same way that Julius Caesar built his famous bridge across the Rhine in 55 BCE simply to show that he, and therefore Rome, could go anywhere and do anything, Hadrian perhaps had his wall constructed for precisely the same purpose. Remove Ads Advertisement Emperor Hadrian (born Publius Aelius Hadrianus in 76 CE) ruled the Roman Empire from 117-138 CE.

His building projects, especially in Greece , are legendary and his penchant for ambitious monuments is exemplified in his eponymous wall. The work was begun in stone (unlike other fortifications which began with timber) in the east and proceeded westward across uneven terrain to create an impressive reflection of the power of Rome. The wall was originally 9.7 feet wide (3 metres) and 16-20 feet high (six metres) east of the River Irthing, all built of stone, and 20 feet wide (6 metres) by 11feet high (3.5 metres) west of the river, made up of stone and turf, stretching 73 miles (120 km) across the breadth of the land. This ambitious building project was completed within six years through the labour of the Roman legions stationed in Britain. Plans for the construction of the wall were in place prior to Hadrian’s visit to Britain in 122 CE and, perhaps, construction had already begun before the traditional date assigned for the initial work on the wall, possibly as early as 118 CE.

There were between 14-17 fortifications along the length of the wall and a Vallum (a ditch purposefully constructed of earthworks) which ran parallel to the wall. The Vallum measured 20 feet (6 metres) wide by 10 feet (3 metres) deep, flanked by large mounds of tightly packed earth. It is this composition of the site which has given rise to the traditional interpretation of the wall as a defensive work built to repel invasion from the north. The Vallum was built after the construction of the wall and the forts as evidenced by its deviation from existing ruins and the clear indication of causeways across the ditch at intervals which correspond to established fortification sites. When the Antonine Wall was constructed further north (in c. 142 CE by Emperor Antoninus Pius ) the Vallum appears to have been partially filled in for easier passage. The Antonine Wall was built after Hadrian’s Wall had been abandoned as an outpost and was positioned further to the north in present-day Scotland between the Firth of Forth and the Firth of Clyde.

The Antonine Wall was perhaps constructed to serve the same purpose as Hadrian’s Wall but is thought to have functioned more pragmatically than the earlier construct. Hadrian’s Wall is thought to have been plastered and white washed so that it would be a shining beacon of the might of Rome, visible from considerable distances. The Antonine Wall does not suggest this same grandeur nor, in spite of the many fortifications along its route, the same intent in design and construction. Emperor Marcus Aurelius (ruled 161-180 CE) drew the Roman legions back from the Antonine Wall to Hadrian’s Wall under his reign and fortified the garrisons in his efforts to maintain the boundaries of the Empire. Hadrian’s great monument to Rome’s might continued as an impressive affirmation until 410 CE when the Roman legions left Britain. Activity around and along the wall seems to have continued as evidenced by archaeological finds but a disciplined Roman presence after 410 is not signified. Hadrians Wall, Roman Frontier Wall in Britain Hadrian's Wall, World Heritage Site Hadrian's Wall became a World Heritage site in 1987.

The World Heritage site now consists of various parts of the e Roman Empire border in the 2nd century A.D. These Roman Lines" stretched some 5,000kms from the Atlantic coast of northern Britain, through Central Europe to the Black Sea, and on to the Red Sea, across North Africa to the Atlantic coast. Parts still remain of the ramparts, walls and ditches, watchtowers, forts, and civilian settlements, across this vast area. . The part of the frontier in Upper German and Raetian between the rivers Rhine and Danube was made a World heritage site in 2005, as an extension of Hadrian’s Wall. Other parts of the frontier will be eventually added. Austria, Hungary, Slovakia and Croatia, as well as the Antonine Wall in the UK, are all likely to be put forward as part of this World Heritage Site. Hadrian's Wall (In Latin it was called Vallum Hadriani) was a stone and turf fortification built across the width of Britain. Its purpose was to curtail military raids by the Scottish tribes into Roman controlled areas and to physically define the frontier of the Empire.

Today the wall is in Eng lend, and does not, as is sometimes thought, actually define the border between Scotland and England today. The wall was the most heavily fortified border in the Empire. It is believed that the gates in the wall acted as customs posts to allow trade and taxes to be collected. A reasonable portion of the wall still exists. This tends to be the part in the centre of its length, where there have not been pressures of population. Most of the wall can be followed on foot. Hadrian's Wall ran due west, from Wallsend on the River Tyne to the shore of the Solway Firth on the other side of England. It was about 120 km long. The Roman Emperor Hadrian (76-138).visited Britain in AD 122 and commissioned the wall. Hadrian was under pressure all across his empire - Egypt, Judea, Libya, Mauretania were all causing him concern. The wall was a symbol of Roman power, both in Britain and in Rome. Fifteen years after its completion, a turf fortification, the Antonine Wall, was built further north to run between the Clyde and Forth.

The Antonine Wall was shorter in length, 40 Roman miles (about 60 km) and had significantly more forts than Hadrian's Wall. It was garrisoned with the same number of men, and more advanced with large platforms for ballistae. However within one generation the Antonine Wall had been abandoned, and Hadrian's Wall was reoccupied. . Antonine was unable to conquer the northern tribes and so when Marcus Aurelius became emperor, he abandoned the Antonine Wall and occupied Hadrian's Wall once again in 164. It remained occupied by Roman troops until their withdrawal from Britain. Frontiers in the early Roman Empire were based on natural features and it was not until the reign of Domitian that the first physical frontier was constructed, in Germania Superior, using a fence. Hadrian improved on this idea, by building a continuous timber palisade backed by forts. Hadrian reduced the Roman garrison in the territory of the Brigantes and built his wall to the north of them. This new wall replaced Stanegate road which had been the boundary of the Roman Empire. Construction of Hadrians Wall started in 122 and took about ten years to finish.

Soldiers from the three Roman legions in Britain did the construction work. The route of the wall ran parallel to Stanegate road from Carlisle to Corbridge. The plan was for a ditch and a wall with 80 small milecastle forts every Roman mile. Each milecastle fort would contain about 20 soldiers. Between each milecastle would be two intermediate turrets for observation. The wall was to be 3 metres wide and 5 or 6 metres high. Local limestone was to be quarried for the building - except west of Irthing where turf was used instead as there was no nearby stone. The turf wall was 6 metres wide and 3.5m high. Milecastles in this area were also built from timber and earth rather than stone. Each Roman legion— the Second, Sixth, and Twentieth Legions - built their milecastle forts to a slightly different design, and there are three different turret designs. Each 5 miles was assigned a contingent from a particular legion. One cohort would then build the foundations and the milecastles and turrets. Another cohort would then follow on to build the wall itself. Soon the wall design was narrowed to 2.5 metres wide.

Then 14 full-sized forts were added along the wall, including Housesteads and Birdoswald. Each of these held a garrison of 500 to 1000 auxiliary troops (no legions were posted to the wall). The total number of soldiers manning the entire length of the early wall was probably greater than 10,000.The eastern end of the wall was extended east from Pons Aelius (Newcastle) to Wallsend on the Tyne estuary. Also some time still during Hadrian's reign (before 138 AD) the wall west of the Irthing was rebuilt in sandstone to the same size as the limestone section to the east. The Vallum was also added on the southern side. It was a large, flat-bottomed ditch 6m wide at the top and 3m deep bounded by a substantial earth bank on each side (called berms). So in the end the defensive system was pretty formidable, from north to south there was:- a deep ditch armed with rows of pointed stakes the Wall itself military road (the "Military Way") Vallum — two huge banks with a ditch between.

By 410, the Roman administration and its army had left Britain .Archaeology is revealing that some parts of the Wall remained occupied well into the 5th century. But in time the wall was abandoned and fell into ruin. Over the centuries a proportion of the stone was "liberated" for use in local buildings. The National Trust owns 6 miles of the Wall, running west from Housesteads Fort to Cawfields Quarry. Access to the Wall and the public rights of way is from car parks operated by the Northumberland National Park Authority at Housesteads, Steel Rigg and Cawfields. Housesteads Fort is owned by the National Trust, and maintained and managed by English Heritage Antonine Wall – HeritageDaily – Heritage & Archaeology News Send email Mail The Antonine Wall is a stone and turf fortification built by the Romans across what is now the Central Belt of Scotland, between the Firth of Forth and the Firth of Clyde. Representing the northernmost frontier barrier of the Roman Empire, it spanned approximately 63 kilometres (39 miles) and was about 3 metres (10 feet) high and 5 metres (16 feet) wide.

Security was bolstered by a deep ditchon the northern side. The barrier was the second of two “great walls” created by the Romans in Northern Britain. Its ruins are less evident than the better known Hadrian’s Wall to the south. Construction began in 142 AD at the order of Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius, and took about 12 years to complete. Pressure from the Caledonians may have led Antoninus to send the empire’s troops further north. The wall was protected by 16 forts with a number of small fortlets between them; troop movement was facilitated by a road linking all the sites known as the Military Way. The soldiers who built the wall commemorated the construction and their struggles with the Caledonians in a number of decorative slabs, twenty of which still survive. Despite this auspicious start the wall was abandoned after only 20 years, and the garrisons relocated back to Hadrian’s Wall. In 208 Emperor Septimius Severus re-established legions at the wall and ordered repairs; this has led to the wall being referred to as the Severan Wall. However, the occupation ended only a few years later, and the wall was never fortified again.

Most of the wall and its associated fortifications have been destroyed over time, but some remains are still visible. Many of these have come under the care of Historic Scotland and the UNESCO World Heritage Committee. Hadrians Wall Add Hadrians.Com to your favorites (or Press Ctrl and D) ANCIENT ROME @ HADRIANS Hadrian's Wall. Hadrian's Wall (Latin: Vallum Hadriani) was a stone and turf fortification, built by the Romans across the width of Great Britain to prevent military raids by the Pictish tribes of Scotland to the north, to improve economic stability and provide peaceful conditions in the south, to define the frontier physically and to separate the unruly Selgovae tribe in the north from the Brigantes in the south and discourage them from uniting. The name is also sometimes used jocularly as a synonym for the border between Scotland and England, although for most of its length the wall follows a line well south of the modern border ï¿½ and neither Scots nor English lived in Britain at the time of the wall's construction. The wall was the northern border of the Empire in Britain for most of the Roman Empire's rule, and also the most heavily fortified border in the Empire.

In addition to its use as a military fortification, it is thought that the gates through the wall would also have served as customs posts to allow trade to be taxed. A significant portion of the wall still exists, particularly the mid-section, and for much of its length, the wall can be followed on foot. It is the most popular tourist attraction in Northern England, where it is often known simply as the Roman Wall. It was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. English Heritage describes it as "the most important monument built by the Romans in Britain". [1] Contents: 1 Route 7 In fiction The Route of Hadrian's Wall Hadrian's Wall ran for 120 km, virtually due west, from Wallsend on the River Tyne to the shore of the Solway Firth. The A69 and B6318 roads largely follow the course of the wall as it starts in Newcastle upon Tyne to Carlisle, then on round the northern coast of Cumbria. The wall is entirely in England and south of the border with Scotland by 15 km in the west and 110 km in the east.

Hadrian Hadrian's Wall was built following a visit by Roman Emperor Hadrian . Hadrian was experiencing military difficulties not just in Britain, but from the peoples of various conquered lands across the Empire, including Egypt, Judea, Libya, Mauretania, and many of the peoples conquered by his predecessor Trajan, so was keen to impose order. However the construction of such an impressive wall was probably also built as a symbol of Roman power, both in occupied Britain and in Rome. Frontiers in the early empire were based more on natural features or fortified zones with a heavy military presence. Military roads or limes often marked the border, with forts and signal towers spread along them and it was not until the reign of Domitian that the first solid frontier was constructed, in Germania Superior, using a simple fence. Hadrian expanded on this idea, redesigning the German border by ordering a continuous timber palisade supported by forts behind it. Although such defences would not have held back any concerted invasion effort, they did physically mark the edge of Roman territory and went some way to providing a degree of control over who crossed the border and where.

Hadrian reduced Roman military presence in the territory of the Brigantes and concentrated on building a more solid linear fortification to the north of them. This was intended to replace the Stanegate road which had previously served as the limes (the boundary of the Roman Empire). Construction of Hadrian's Wall Construction started in 122 and was largely completed within ten years, with soldiers from all three of the occupying Roman legions participating in the work. The route chosen largely paralleled the nearby Stanegate road from Carlisle to Corbridge, which was already defended by a limes and several auxiliary forts, including Vindolanda. The initial plan called for a ditch and wall with 80 small, gated milecastle forts every Roman mile holding a few dozen troops each, and pairs of intermediate turrets used for observation and signalling. The wall was initially designed to a width of 3 metres (the so-called "Broad Wall"). The height is estimated to have been around 5 or 6 metres. Local limestone was used in the construction, except for the section to the west of Irthing where turf was used instead as there were no useful outcrops nearby. The turf wall was 6 metres wide and around 3.5m high.

Milecastles in this area were also built from timber and earth rather than stone. The milecastles were of three different designs, depending on which Roman legion built them ï¿½ the Second, Sixth, and Twentieth Legions, whose inscriptions tell us were all involved in the construction. Similarly there are three different turret designs along the route. All were about 493m apart and measured 4.27m square internally. Construction was divided into lengths of about 5 miles. One group of each legion would create the foundations and build the milecastles and turrets and then other cohorts would follow, building the wall itself. Early in its construction the width of the wall was narrowed to 2.5 metres or even less (the "Narrow Wall"). The Broad Wall dimensions can be seen in some stretches of foundations and some milecastle walls ï¿½ a handy reference for archaeologists trying to piece together the construction chronology. Within a few years it was decided to add a total of 14 full-sized forts along the length of the wall, including Housesteads and Birdoswald, each holding between 500 and 1000 auxiliary troops (no legions were posted to the wall).

The eastern end of the wall was extended further east from Pons Aelius (Newcastle) to Wallsend on the Tyne estuary. Some of the larger forts along the wall, such as Chesters and Housesteads, were built on top of the footings of milecastles or turrets, showing the change of plan. An inscription mentioning early governor Aulus Platorius Nepos indicates that the change of plans took place early on. Also some time still during Hadrian's reign (i.e., before 138 AD) the wall west of the Irthing was rebuilt in sandstone to basically the same dimensions as the limestone section to the east. After the forts had been added (or possibly at the same time), the so-called Vallum was built on the southern side. It consisted of a large, flat-bottomed ditch 6m wide at the top and 3m deep bounded by a berm on each side 10m wide. Beyond the berms were earth banks 6m wide and 2m high. Causeways crossed the ditch at regular intervals. Initially the berm appears to have been the main route for transportation along the wall.

The Vallum probably delineated a military zone rather than intending to be a major fortification, though the British tribes to the south were also sometimes a military problem. The Wall was thus part of a defensive system which, from north to south included: a glacis and a deep ditch armed with rows of pointed stakes the Wall itself a later military road (the "Military Way") the Vallum ï¿½ two huge banks with a ditch between. Hadrian's Wall Garrison The wall was garrisoned by auxiliary (i.e., non-legionary) units of the army (non-citizens). Their numbers fluctuated throughout the occupation, but may have been around 9,000 strong in general, including infantry and cavalry. The new forts could hold garrisons of 500 men whilst cavalry units of 1000 troops were stationed at either end. The total number of soldiers manning the early wall was probably greater than 10,000. They suffered serious attacks in 180, and especially between 196 and 197 when the garrison had been seriously weakened, following which major reconstruction had to be carried out under Septimius Severus.

After the harsh suppression of the tribes under Septimius, the region near the wall remained peaceful for most of the rest of the 200s. It is thought that many in the garrison may have married and integrated into the local community. After Hadrian In the months after Hadrian's death in 138, the new emperor, Antoninus Pius essentially abandoned the wall, though leaving it occupied in a support role, and began building a new wall in Scotland proper, about 100 miles north, the Antonine Wall. This turf wall ran 40 Roman miles (about 37 modern miles) and had significantly more forts than Hadrian's Wall. Antonine was unable to conquer the Picts and so when Marcus Aurelius became emperor, he abandoned the Antonine Wall and occupied Hadrian's Wall once again in 164. It remained occupied by Roman troops until their withdrawal from Britain. In the late 4th century, barbarian invasions, economic decline, and military coups loosened the Empire's hold on Britain. By 410, the Roman administration and its legions were gone, and Britain was left to look to its own defences and government.

The garrisons, by now probably made up mostly of local Britons who had nowhere else to go, probably lingered on in some form for generations. Archaeology is beginning to reveal that some parts of the Wall remained occupied well into the 5th century. But in time the wall was abandoned and fell into ruin. Over the centuries a large proportion of the stone was reused in other local buildings. This continued until the 20th century. Other Roman Fortifications The first Roman fortification in Scotland was the Gask Ridge, a series of forts north of the Clyde and Forth estuaries in Perthshire. This was soon abandoned for Hadrian's Wall. Fifteen years after completion of the Hadrian's Wall, a turf fortification, the Antonine Wall, was built to run between the Clyde and Forth. This wall was considerably shorter than Hadrian's Wall, but was manned by roughly the same number of troops. In some ways the Antonine Wall was more sophisticated, including large platforms for ballista. Within one generation the Antonine Wall had been abandoned, and Hadrian's Wall was reoccupied.

Hadrian's Wall In fiction Hadrian's Wall featured extensively in the movie King Arthur (2004) to offer a newer, freshened version of the Arthur mythos. They were garrisoned at one of the blockhouses where Arthur had his "Round Table". Arthur and his men were "knights" held in servitude by the Romans who occupied Britain, and later by the Pope. For more on the movie, see the Internet Movie Database. Sycamore Gap, a section of the wall between two crests just west of milecastle 38, is locally known as the "Robin Hood Tree". This location was featured in the 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. Hadrians Wall Article derived from Wikipedia , the free encyclopedia. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License . It uses material from the <a href="">Wikipedia article "Hadrian's Wall"</a> Fortification - Bretagne romaine - GB : livres - histoire et construction (1) < Aperçu > Fortification - Bretagne romaine : livres - histoire et construction (1) Un livre concernant les fortifications en Grande-Bretagne ?

Découvrez ici nos ouvrages consacrés à l'histoire et la construction des forts et lignes fortifiées des Romains, y compris le mur d'Hadrien. Rome's Northern Frontier AD 70-235 - Beyond Hadrian's Wall (Osprey) Resumé - When the Romans first fought against Caledonii during the reign of Agricola (AD 77-84), Agricola established a frontier along the Gask Ridge. He also consolidated the Forth-Clyde isthmus, the location at which the Romans would later build the Antonine Wall from AD 138 to 143. The following 100 years saw a cycle of advance into and retreat from Scotland, until the Romans abandoned the Antonine Wall completely. This book examines the Flavian, Antonine and Severan conquests of Scotland and the fortifications along Rome's northern frontier, and it explores the archaeological remains and places them in historical context. Contents: Introduction - Agricola's northern campaigns - The Gask Ridge - The Antonine conquest and consolidation - The Antonine Wall - The sites today - Bibliography - Abbreviations - Glossary - Index.

Editeur : Roman Britain AD 43-410 Emperor Claudius . In 410, Emperor Honorius encouraged British towns to grow a pair because Rome would discontinue all military support. Henceforth, the people of Britannia had to fight for themselves. However, the use of the year 410 as the exact time of the departure of all Roman forces, the severance of all British ties to Rome, and the cessation of Roman longing for control over Britain would be an oversimplification of the actual events. But thus cautioned, let's say the Roman invasion and occupation of ancient Britain stretched from 43-410. This time period can be divided into three chapters — conquest, occupation, and settlement. What About Julius Caesar's Visit to Ancient Britain? It's true, Julius Caesar invaded Britain twice, in 55 BC and again in 54 BC. But he also left again each time soon after. Britain did not become part of the Roman Empire as a result of Julius Caesar's invasions. Nor did the Romans follow up on his short-lived conquests. At least not for another century. Did the Romans Ever Conquer Britain Completely?

They did not, as any Scot today will be delighted to point out. Here is the map of the Roman advance in Britain: Map of Early Britain: Stages of Roman Conquest Illustrating Roman conquest from AD 43-47, from 49-78, until 79, and until 80 (See more under Early British tribes: Brigantes, Ordovices, Silures, Corieltavi, Iceni, Catuvellauni, Trinovantes, Atrebates, Dobunni, Belgae, Durotriges, Dumnonii Encyclopaedia Britannica Map Why Did The Romans Withdraw? Some say that the natives were too tough to beat. Others say, the Romans could have conquered and held all of Britain but they didn't tag it as a priority. They had other fish to fry on more important frontiers of their large empire. The truth is probably a mixture of both. What Was the Northernmost Point the Romans Reached? As far as frontier lines are concerned, the Gask Ridge frontier of AD 83 was probably the northernmost frontier. Much better fortified was of course the Antonine Wall of 142.

However, the Romans trekked all the way up to the Moray Firth. There are remains of a Roman marching camp at Bellie, and a large coin hoard was found at Birnie. Britain Before Claudius' Invasion in AD 43 100 BC The Belgae begin to migrate from Northern France and settle in Britain, pushing the native tribes further inland. 58 BC The Gallic Wars begin. Rome vs. the tribes of Gaul. 55 BC In August of 55 BC, Julius Caesar launches his first British invasion. He has 100 warships and 2 legions, or 10,000 troops, at his disposal. 54 BC Julius Caesar's second and last invasion of Britain. This time he brings with him 800 warships, 5 legions, and 2,000 cavalry. The Trinovantes become a Roman ally, and together they defeat Cassivellaunus, the king of the Catuvellauni tribe. Here is an excerpt from Julius Caesar's notes: . . .

greater forces of the Britons had already assembled at that place, the chief command and management of the war having been intrusted to Cassivellaunus, whose territories a river, which is called the Thames, separates, from the maritime states at about eighty miles from the sea. At an earlier period perpetual wars had taken place between him and the other states; but, greatly alarmed by our arrival, the Britons had placed him over the whole war and the conduct of it. The interior portion of Britain is inhabited by those of whom they say that it is handed down by tradition that they were born in the island itself: the maritime portion by those who had passed over from the country of the Belgae for the purpose of plunder and making war; almost all of whom are called by the names of those states from which being sprung they went thither, and having waged war, continued there and began to cultivate the lands. The number of the people is countless, and their buildings exceedingly numerous, for the most part very like those of the Gauls: the number of cattle is great. They use either brass or iron rings, determined at a certain weight, as their money.

Tin is produced in the midland regions; in the maritime, iron; but the quantity of it is small: they employ brass, which is imported. There, as in Gaul, is timber of every description, except beech and fir. They do not regard it lawful to eat the hare, and the cock, and the goose; they, however, breed them for amusement and pleasure. The climate is more temperate than in Gaul, the colds being less severe. The island is triangular in its form, and one of its sides is opposite to Gaul. One angle of this side, which is in Kent, whither almost all ships from Gaul are directed, looks to the east; the lower looks to the south. This side extends about 500 miles. Another side lies toward Spain and the west, on which part is Ireland, less, as is reckoned, than Britain, by one half: but the passage from it into Britain is of equal distance with that from Gaul. In the middle of this voyage, is an island, which is called Mona: many smaller islands besides are supposed to lie there, of which islands some have written that at the time of the winter solstice it is night there for thirty consecutive days.

We, in our inquiries about that matter, ascertained nothing, except that, by accurate measurements with water, we perceived the nights to be shorter there than on the continent. The length of this side, as their account states, is 700 miles. The third side is toward the north, to which portion of the island no land is opposite; but an angle of that side looks principally toward Germany. This side is considered to be 800 miles in length. Thus the whole island is about 2,000 miles in circumference. The most civilized of all these nations are they who inhabit Kent, which is entirely a maritime district, nor do they differ much from the Gallic customs. Most of the inland inhabitants do not sow corn, but live on milk and flesh, and are clad with skins. All the Britains, indeed, dye themselves with woad*, which occasions a bluish color, and thereby have a more terrible appearance in fight. They wear their hair long, and have every part of their body shaved except their head and upper lip.

Ten and even twelve have wives common to them, and particularly brothers among brothers, and parents among their children; but if there be any issue by these wives, they are reputed to be the children of those by whom respectively each was first espoused when a virgin. * Woad, also called dyerswoad: (Isatis tinctoria), biennial or perennial herb, in a genus of about 80 species in the mustard family (Brassicaceae), formerly grown as a source of the blue dye indigo. Woad (Isatis tinctoria) AD 10 Tasciovanus, the king of the Catuvellauni tribe, establishes Verulamium, today's St. Albans. Death of Tasciovanus. He is succeeded by his son, Cunobelinus. The Trinovantes, Julius Caesar's former allies, are conquered by the Catuvellauni. AD 42 Cunobelinus, the king of the Catuvellauni tribe, dies. Roman Emperor Claudius (41-54) 43 Under Claudius, the Romans invade southern England. Claudius himself takes part in the final maneuvers of his first campaign.

The conquering invasion force consists of approx. 50,000 Roman soldiers. Britannia becomes a Roman province. Some of the native tribes strike a deal with Rome, like the Dobunni of Gloucestershire, for example. Other tribes do not, and are consequently overrun by the Romans, like the Deceangli of northern Wales. And then there are old friends, like the Trinovantes who had combined forces with Julius Caesar back in the days. After Caesar's departure, they were defeated by the Catuvellauni. Now, Claudius liberates them. Roman Governor of Britain Aulus Plautius (43-46) Aulus Plautius is the first Roman governor of Britain, or legatus Augusti pro praetore (propraetorian legate [or deputy] of the emperor). Roman Governor of Britain 47 The Romans conquer the West Midlands. And here is a map of Wales from AD 47: Wales AD 47, Roman Britain 49 The first Roman colony is founded at Camulodunum (today's Colchester). Here, and in line with Roman emperor worship, Emperor Claudius orders to build the Temple of Claudius.

50 Publius Ostorius Scapula defeats the Catuvellauni tribe, whose king, Caratacus, flees to the Brigantes tribe. The queen of the Brigantes, Cartimandua, hands Caratacus over to the Romans. Roman Governor of Britain Gaius Suetonius Paullinus (59-61) 60 The Iceni tribe, led by their Queen Boudicca , and the Trinovantes tribe revolt against Rome. Meanwhile, Governor Suetonius Paullinus wages his war on druids on the island of Mona (today's Anglesey). The rebels take advantage of the Governor's absence and sack Camulodunum (today's Colchester). Some residents of Camulodunum barricade themselves in the city's Temple of Claudius. The rebels besiege the temple for two days, after which they burn it, its defenders, and the entire town to the ground.

And here is Tacitus ' account of the events in 60 and 61: Now, however, Britain was in the hands of Suetonius Paulinus, who in military knowledge and in popular favour, which allows no one to be without a rival, vied with Corbulo, and aspired to equal the glory of the recovery of Armenia by the subjugation of Rome's enemies. He therefore prepared to attack the island of Mona which had a powerful population and was a refuge for fugitives. He built flat-bottomed vessels to cope with the shallows, and uncertain depths of the sea. Thus the infantry crossed, while the cavalry followed by fording, or, where the water was deep, swam by the side of their horses. On the shore stood the opposing army with its dense array of armed warriors, while between the ranks dashed women, in black attire like the Furies, with hair dishevelled, waving brands. All around, the Druids, lifting up their hands to heaven, and pouring forth dreadful imprecations, scared our soldiers by the unfamiliar sight, so that, as if their limbs were paralysed, they stood motionless, and exposed to wounds.

Then urged by their general's appeals and mutual encouragements not to quail before a troop of frenzied women, they bore the standards onwards, smote down all resistance, and wrapped the foe in the flames of his own brands. A force was next set over the conquered, and their groves, devoted to inhuman superstitions, were destroyed. They deemed it indeed a duty to cover their altars with the blood of captives and to consult their deities through human entrails. Suetonius while thus occupied received tidings of the sudden revolt of the province. Prasutagus, king of the Iceni, famed for his long prosperity, had made the emperor his heir along with his two daughters, under the impression that this token of submission would put his kingdom and his house out of the reach of wrong. But the reverse was the result, so much so that his kingdom was plundered by centurions, his house by slaves, as if they were the spoils of war. First, his wife Boudicea was scourged, and his daughters outraged.

All the chief men of the Iceni, as if Rome had received the whole country as a gift, were stript of their ancestral possessions, and the king's relatives were made slaves. Roused by these insults and the dread of worse, reduced as they now were into the condition of a province, they flew to arms and stirred to revolt the Trinobantes and others who, not yet cowed by slavery, had agreed in secret conspiracy to reclaim their freedom. It was against the veterans that their hatred was most intense. For these new settlers in the colony of Camulodunum drove people out of their houses, ejected them from their farms, called them captives and slaves, and the lawlessness of the veterans was encouraged by the soldiers, who lived a similar life and hoped for similar licence. A temple also erected to the Divine Claudius was ever before their eyes, a citadel, as it seemed, of perpetual tyranny. Men chosen as priests had to squander their whole fortunes under the pretence of a religious ceremonial. It appeared too no difficult matter to destroy the colony, undefended as it was by fortifications, a precaution neglected by our generals, while they thought more of what was agreeable than of what was expedient.

Tacitus Annals 14.29-14.30 Before, during, or after destroying Camulodunum, the rebels completely annihilate the Roman 9th legion on their way to aid the citizens of Camulodunum. Governor Paulinus (or Paullinus) and his 14th legion march the 200 miles back from Anglesey to deal with Boudica's uprising. The rebels go on to sack and burn Londinium (London) and then Verulamium (St Albans). The Romans are on the brink of losing Britain. Boudica and her army march north on what will become known as Watling Street. They clash with the Romans about 100 miles north of London. The exact location of the battle is unknown. The Romans are outnumbered by at least 3 to 1. Yet, they are victorious and crush Boudica's rebellion. How was this possible? Although outnumbered, Paullinus had the advantage of choosing the battlefield. And he chose wisely.

They met on a field that was wide at one end (where Boudica would line up her army), narrow at the other (where he would place his troops), and framed by woods on the sides. There was not much room to maneuver a superior sized army on this terrain. And there was no way to outflank the Romans. Additionally, after charging, the Romans had two spears per person that they could launch, and then, in close combat, they had the advantage of a short sword. The Brits were equipped with longer swords that were more difficult to wield in the thick of things. Boudica's army started to retreat, but they encountered a self-made obstacle. They ran right into a wagon line that they had circled themselves previously. Here, their women and children had assembled to cheer their men's certain victory. The Romans pushed back, squeezing the Natives between enemy and baggage trains. The rest was a hacking fest. The Romans didn't spare a soul. There are two versions of how Boudica perished. She either died in battle or she took poison.

If we want to believe Tacitus, Boudica's army suffered a loss of 80,000 men from this battle and the Romans lost only 400 men. These numbers are exaggerated, of course, seeing that Tacitus wrote with a Roman viewpoint. But historians today still believe that Boudica lost thousands, whereas the Romans lost only hundreds. Either way, this Roman victory marks the end of effective resistance in Britain. The Britains have been conquered by Rome. Furthermore, this rebellion will qualify as the most successful revolt in the entire history of Roman Britain. In effect, by quelling this revolt, the Romans secured their possession of Britain. At least for the next 350 years. Prompted by the recent outbreak of hostility, the Romans build a series of fortifications across the Midlands including the Lunt Fort at Coventry. Reconstructed Timber Gate of the Lunt Fort Roman Fort at Baginton, Coventry, West Midlands G.M. Sherring-Lucas / Warwickshire County Council Roman Emperor Vespasian (69-79) 69 The Brigantes tribe, led by Venutius, oust their pro-Roman Queen Cartimandua.

Venutius not only rebels against his queen, she was also his ex-wife. In fact, her divorcing him was the final straw that led to this insurrection. Governor Marcus Vettius Bolanus has to rescue Cartimandua from the mob. Roman Governor of Britain Quintus Petillius Cerialis (71-73) 71 Cerialis has more troops at his disposal than did his predecessor Marcus Vettius Bolanus. He takes advantage of this, moves swiftly, subdues the Brigantes tribe, and builds a fortress at Eboracum or Eburacum (York). Roman Governor of Britain 74 Frontinus builds a fortress at Caerleon. 76 The Romans pick Deva (Chester) to become one of their main strongholds. 77 By the end of his governorship, Frontinus has defeated the strong Silures tribe of southern Wales. He has also fought the Ordovices of northern Wales with much success, but failed to conquer the tribe completely. Roman Governor of Britain 80 The amphitheater at Isca Silurium (Caerleon) is completed.

Roman Emperor Domitian (81-96) 83 The Romans cross the Forth River. After subduing the Lowlands, Agricola aims for the Highlands. 83 or 84 Battle of Mons Graupius . Roman victory over the Caledonians. This is the first recorded battle on Scottish soil. The battle takes place somewhere in the coastal plain of north-east Scotland, but the exact location is unknown. Agricola wins an important victory. The Romans establish the Gask Ridge frontier along the Grampian Mountains, also called the Highland Line, as their first northern frontier. See also What Was the Northernmost Point the Romans Reached? Muir o' Fauld Roman Signal Station is set up, a Roman watch tower on the Gask Ridge. Around this time, the Romans commence the construction of Inchtuthil on the River Tay, in today's Perthshire, west of Dundee and 10 miles north of Perth. This will be the Roman's northernmost legionary fortress. As opposed to smaller sized and temporary forts, a legionary fortress covers around 20 hectares / 50 acres. This is 10 times the size of the London Olympic stadium.

Inchtuthil will also be the fort that the Romans will occupy for the shortest amount of time. After just a few years, Inchtuthil will be demolished and evacuated even before the temporary quarters of the commanding officer could be replaced by a fitting permanent version. Agricola is recalled to Rome, receives great honors, and retires. Roman Governor of Britain Sallustius Lucullus (84-96) 85 Around this time the fort at Ardoch is set up. Ardoch is located next to today's Braco, Perthshire, Scotland, UK. Roman Fort at Ardoch At the time, the fort was surrounded by many temporary camps. No stones remain, but apparently, this is the best preserved Roman earthwork in the Roman Empire. Google Map Also around this time, the fort at Stracathro is built. This will be the northernmost Roman post for a while. 87 The Roman Empire is threatened on other frontiers in mainland Europe, esp. on the Danube River. Roman forward movement into Scotland comes to a standstill, then they draw back. The Romans evacuate their fortress at Inchtuthil. The Highlands are left to be conquered another day.

90 All forts north of the Earn River are evacuated. The Romans will withdraw all the way back to the Tyne-Solway line. Roman Emperor Quintus Lollius Urbicus (139-142 or 143) 142 Under Antoninus Pius , the Romans push further north once again, abandoning Hadrian's Wall. They return to Perthshire and rebuild some of their former forts, Ardoch for example. They also build a new wall some 100 miles north of Hadrian's Wall, the Antonine Wall. In charge is Quintus Lollius Urbicus. The wall is made out of turf and timber and runs 37 miles or 59 kilometers long. It stretches coast-to-coast and connects today's Bo'ness on the Firth of Forth in the east with Old Kilpatrick on the Firth of Clyde in the west. This wall marks the farthest extent of Roman occupation in ancient Britain, and is therefore also called Rome's Final Frontier.

Here is the map: Didius Severus Julianus (March 28 ï¿½ June 1, 193) Septimius Severus (193-211) 208 Roman Emperor Severus commences the third and last major Roman invasion into today's Scotland. He is ready to conquer Caledonia once and for all. 211 Severus dies at York. This concludes his campaign in Scotland. Roman Emperor Caracalla (211-217) Caracalla , instead of continuing his father's Scotland campaign, makes peace with the natives and returns to Rome. 212 Caracalla grants Roman citizenship to all free inhabitants of the empire. This is the Edict of Caracalla. 213 Around 213, Britain is divided into two provinces, Britannia Superior (capital: Londinium / London) and Britannia Inferior (capital: Eboracum / York).

Upper Britain, Lower Britain, and Caledonia (Scotland) Click to enlarge Also illustrating: Hebudae (Hebrides), Vararis Aestuarium (Moray Firth), Taexalorum Promontorium, Clota Aestuarium (Clyde Firth), Bodotria Aestuarium (Forth Firth), Itunae Aestuarium (Solway Firth), Segedunum (Wallsend), Monapia (Isle of Man), Mona (Anglesey), Abus (Humber), Metaris Aestuarium (The Wash), Sabrinae Aestuarium (Bristol Channel), Vectis (Isle of Wight), Tamesa (Thames) 395 The Roman Empire splits permanently into East and West. 410 Emperor Honorius receives a request for military aid from Britannia. His answer is a negative. This reply is also known as the Honorian Rescript. The exact role that this decree plays in the closing stages of Roman Britain is debated. In any event, by the year 411 Rome was unable to enforce its control in Britain.

On August 24, 410, the Visigoths , led by Alaric, enter Rome. They will loot the city for three days. Here are the maps illustrating the situation in Britain at the end of the Roman occupation: The Roman Army Composition, organization, and formation of the Roman military changed over time. But for the sake of a quick mental grasp, let's say that, A centuria comprised 80 to 100 troops. Their leader was the centurion. A cohort comprised 400 to 500 troops. Five to six centuriae made a cohort. A legion comprised 5,000 to 6,000 troops. Ten cohorts, or sixty centuriae, made a legion. For the native eye, marching Roman soldiers must have been quite impressive. When 20,000 troops were on the move, for example, their entire convoy could be 5 miles long. Not all Roman soldiers came from the motherland. In fact, many had never seen Rome. The Roman Empire recruited men from all its conquered territories.

Thus, Roman soldiers who fought in Scotland, for instance, could very well be natives of North Africa, Belgium, England, or France. Main Roman Towns in Ancient Britain A-Z Calleva Atrebatum (Silchester in Hampshire) Camulodunum (Colchester in Essex) Moridunum (Camarthen, exact location unknown) Nervia Glevensium (Gloucester in Gloucestershire) Noviomagus Regensium (Chichester in West Sussex) Ratae Coritanorum (Leicester in Leicestershire) Venta Belgarum (Winchester in Hampshire) Venta Silurum (Cearwent in Gwent) Verulamium (Saint Albans in Hertfordshire) Viroconium Cornoviorum (Wroxeter in Shropshire) Roman Ruins Traces and archaeological remains from 365 years of Roman occupation are abundant. There are over 125 known forts, many fortlets, and mile castles or signal posts. Very often, the military presence encouraged civilian settlements in the immediate neighborhood.

Map of Britannia - Principal Roman Sites in Ancient Britain Illustrating: Hadrian's Wall, Hardknott, York, Caernarfon, Chester, Wroxeter, Caerleon, Caerwent, Cirencester, St. Albans, Colchester, Bath, Silchester, London, Richborough, Fishbourne, Portchester, Pevensey See more from You can visit the Roman Army Museum , located at Greenhead, at the site of Carvoran Roman Fort on Hadrian's Wall. Vindolanda . One car hour southeast of Edinburgh, or 15 km / 9 miles south of Jedburgh, you will find Pennymuir Camps, linear earthwork outlining Roman marching camps, or temporary camps. Pennymuir Camps were a pit stop on Dere Street, a Roman road that connected Eboracum (York) with the northern border of the Empire. Two miles southeast of Lockerbie you will find Burnswark Hill, which was the location of a large native hill fort. This hill fort was sandwiched by two military encampments or siege camps. Image: Google It is disputed whether or not the hill fort had been abandoned by the time the Roman siege forts were set up.

Depending on that answer, Burnswark Hill was either used as practice or training grounds for Roman soldiers, or this was the real deal and a wicked siege took place at this address. Some called it Scotland's own Massada. Either way, this is a remarkable site. Image: RCAHMS Hardknott Roman Fort is located in the beautiful Cumbrian Mountains. It was founded under Emperor Hadrian. Remains of the headquarters building, the commandant's house and the bath house can be visited. And 218 yards / 200 meters to the east lies the parade-ground. Image: Google

Question: What fortification did the Romans build from the Forth to the Clyde?
Answer: Antonine Wall