VENTA BELGARVM Venta Belgarvm NNE (23) to Calleva (Silchester, Hampshire) SSW (11) to Clavsentvm (Bitterne, Hampshire) NW (14) to East Anton (East Anton, Hampshire) Iter XV: ENE (19) to Neatham SE (32) to Noviomagvs Regnorvm (Chichester, West Sussex) SW (12) to Nvrsling (Hampshire) W (22) to Sorviodvnvm Venta Belgarum - The Market Town of the Belgae "Below the Dobuni¹ are the Belgae² and the towns: Iscalis 16*00 53�, Aquae Calidae 17*20 53� and Venta 18*40 53�." Above extract from Ptolemy's Geography The Dobunni tribe inhabited Gloucestershire and Hereford & Worcester. The Belgae inhabited Hampshire and Avon.

Of the three names mentioned by Ptolemy the station Iscalis remains unidentified, Aquae Calidae literally 'the hot waters' can only be Aquae Sulis (Bath, Avon), and the final town mentioned is easily equated with Winchester. Winchester appears on three (out of fifteen) routes in Britain recorded in the Antonine Itinerary of the late second century: In Iter VII "the route from Chichester to London", Venta Belgarum occurs in the middle of the Itinerary 10 miles from Clausentum (Bitterne, Hampshire) and 22 miles from Calleva Atrebatum (Silchester, Hampshire). Iter XV is entitled "the route from Calleva to Isca", and details the journey from the Atrebates capital at Silchester in Hampshire and the civitas capital of the Dumnonii tribe at Exeter in Devon. Winchester appears near the beginning of this Itinerary, again as Venta Belgarum, 21 miles from Vindomis (Neatham, Hampshire) and 11 miles from Briga (Buckholt Farm, Horsebridge, Hampshire).

Iter XII is entitled "the route from Muridunum to Viroconium", and details the journey from Moridunum (Carmarthen, Dyfed, South Wales) and the capital of the Cornovii tribe at Wroxeter in the Midlands. Unfortunately this route has been corrupted at some time in antiquity, and a portion of Iter XII inserted at the beginning, so this third mention of Venta Belgarum may be safely ignored. The confusion was perhaps caused by the dimly recognised station near Honiton in Devon, which appears in Iter XV and shares the same name as the fort at Carmarthen in Iter XII, namely Moridunum. Winchester also appears in the seventh century Ravenna Cosmology as Venta Velgarom (R&C#41), this time listed between the unknown entries Onna and Armis. The name Venta Belgarum is an amalgam of the Welsh/Gaelic word venta meaning 'market or market town', and the determinative Belgarum meaning 'of the Belgae', denoting that Winchester was the chief town of this southern British tribe. ... The procurator of the weaving-house at Winchester in Britain.

..." Above quote from the Notitia Dignitatum of the 4th/5th century AD Epigraphic Evidence from Winchester The only inscription on stone recorded in the R.I.B. for Winchester is an altar dedicated to the Matres the 'Mothers' or mother goddesses (vide RIB 88 infra). This fine altarstone is now on display in the British Museum. Altarstone to the Mother Goddesses MATRIB ITALIS GERMANIS GAL BRIT ANTONIVS LVCRETIANVS BF COS REST "For the Mother Goddesses of Italy, the Germanies, Gaul and Britain, the Beneficiarius Consularis¹ Antonius Lucretianus restored [this temple]." (RIB 88; altarstone) A beneficiarius was a soldier excused normal duties in order to perform some specialised function, in this case serving on the staff of the consular governor.

Other Roman Sites in the Neighbourhood As elswhere in southern Britain, the area around this Roman town, the sixth largest in the province, is studded with Romano-British villas: Sparsholt (SU4130), Twyford (SU4824), King's Worthy (SU4833), Itchen Abbas (SU5234), Bramdean (SU6228) and West Meon (SU6324). In addition, the remains of substantial Roman buildings have also been identified at Upham (SU5422) Alresford (SU5833) and Micheldever (SU5337). See: The Towns of Roman Britain by John Wacher (2nd Ed., BCA, London, 1995) pp.291-301 & fig.132; The Roman Inscriptions of Britain by R.G. Collingwood and R.P. Wright (Oxford 1965). All English translations, including any inherent mistakes, are my own.

This page was last modified: 27/1/2016 Hampshire | county, England, United Kingdom | Britannica.com county, England, United Kingdom Hampshire, administrative, geographic, and historic county of south-central England . It is bounded to the west by Dorset and Wiltshire , to the north by Berkshire , to the east by Surrey and West Sussex , and to the south by the English Channel . Beaulieu Palace House, Beaulieu, Hampshire, Eng. David Hunt Rooksbury Mill & Mill House, Andover, Hampshire, Eng. Anthony de Sigley The administrative, geographic, and historic counties cover somewhat different areas. The administrative county comprises 11 districts: East Hampshire , Hart , New Forest , Test Valley , the boroughs of Basingstoke and Deane , Eastleigh , Fareham , Gosport , Havant , and Rushmoor , and the city of Winchester (the county seat). The geographic county comprises the whole of the administrative county plus the cities of Portsmouth and Southampton , each of which is a unitary authority.

The historic county covers the entire geographic county, the unitary authorities of Bournemouth and the Isle of Wight , and the borough of Christchurch and parts of the district of East Dorset , which together form the eastern edge of the administrative county of Dorset . The county falls into four physical areas. A broad belt of rolling chalk downland, at times more than 800 feet (240 metres) high, runs across the middle from east to west. Tertiary clays, sands, and gravels, often covered by heath and woodland, lie to the north and south. In the east The Weald , with its typical scarps and vales, crosses the county border. The oldest rocks occur in this Wealden area—Lower and Upper Greensands and Gault clays. The Solent , a narrow strait dividing the Isle of Wight from the mainland, marks the lower course of the ancient Frome or River Solent. Submergence along the coast resulted in former tributaries becoming the independent streams, which now drain most of the chalk and southern Tertiary areas. The Solent, as viewed from the Royal Victoria Country Park, Netley, Hampshire, Eng.

Alan Ford Cumbria There is considerable evidence of prehistoric settlement in Hampshire, including extensive early Bronze Age settlement on the Isle of Wight. Remains of small Bronze Age farmsteads exist at Quarley, and most notable among Iron Age remains are hill forts such as those at Danebury and Hengistbury Head. Trade with the European continent during the late Bronze and early Iron Age apparently focused on Hengistbury Head and Christchurch. During the Roman occupation, urban settlements developed at Silchester (Calleva Atrebatum) and Winchester (Venta Belgarum), the focal points of the Roman road system in the area. There was a smaller settlement at Southampton (Clausentum). Villa sites are numerous in the northwest. There were potteries in the New Forest and an imperial weaving works at Winchester, but the most substantial remains are in the town walls of Silchester and the outer wall at Portchester Castle. The museum at Reading , in Berkshire, houses artifacts from Silchester. The county was invaded by Saxons and Jutes in the late 5th and early 6th centuries ce.

It is first mentioned in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle in 755, when Hampshire formed the core of the powerful kingdom of Wessex , whose capital was Winchester. While it had suffered severely from attacks by Norsemen, during the late Middle Ages the county enjoyed a comparatively peaceful existence. In 1377, however, a French raid devastated Newport on the Isle of Wight. The few castles that were built include those at Odiham, Portchester, and Winchester. Medieval industries commonly included the manufacture of woollens, and Southampton was important for the export and import of wool and wine. The whole of the county remained in the episcopal see of Winchester from 676 until 1927, when the sees of Guildford and Portsmouth were created. Monastic remains are found at Beaulieu and Netley, in the great church of Romsey , and in Winchester cathedral. British Culture and Politics The county has always been agricultural, its main concerns now being dairying and the production of corn (maize). Market gardening is locally important, particularly between Southampton and Portsmouth. There is still a large acreage of woodland—for instance, in the New Forest, a former royal hunting ground.

Portsmouth and Gosport form one of Britain’s principal naval centres, and Southampton is a major passenger port. Petroleum is refined at Fawley. Tourism provides much employment, and resorts include Southsea and Hayling Island. Most larger towns have light industries such as engineering and brewing. Area, administrative county, 1,420 square miles (3,679 square km); geographic county, 1,456 square miles (3,770 square km). Pop. (2001) administrative county, 1,240,103; geographic county, 1,644,249; (2011) administrative county, 1,317,788; geographic county, 1,759,726. Farnborough Aerospace Centre, Farnborough, Hampshire, southern England. DeliberatelyAnon The History of Winchester - Capital of Wessex By Ben Johnson | Comments Modern day visitors to Winchester in the county of Hampshire can’t help but soak in the history as they wander through the ancient streets of this small city.

Few however may realise that some of Winchester’s first settlers arrived there more than 2,000 years ago. The first permanent residents of Winchester appear to have arrived in the Iron Age, sometime around 150BC, establishing both a hill fort and also a trading settlement on the western edge of the modern city. Winchester would remain the exclusive home of the Celtic Belgae tribe for the next two hundred years or so. Shortly after the Romans landed at Richborough in Kent in AD 43, legionary soldiers with auxiliary troops marched across the whole of southern Britain capturing Iron Age hill forts when necessary, and imposing Roman rule upon the local population. Evidence suggests however, that Winchester’s Belgae tribe may well have welcomed the invaders in with open arms. The Begae’s hill fort appears to have fallen into disrepair many years before the Romans arrived. Additionally, the invading Romans did not even feel threatened enough to establish a military fort in the area from which they could control revolting natives. The Romans did however start to build their own ‘new town’ at Winchester, known as Venta Belgarum, or market place of the Belgae.

This Roman new town developed over the centuries of occupation to become the region’s capital, with streets laid out in a grid pattern to accommodate the splendid houses, shops, temples and public baths. By the 3rd century the wooden town defences were replaced with stone walls, at which time Winchester extended to almost 150 acres, making it the fifth largest town in Roman Britain. Along with other Romano-British towns, Winchester started to decline in importance around the 4th century. And things appear to have come to an almost abrupt end when in AD407 , with their Empire crumbling, the last Roman legions were withdrawn from Britain. In a relatively short period of time after this withdrawal, these once important bustling towns and cultural centres appear to have been simply abandoned. For the rest of the fifth century and early sixth century, England entered what is now referred to as the Dark Ages. It was during these Dark Ages that the Anglo-Saxons became established in southern and eastern England. From around AD430 a host of Germanic migrants arrived in England, with Jutes from the Jutland peninsula (modern Denmark), Angles from Angeln in southwest Jutland and Saxons from northwest Germany.

Over the next hundred years or so the invading kings and their armies established their kingdoms. Most of these kingdoms survive to this day, and are better known as the English counties; Kent (Jutes), East Anglia (east Angles), Sussex (south Saxons), Middlesex (middle Saxons) and Wessex (west Saxons). It was the Saxons that referred to a Roman settlement as a ‘caester’, and so in west Saxon Wessex, Venta Belgarum became Venta Caester, before being changed to Wintancaester and eventually corrupted to Winchester. From AD 597 the new Christian faith began to spread through southern England, and it was in the middle of the 7th century that the first Christian church, the Old Minster, was built within the Roman walls of Winchester. A few years later in 676 the Bishop of Wessex moved his seat to Winchester and as such the Old Minster became a cathedral. Although born at Wantage in Berkshire , Winchester’s most famous son is Alfred ‘The Great’ . Alfred (Aelfred) became ruler of the west Saxons after he and his brother defeated the Danish Vikings at the Battle of Ashdown.

In 871 at the tender age of 21, Alfred was crowned King of Wessex and established Winchester as his capital. To protect his kingdom against the Danes, Alfred organised the defences of Wessex. He built a navy of new fast ships to defend against attack from the sea. He organised the local militia into ‘rapid reaction forces’ to deal with raiders from the land, and started a building programme of fortified settlements across England from which these forces could gather to defend. Saxon Winchester was therefore rebuilt with its streets laid out in a grid pattern, people were encouraged to settle there, and soon the town was flourishing again. As befits a capital in the building programme that followed, both New Minster and Nunnaminster were founded. Together, they quickly became the most important centres of art and learning in England. In 1066 following the Battle of Hastings , King Harold’s widow, who was staying at Winchester, surrendered the town to the invading Normans. Shortly after this William the Conqueror ordered the rebuilding of the Saxon royal palace and the construction of a new castle to the west of the town.

The Normans were also responsible for demolishing the Old Minster Cathedral and starting the construction of the new present cathedral on the same site in 1079. Throughout the early Middle Ages Winchester’s importance as a significant cultural centre was reaffirmed time and again, as witnessed by the number of royal births, deaths and marriages that took place in the town. Winchester’s fortunes however, began to decline during the 12th and 13th centuries as power and prestige gradually shifted to the new capital in London , including the relocation of the royal mint. Disaster struck Winchester in 1348-49 when the Black Death arrived, brought in from mainland Europe by migrating Asian black rats. The plague returned again in earnest in 1361 and at regular intervals for decades afterwards. It is estimated that more than half the population of Winchester may have been lost to the disease. The fortunes of Winchester through much of the Middle Ages derived from the woollen industry , as locally produced wool was first cleaned, woven, dyed, fashioned into cloth and then sold on.

But faced with increased domestic competition, this industry also declined, so dramatically in fact that it is estimated that by 1500 the town’s population had fallen to around 4,000. This population was to decline even further when in 1538-39 Henry VIII dissolved the city’s three monastic institutions , selling off their lands, buildings and other possessions to the highest bidder. During the English Civil War Winchester changed hands several times. Perhaps through their close association with royalty however, the locals support was initially with the king. In one of the final acts of that long and bloody conflict Cromwell ’s men destroyed Winchester Castle, preventing it from falling into royalist hands ever again. With a population of around 35,000, Winchester is a now a quiet genteel market town. As you walk through its streets today however, you can’t help noticing, with one major and many smaller reminders, that you are walking through what was once the ancient capital of England. Getting here Winchester is easily accessible by both road and rail, please try our UK Travel Guide for further information. Roman Sites Try our interactive map of Roman Sites in Britain to browse our database of visible Roman remains.

Anglo-Saxon Sites in Britain Explore our interactive map of Anglo-Saxon Sites in Britain for nearby sites. Cathedrals in Britain Browse our interactive map showing the Christian Cathedrals of Britain . Museums View our interactive map of Museums in Britain for details of local galleries and museums. Castles in England Try our interactive map of Castles in England to browse our huge database, including further detailed information concerning Winchester Castle. Winchester | England, United Kingdom | Britannica.com England, United Kingdom Winchester, town and city (district), in the central part of the administrative and historic county of Hampshire , England . It is best known for its medieval cathedral. The War Cloister, Winchester College, Winchester, Hampshire, England. Andrew Powers The town lies in the valley of the River Itchen. Although few traces of the ancient Venta Belgarum remain, its central position in the Roman road system points to its early importance. The West Saxon episcopal see was removed there from Dorchester in the 7th century, and Winchester became the capital of the kingdom of Wessex . Under the Saxon bishops and Alfred the Great (ruled 871–899), Winchester became a centre of learning.

It was also the seat of government of the Danish king Canute (ruled 1016–35), and several early kings, including Alfred and Canute II, were buried there. Its prosperity continued after the Norman Conquest (1066), when it benefited from its proximity to the English Channel port of Southampton , 12 miles (19 km) to the south, which provided access to the royal possessions in Normandy . Winchester was one of the earliest seats of the English wool and cloth trade—its merchant guild dates to Saxon times—and it gained further importance with William II ’s 11th-century grant to Bishop Walkelin of the Fair of St. Giles, which was maintained until the 19th century. In the 13th century, Winchester contained a large Jewish community , commemorated in the street name Jewry. During the civil wars of Stephen’s reign (1135–54), the city was burned, and thereafter London , with greater geographical advantages, superseded it as England’s leading city. Winchester has grown only modestly in modern times. It remains an important agricultural market centre, and its administrative functions as the long-established county town have grown.

There is little manufacturing. The residential attractiveness of Winchester has brought commuters and retired persons in increasing numbers. Similar Topics Edinburgh The glory of the historic city is its great cathedral , the longest (556 feet [169 metres]) in England. The original Saxon Cathedral Church of St. Swithun was replaced by the Norman structure of Bishop Walkelin (1070–98). The nave is Perpendicular work of the great 14th-century bishops William of Edington and William of Wykeham . The cathedral was built on piles in the alluvium of the Itchen valley floor and required extensive restoration in the 20th century, including underpinning its insecure foundations. Of the Norman castle, only the great hall remains. King’s Gate and West Gate are surviving gateways of the medieval city wall, and there is a graceful city cross. The Hospital of St. Cross (1136) is a unique example of a medieval almshouse still maintained. Among many educational institutions, the most famous is the boys’ school Winchester College , founded by William of Wykeham in 1382. Winchester Cathedral in Winchester, Hampshire, England. The patron saint of the cathedral is St.

… © Richard Melichar/Shutterstock.com Winchester City - YouTube Winchester City Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Published on Mar 18, 2014 Winchester is a historic city and former capital city of England. It is the county town of Hampshire, in South England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government district, and is located at the western end of the South Downs, along the course of the River Itchen. At the time of the 2001 Census, Winchester had a population of 41,420. Winchester developed from the Roman town of Venta Belgarum, which developed from an Iron Age oppidum. Winchester's major landmark is Winchester Cathedral, one of the largest cathedrals in Europe, with the distinction of having the longest nave and overall length of all Gothic cathedrals in Europe. The town is also home to the University of Winchester and the famous public school, Winchester College.

The city's architectural and historic interest, and its fast links to other towns and cities have led Winchester to become one of the most expensive and desirable areas of the country. A person who is from or resides in Winchester is sometimes locally known as a Wintonian. Created with Corel VideoStudio. Kingdoms of British Celts - Belgae / Caer Gwinntguic Belgae (Britons) The Celtic Belgae were centred on Venta Belgarum (modern Winchester) in the county of Hampshire, and perhaps extending into Somerset and Avon. They were neighboured to the north-east by the Atrebates , to the south-east by the Regninses , and to the west by the Durotriges and Dobunni . Like their Atrebatean neighbours, they were probably a Belgic tribe from the North Sea or Baltics, part of the third wave of Celtic settlers in Britain . The name Venta Belgarum came from 'venta', meaning main market or market town, which was used to denote a tribal capital, and 'belgarum', meaning 'of the Belgae'.

(See the map of most of Europe's tribes around the first centuries BC and AD to view the tribe's location in relation to all other Celts.) It is likely that the Belgae formed part of the tribal domains of Atrebates from at least 20 BC, and may have done so from the latter's probable founding as a kingdom by Commius. It also seems possible that the Belgae were not a tribe at all, and may not even have been Belgic before the Roman conquest. There is the possibility that they were the leftovers of previous Celtic settlers who had not migrated farther west or north when the Atrebates and their kin arrived. Given the very scant evidence, it is hard to draw any definite conclusion either way. If they were Belgic, they may have been formed of odds and ends of various Belgic tribes that had migrated from Gaul to escape Roman occupation. A large amount of middle second century BC coinage (Gallo-Belgic A) that has been attributed to the Ambiani tribe has been discovered in parts of southern Britain. While this may be due only to trading connections, it may also be due to Ambiani settlers in the territory.

When it comes to determining the meaning of the name Belgae (pronounced bel-jay), Pokorny gives these roots in Gaulish from a proto- Indo-European base, with the latter's 'bhelg̑h-' and 'bhelg̑h-' descending into Gaulish as 'bolg-' and 'bulga'. 'Bhelg̑h-' means to swell up. But the crucial word from this root does not seem to come from Gaulish. Instead it seems to stem from the Anglo-Saxon verb, 'belgan', meaning to swell up, or be angry This supports the contention that the Belgae were a Celtic- Germanic mix. The Irish description of Cucullaine when his madness is on him comes to mind, swelling up with rage, transforming from a normal man to a monster... apparently borrowed from the Irish for use in the Incredible Hulk. (Additional information by Edward Dawson, from The Oxford History of England: Roman Britain, Peter Salway, and from External Link: Indo-European Etymological Dictionary , J Pokorny.) mid-200s BC A large number of Gallo- Belgic A coins are to be found in southern Britain at this time or soon afterwards.

This suggests heavy trade with the Ambiani tribe in northern Gaul, but also the probability that Ambiani have settled in Hampshire, possible as the earliest representatives of the Belgae themselves. c.90 - 60 BC Gallo- Belgic C coins, less than previously, can be found which are tentatively identified with Diviciacus of the Suessiones . Finds are concentrated amongst the Cantii , but can be found as far west as the Sussex coast, on the borders with the Belgae lands. Shown here is a gold Gallo-Belgic quarter stater of the C-type, which can be dated between 80-60 BC, at least a couple of decades before the first of Julius Caesar's expeditions to Britain 51 BC Commius of the Gaulish Atrebates arrives in Britain , bringing with him just his own retainers, survivors of a heavy defeat in Gaul. The size and strength of the Atrebates tribe he joins in Britain is unknown. They certainly occupy their own territory in this period, and govern the Belgae and Regninses , who may all be constituent parts of the same tribe, but how much significance they hold is unclear.

They may not even be formed into a single tribal kingdom until Commius becomes their king, although it does seem likely that many Belgic refugees find their way here during this period. AD 43 Still a subsidiary part of the kingdom of the Atrebates , the Belgae appear not to possess a single tribal cohesion. This probably makes them an easy conquest by the Romans under the command of Governor Aulus Plautius. Part of the territory of the Atrebates is reorganised into the Roman client kingdom of the Regninses (which possibly includes the Belgae). It is ruled by Tiberius Claudius Cogidubnus, who may be the son of the last native Atrebatean king, Verica. 43 - 80? Roman client king of Atrebates vassals, the Regninses & Belgae. 44 Vectis Insula (the Isle of Wight) may be a Belgae possession, although this cannot be confirmed. Now it is conquered by Roman troops under the command of Vespasian. c.80?

Direct rule under the Romans follows the death of Tiberius Claudius Cogidubnus, client ruler of the Regninses , and perhaps the Belgae too. The tribal territory is later organised into the civitates (administrative districts within a Roman province) of the Atrebates , Regninses and, again, possibly the Belgae. The latter are governed from Venta Belgarum (Winchester). It has been suggested (by Vivien Swan and Anthony King) that the Belgae may have strong anti-Roman sentiments (not surprising if they have been chased out of Gaul by Roman conquests), and that their lands may be resettled by Belgic peoples soon after the conquest of Britain . The immediate post-Conquest pottery of the Oare/Savernake area is made by Belgic potters who follow the Roman army as it moves westwards. It raises the possibility that the whole of the 'Belgae' population is moved in from somewhere further east, with the indigenous people being resettled.

c.140s Ptolemy confirms the location of the Belgae, and ascribes to them the towns of Aquae Calidae ('The Hot Waters' otherwise known as Aquae Sulis, modern Bath in Somerset), Iscalis (location uncertain, but placed by Ptolemy at the mouth of the River Axe, near Bawdrip in Somerset), and Venta Belgarum. The last is the principal tribal centre but is given no special attribution. A bank and ditch is built around it during this century. Other settlements include Abona (Sea Mills, Avon) a port which serves Aquae Sulis and which is located on the Severn Estuary, and Sorviodunum (Old Sarum in Hampshire), an Iron Age hill fort which has been re-used by the Romans as a posting station. 3rd century A stone wall is added to the defensive bank and ditch around Venta Belgarum. By this period the city contains many fine Roman buildings, including temples and a forum, and is the fifth largest city by area in Roman Britain . Two cemeteries exist, one outside the northern gate and one to the east.

It is probably in this century that Aquae Sulis gains defensive walls, in common with many cities in Britain. The road junction to the north of the temple complex is left outside the walls, and the area within them is progressively developed, suggesting occupation is concentrated behind the defences. However, there is some development along the roadside to the north, along with a cemetery which continues to be used. The baths begin to decline in the late fourth century, but the springs continue to be used. 4th century By this period another settlement can be found at Clavsentum (Bitterne in Hampshire). It is a fortified port which serves Venta Belgarum. By the 340s, development work comes to a halt in Venta, part of a general decline in Roman cities at this time, and bastions are added to the town wall as the defences are beefed up. At the same time there is evidence of alien elements in the population which grave goods and burial rites suggest are of South German origin. These may be laeti, barbarians settled in the area of the city to aid in its defence.

The Roman city of Venta Belgarum was apparently prosperous and well-sited - and also extremely well built as parts of it still stand almost two thousand years later 5th century By the fifth century the Romano-British Belgae have regained some level of independent control in the form of the postulated territory of Caer Gwinntguic . The territory may only be an administrative one at first, perhaps developing later into an independent entity as central authority in Britain fades. The city of Aquae Sulis emerged as Caer Baddan , but it now falls under the administrative control of Caer Gloui , not Venta Belgarum. Caer Gwinntguic (Venta Belgarum) From its regional capital at the Roman town of Venta Belgarum (Winchester in Hampshire), the British territory of the Belgae reasserted some form of independence in the early fifth century (if not before). The territory shared a long northern border with Caer Celemion , and also bordered Rhegin to the south-east, Inis Vectis to the south, Dumnonia to the west, and Caer Baddan to the north-west.

The region was tasked with defending the westernmost section of the Saxon Shore in the fifth century, and Saxon laeti were probably hired and settled on the south coast for this very reason, arriving in the first half of the fifth century (archaeology confirms this). Their role may have become important in the territory's later years, either as a key part of its defence or as its later enemy (either way, it seems that they may have played a role in forming the name used here, Caer Gwinntguic). In the mid-fifth century the political situation suddenly changed. The British central authority was locked in civil war, and the country was struck by plague and subjected to a barbarian sacking from coast to coast. Sacking swiftly turned to conquest, and parts of the south coast were settled by Jutes who called themselves the Meonware . Edward Dawson breaks down the origins of the Gwinntguic name as follows, pointing out that 'gwinnt' (or more usually 'gwent') is a typical late pronunciation of 'venta'. As for 'guic', there was a strong Celtic habit of transforming a 'w' into a 'gw' (or 'gu').

One very well known example of this is the Votadini tribe. That name underwent a fairly standard alteration from 'v' (or sometimes 'w') to 'gu' and then to 'g'. In the case of '-guic', this starts with 'gu'. Take off the older 'g' sound and it becomes 'wic', which was well known in Anglo-Saxon English as a trading centre (such as Ipswich, Norwich, Lundenwic, and Hamptonwic - now Southampton). Saxons were often settled just outside the walls of the city they were being hired to protect. They would have obtained their food and goods from the city's traders and, in the case of Venta Belgarum, and perhaps only speaking a little Latin, could have pronounced 'Gwent' or 'Gwinnt' as 'Wentawic'. Extending the hypothesis a little further, the locals could have picked up on the Saxon variation of the city's name and adopted it, perhaps in the later days when virtually all communication from outside had been cut off and the Romano-Britons and Saxons were now brothers-in-arms on an equal footing.

The recycled name could have been rendered by the Romano-British as 'wenta wic', or 'gwent gwic'. The Historia Brittonum labels the city Caer Guin Truis. (Additional information by Edward Dawson.) c.420s - 430s In the first half of the century there is a second settlement of barbarians in or around the civitas. Again they are probably laeti who are added to the city's defensive forces now that the presence of Roman troops is a thing of the past (although ex-Roman army troops almost certainly remain in places, dedicated to defending their homes and families rather than owing any loyalty to the now-distant empire). This time the new arrivals are from North Germany, almost certainly Saxons . Their pottery in the city antedates the arrival of the general wave of Saxon invaders by over a century. fl 440s Recorded by St Germanus. 446 St Germanus' second visit to Britain sees off the last of the Pelagians and confirms Elafius' subjects in the Catholic faith of the Roman Church .

Elafius himself is clearly a Pelagian supporter until the visit, and by inference may be a supporter of Vortigern's pro- Celtic faction in Britain. Germanus goes on to restore Cadell Ddyrnllwg to the throne of the Pagenses in the West Midlands. c.450 - 455 Jutes from the Cantware group of invaders, or related to them, settle to the west of modern Southampton, while the Meonware (more Jutes) settle to the immediate east of Southampton Water, possibly threatening the territory's southern border. They absorb, or are absorbed by, elements of the Saxon laeti who have been there since the beginning of the century and perhaps because of this integration with settled Saxons and indigenous Britons , they establish peaceful relations with Venta Belgarum. Further settlements are established on Inis Vectis, which may have been a possession of the Belgae before the Roman invasion and may still be a possession of their descendants.

477 Newly arrived Saxons under ï¿½lle land at Selsey on the south coast (modern West Sussex) and beat off the Britons of Rhegin who oppose their landing, driving them to take refuge in the great forest called Andredesleag (The Weald). Suddenly, the southern Saxon Shore has been breached in a far more major way than the arrival of the Meonware had threatened and Venta Belgarum is mainly cut off from the southern coast. By this time the economic basis for the city's existence has disappeared. Its population has dwindled and the remaining inhabitants are developing a siege mentality in the face of increasing Saxon encroachment from the east. 480s - 490s This is the probable period in which the traditional twelve victorious battles of Arthur are fought. In reality, although many of the battles seem to reflect actual events, it is likely that they are spaced out over a greater length of time, and are undertaken by multiple British leaders (most especially Ambrosius Aurelianus). One of those battles takes place at the fort of Guinnion (Venta Belgarum). If invading Saxons have managed to penetrate this far inland then it may be a shocking occurrence.

Alternatively it could instead be a revolt by Germanic laeti who are already settled in the region... or possibly an early effort by Cerdic. ? - 495? Possible Belgae magistrate before conquering West Seaxe ? c.495 - c.525 The south gate of Venta is blocked in two stages, possibly in response to the settlement of the Meonware or more probably due to the founding of Cerdic's kingdom which eventually becomes that of the West Seaxe . The territory's defences force the West Seaxe to advance instead towards the less well-defended west country, but the settlement at Clavsentum (Bitterne), close to the Solent, has been lost. In fact, given the reasonable probability that Cerdic himself is of noble British birth and may hold a position of authority in the country, he could well be a magistrate of the Belgae before his rebellion in 495.

The medieval King's Gate in Wincheter (Venta) was built over the site of the Roman south gate around the year 1300, eight hundred years after the original was blocked up By this time the city has become isolated from Dumnonia in the west, and Rhegin to the south-east has already fallen, so Venta's world is narrowing. The Romano-British population is much reduced from a century before, with many probably having migrated west while they still could. The core population that remains could well be balanced equally between Romano-British warriors and their families and the Saxon laeti and their families (given that at least some of the latter have been there for up to six generations). It is probably in this period that the territory's name of Gwinntguic replaces the city's name of Venta, as explained above. ? - 508 Killed by the West Seaxe . 508 Cerdic's West Seaxe defeat Natanlaod's Britons in the area of Southampton Water.

Could Natanleod be a rival British chieftain or Roman -style official (perhaps of Caer Gwinntguic) who is vying for power with Cerdic or attempting to defend Britain's shores? Having established a beachhead and killed the (possibly) legitimate governor or ruler, Cerdic may be the only hope in the region for strong governance, with the result that Britons, Saxons and Jutes join him. The victory probably completes Gwinntguic's isolation from the very south coast that it had been expected to protect at the start of the century. 552 Caer Gwinntguic falls to the West Seaxe , making its northern neighbour, Caer Celemion , very vulnerable on its less well-defended southern border. The city is not fully abandoned. The Saxons who have lived there since the early fifth century and even before that probably remain, perhaps even with the surviving Romano-Britons, who are virtually kin by now, and certainly closer in relation than the new conquerors.

In time the city becomes Wintanceastre (Winchester), capital of the West Seaxe kingdom from 590 and the seat of the bishop of Wessex from 676. A History of Winchester A BRIEF HISTORY OF WINCHESTER, HAMPSHIRE By Tim Lambert ROMAN WINCHESTER Winchester began as a Roman town. It was built about 70 AD. The Romans called the new town Venta Belgarum which means the capital of the Belgares (who were the local Celtic tribe before the Roman conquest). Roman Winchester was made a civitas or regional capital. Roman Winchester was built with its streets laid out in a grid pattern. In the middle of the town was the forum. This was a market place lined with shops and public buildings. An important building in Roman Winchester was the public baths. Romans went to the baths not just to get clean but also to socialize. There were also temples in Winchester. At first the buildings in Winchester were made of wood but by the third century some were replaced with brick and stone. Wealthy people in Winchester lived in splendid houses with glass windows, mosaic floors and walls painted with murals. However the poor lived in simple wooden houses.

At first Winchester was protected by ditch and an earth rampart, probably with a wooden palisade on top. However at the beginning of the 3rd century Winchester was given stone walls. Winchester now covered 144 acres, which made it the 5th largest town in Roman Britain. There were also suburbs outside the walls. However, like other Roman towns, Winchester declined in the 4th century. SAXON WINCHESTER A statue of King Alfred in Winchester The last Roman soldier left Britain in 407. Town life then broke down. Winchester seems to have been abandoned. When the Saxons arrived in the 6th century a small number of them may have lived in wooden huts within the walls and farmed the land outside. However Winchester ceased to be a town. The Saxons called q Roman settlement a caester and they called Venta Belgarum, Venta Caester. In time this was changed to Wintancaester and eventually became corrupted to Winchester. From 597 monks from Rome began the task of converting Southern England to Christianity. In the mid 7th century a Minster church called the Old Minister was built inside the Roman walls of Winchester.

(A Minster church is one with a monastery attached). It was later known as the Old Minster. In 676 the Bishop of Wessex moved his seat to Winchester and the Old Minster became a cathedral. Late in the 9th century Alfred the Great revived the old Roman town. To defend his kingdom he formed a network of fortified places where men could gather to fight the Danes whenever necessary. Alfred often repaired and revived old Roman towns for this purpose. Winchester was rebuilt with the streets laid out in a grid pattern and people were encouraged to come and live there. Soon Saxon Winchester was flourishing. In 901 Alfred's successor founded a second Minster church in Winchester, called the New Minster. In 903 Alfred's widow founded a nunnery known as the Nunnaminster. (It was later called St Marys Abbey). Later in the 10th century the monastery attached to the Old Minster church was reformed and became St Swithun's Priory. In the 10th century the New Minster, St Swithun's Priory and the Nunnaminster were centers of art and learning.

They were famous for their illuminated manuscripts (decorated books), jewelry, embroidery and metalwork. From the 10th century there was a mint in the town. Winchester may have had a population of about 8,000 and there were suburbs outside Westgate and Northgate. There was also a Royal Palace in Winchester. It was probably built in the early 10th century. WINCHESTER IN THE MIDDLE AGES Winchester Cathedral William the Conqueror rebuilt the Royal Palace in Winchester. The new palace was twice the size of the old Saxon palace. William also built a castle in the west of Winchester. Sixty houses were demolished to make way for it. At first it was made of wood but in the early 12th century it was rebuilt in stone. After 1079 the Normans demolished the Old Minster Cathedral and built a new cathedral on the site. Early in the 12th century the Nunnaminster (St Marys Abbey) was rebuilt. The New Minster monastery was moved to a new site north of Winchester. It became known as Hyde Abbey. In the Middle Ages the church ran the only 'hospitals'.

In 1136 the Hospital of St Cross was built in Winchester. Wolvesey castle, the Bishops residence, was built early in the 12th century. In the 13th century the friars arrived in Winchester. Medieval Friars were like monks except instead of withdrawing from the world they went out into the world to help the poor and the sick and to preach. The Dominican friars (known as black friars because of their black costumes) arrived about 1230 and lived in a building between the Itchen and Busket Street. Franciscan friars (called grey friars) arrived in Winchester about 1230 and lived near Eastgate. Carmelite friars followed them in about 1278. They lived near St. Michael's church. Augustinian friars arrived in Winchester about the same time as the Carmelites and lived near Southgate. Between 1135 and 1154 there was civil war in England between Stephen and Matilda. In 1141 a battle was fought in Winchester, which became known as the rout of Winchester.

The bishop of Winchester fell out with Matilda and his men took refuge in Wolvesey castle. Matilda's army then occupied the town of Winchester and laid siege to the castle. However Stephen's army surrounded Winchester. So there was the strange situation of an army in Wolvesey castle, under siege from an army in the town, under siege from another army outside the walls! Matilda's army eventually decided to fight their way out of Winchester and went out through the town gates. But during the fighting parts of the town were set alight and burned. More trouble followed in 1264 when there was civil war between the king and his barons led by Simon De Monfort. The people of Winchester supported the king but the monks in the town supported De Monfort. In 1264 they came to blows when the townspeople found out the monks were planning to let De Monfort's men into the town through the Kings gate. The townspeople killed several monks and set fire to the Canon gate. The flames to spread to the Kings gate and its adjoining houses. The next year, 1265, De Monfort's men captured Winchester. They pillaged shops and killed many Jews.

In the 13th century Winchester castle was rebuilt and 'modernized'. The square keep was replaced with a round one. In 1236 panes of glass were installed in the windows. (Glass windows were the height of luxury in those days and few people could afford them). A history of castles In the Middle Ages the main industry in Winchester was making wool cloth. First the raw wool was cleaned and thickened by pounding it with a mixture of water and clay called fullers earth. The wool was pounded by wooden hammer worked by watermills. When the wool dried it was dyed. There were also many weavers, dyers, tailors and drapers in Winchester as well as butchers, grocers, carpenters, tilers, blacksmiths, shoemakers and goldsmiths. In Winchester there were weekly markets. There was also an annual fair. In the Middle Ages fairs were like markets but people they were held only once a year. People came from all over Hampshire to buy and sell at a Winchester fair. The Winchester fair began on the feast of St Giles at the end of August and lasted for 16 days.

The fair was held on a hill east of the town which became known as St Giles Hill. By 1200 Winchester had a mayor. However Winchester declined during the 12th and 13th centuries as London grew bigger and became the new capital. In the mid 13th century the royal mint was moved from Winchester to London. A city gate in Winchester In 1348-49 disaster struck Winchester. The Black Death may have killed half of the population of the town. The plague returned to Winchester in 1361 then again, at intervals, for centuries. In the 15th century Buttercross was built in the High Street. However in the 15th century Winchester declined. The cloth industry faced increasing competition from other towns. The population of Winchester may have fallen to about 4,000 by 1500. Life in the Middle Ages WINCHESTER IN THE 16th CENTURY By the 16th century Winchester had dwindled to being a not very important town. In 1518 the number of annual fairs was increased to 3 to try and stimulate trade but with little success.

In 1538 Henry VIII closed the St Marys Abbey (Nunnaminster), Hyde Abbey and St Swithun's Priory. He also closed the friaries in Winchester. All the land owned by these establishments was sold and their buildings were 'cannibalized' to provide materials for new ones. However the hospital of St John Cross continued to function. In 1554 Queen Mary married King Phillip of Spain in Winchester. During the 16th century there was a problem of unemployment as the population of England rose and there wasn't enough jobs for everyone. In 1579 Winchester council opened a house of correction where the unemployed or 'rogues' and 'sturdy vagabonds' were to be housed and taught a trade like hat making or glove making. The experiment failed because existing craftsmen resented this new competition. Life in the 16th Century WINCHESTER IN THE 17th CENTURY Plague continued to break out in Winchester during the 17th century. It struck Winchester in 1603 and again in 1625. The last outbreak of plague in Winchester was in 1665-66.

Meanwhile in 1607 Peter Symonds opened an almshouse in Winchester. In 1642 civil war began between King and Parliament. During the civil war Winchester changed hands several times. Most of the people in Winchester supported the king and at first royalist soldiers occupied the town. However at the end of 1642 parliamentary soldiers attacked and quickly captured Winchester. The town council paid the parliamentary soldiers 1,000 pounds in return for an agreement that they would not loot the town but some soldiers did so anyway. They also vandalized the cathedral. The parliamentary soldiers then moved on leaving Winchester undefended. In November 1643 a royalist army occupied Winchester. In March 1644 they went out to fight the parliamentarians at Cheriton Down in Hampshire and were defeated. The royalists abandoned Winchester town but left a garrison to man the castle. The parliamentarians took Winchester town again but made no attempt to capture the castle. Once again the parliamentary army moved on leaving Winchester undefended. Then, finally, in September 1645, Oliver Cromwell led an army which occupied Winchester town and, a few days later, took the castle.

In 1649 the members of the town council were removed from their posts because they supported the king. In 1651 Cromwell's men destroyed Winchester castle to prevent it ever falling into royalist hands again. Only the great hall remained. King Charles II 1660-1685 often visited Winchester and was fond of the town. He decided to build a royal palace in Winchester, but this building was never finished and after his death he idea was abandoned. Wolvesey castle, the bishops old residence, was now in ruins and was replaced by a palace in the late 17th century. WINCHESTER IN THE 18th CENTURY During the 18th century century much of Winchester was rebuilt. Many Georgian houses were built and some old houses were given a Georgian facade. Otherwise Winchester changed little. The population was about 4,000 early in the 18th century and was still less than 6,000 in 1800. Winchester was a quiet market town and had declined a long way from when it was the capital of England.

In 1724 Daniel Defoe wrote that Winchester was a 'place of no trade, no manufacture, no navigation'. On the other hand 'here is a great deal of good company the abundance of gentry being in the neighborhood, it adds to the sociableness of the place. The clergy here are generally speaking very rich and numerous'. In 1755 Horace Walpole called Winchester 'a paltry town and small'. However there were some improvements in Winchester. The Guildhall was rebuilt in 1711. The Royal Hampshire County Hospital opened in 1736. A theater opened in Jewry Street in 1785. In 1771 a body of men called the Paving Commissioners was formed with powers to pave and light the streets with oil lamps. In the 18th century North, East and Southgate were demolished to make it easier for traffic to enter and exit Winchester town centre. City Mill was built in 1744. WINCHESTER IN THE 19th CENTURY Jane Austen died in Winchester in 1817. A Corn Exchange, where grain was bought and sold opened in 1838 (this building is now the library).

Winchester prison was built in 1846-49. In 1857 a Market Hall was built where fruit and vegetables were sold. The first museum opened in 1847. A new guildhall opened in 1873. An art school and public library were added to the building in 1880. The Royal Hampshire County Hospital was moved to its present site in 1868. In 1840 a teacher training college opened in Winchester (later King Alfred's College). In 1847 Winchester gained gas street lighting. In 1855 a water company was formed and the next year the first piped water flowed through the town. But there were no drains or sewers in Winchester until the 1870's. A pumping station began operating in Garnier Street in 1878 but it was some years before all houses were connected to a sewer. Prosperity returned to Winchester in the 19th century. This was largely because of the railway, which reached Winchester in 1840. This made it possible for tourists to travel easily to Winchester. The railway also encouraged new industries to move to the town.

The population of Winchester grew rapidly. From less than 6,000 people in 1801, it rose to over 13,000 in 1851 and over 17,000 in 1891. In 1898 Westgate was made into a museum. WINCHESTER IN THE 20th CENTURY In 1901 a statue of King Alfred was erected to commemorate the 1,000th anniversary of his death. (Historians now believe Alfred actually died in 899). In 1908 a riot occurred in Winchester. A Russian gun, captured in the Crimean war stood in the Broadway. The mayor decided to remove the railings around it, which gave rise to a rumor that the gun was going to be removed. The result was a riot during which many windows were smashed. In 1914 the first cinema opened in Winchester. A war memorial was erected in 1921. In the 1920's a council house estate was built at Stanmore. By 1939 the council had built 1,200 houses.

A new by pass was built in the 1930's. It opened in 1938 and closed in 1994 when the M3 was completed. In 1939 hundreds of schoolchildren from Portsmouth and Southampton were evacuated to Winchester (although most soon returned home). In 1940 and 1941 some people from heavily bombed Southampton slept at night in cellars and tunnels under a brewery depot in Hyde Street. In the 1950's and 1960's Winchester town center was redeveloped. In 1956-57 St Georges Street was widened. In 1956 the junction of Jewry Street and High Street was widened. At the same time parts of Lower Brook Street and Middle Brook Street were demolished and a car park was built. The inhabitants were re-housed in council houses. In 1959 a road was built around the Westgate and in the early 1960's the county council offices were built nearby. Some of the buildings in Colebrook Street were demolished and replaced by the Wessex Hotel in 1962-64.

More council houses were built in Winchester after 1945. By 1955 about 1200 had been built. A new council estate was built on the western side of the A27 Stockbridge Road on the site of Weeke Manor farm. Council houses were also built in Highcliffe. Many private houses were also built including ones at Harestock in the 1950's and Teg Down in the early 1960's. In 1963 the first multi story flats in Winchester were built. Four 8 story flats were built at Winnall Manor. Winall industrial estate began in 1948 when Brazils sausages bought land from the church commissioners and relocated there from the town center. The industrial estate grew rapidly in the 1950's. In 1966 a new police Headquarters was built. Also in 1966 Winchester Art College moved to the present building. A new post office opened in Middle Brook Street in 1966. In 1974 the High Street was pedestrianized. In 1986 the Royal Hampshire County Hospital was extended with the Nightingale building.

In 1992 Brinton Wing was built. In 1988 River Park Leisure Centre opened. In 1989 Winchester cattle market closed. It had been going since 1588. The army left Peninsula barracks in 1985. In the 1990's military museums opened there, the Royal Greenjackets, the Royal Hussars, Royal Hants Regiment, the Gurkhas and the Light Infantry. In 1991 the Brooks Centre, a shopping mall, opened. In 1993 a new public records office opened. The same year the Cathedral Visitor's Centre opened. WINCHESTER IN THE 21st CENTURY In the 21st century Winchester continued to thrive. Winchester Discovery Centre opened in 2008. Today the population of Winchester is 41,000.

About: Venta Belgarum About: Venta Belgarum An Entity of Type : Site108651247 , from Named Graph : , within Data Space : dbpedia.org Venta Belgarum was a town in the Roman province of Britannia Superior, the civitas capital of the local tribe, the Belgae. The name Venta is Brittonic, meaning 'town' or 'meeting-place'. Today it is known as Winchester and is situated in the English county of Hampshire. But in earlier ages so called Venta Belgarum is named historically as Venta-Bulgarum. Property abstract Venta Belgarum ist der antike Name der römischen Stadt Winchester in England. Die Stadt war Hauptort der Civitas Belgarum. Über den kleinen Fluss Itchen war die Stadt mit dem Meer verbunden. Clausentum war der zur Stadt gehörige Seehafen. Venta Belgarum war schon in der späten Eisenzeit besiedelt. Aus dieser Periode stammen Erdaufschüttungen, die in das 2. und 1. Jahrhundert v. Chr. datieren.

Diese Besiedlung hörte um 50 v. Chr. auf, um erst ca. 100 Jahre später wieder zu beginnen. Die eisenzeitliche Siedlung gehörte wohl zum keltischen Königreich der Atrebaten. Als dieses Reich unter römische Herrschaft gelangte, wurde es von dem Vasallenkönig Tiberius Claudius Cogidubnus regiert, der seine Hauptstadt in Chichester hatte. Um 50. v. Chr. setzen auf dem Gebiet der späteren Stadt Bauarbeiten ein. Es wurden vor allem Befestigungsanlagen aus Holz und Erde errichtet. Nach dem Tod von Tiberius Claudius Cogidubnus, am Ende des 1. Jahrhunderts n. Chr., wurde sein kleines Königreich umorganisiert und vollkommen in das römische Reich integriert. Der Ort wurde nun zu einer Stadt ausgebaut, die der Hauptort der Civitas Belgarum wurde und den Namen Venta Belgarum erhielt.

In dieser Zeit wurde die Stadt vollkommen neu errichtet und erhielt einen schachbrettartigen Stadtplan und eine Stadtmauer, von der bisher vier Tore bekannt sind. Im Zentrum wurden ein Forum und eine Basilika errichtet. Für weitere öffentliche Bauten gibt es jedoch nur wenig Belege. Im Nordwesten der Stadt stand ein keltischer Tempel. Bisher fehlen auch Belege für Thermen oder Theater. Bis auf eine große Villa im Südwesten der Stadt, ist bisher auch wenig an zusammenhängender Wohnbebauung bekannt, doch belegen zahlreiche Zufallsfunde von Mosaiken einen relativen Wohlstand. Außerhalb der Stadtmauern, die im 4. Jahrhundert verstärkt wurden, fanden sich bedeutende Reste von Vororten und Friedhöfen. Einer von diesen war vor allem im 4. Jahrhundert in Benutzung, und die Bestattungen waren reich an Beigaben. Diese deuten auf das Vorhandensein einer militärischen Einheit zu dieser Zeit.

In der Notitia Dignitatum wird ein procurate gynaeci, Ventenisis (Verwalter der Webereien von Ventas) genannt. Der Ort scheint also Kleidung, und von späteren Belegen ausgehend Wollkleidung, für das römische Militär produziert zu haben. Aus der Stadt selber gibt es dazu jedoch keine Belege. Die Stadt wurde anscheinend im 5. Jahrhundert allmählich verlassen. Es gibt kaum archäologische Belege für eine Siedlungskontinuität ins frühe Mittelalter. (de) Venta Belgarum was a town in the Roman province of Britannia Superior, the civitas capital of the local tribe, the Belgae. The name Venta is Brittonic, meaning 'town' or 'meeting-place'. Today it is known as Winchester and is situated in the English county of Hampshire. But in earlier ages so called Venta Belgarum is named historically as Venta-Bulgarum. (en) Venta Belgarum was een stad in de Romeinse provincie Britannia Superior.

Het was de civitas (hoofdstad) van de lokale stam, de Belgae. De naam Venta is Brythonisch en betekent 'stad' of 'ontmoetingsplaats'.Vandaag is de plaats bekend als Winchester, een stad in het Engels graafschap Hampshire. (nl) 万塔比尔格鲁姆 （拉丁语：Venta Belgarum）是罗马帝国统治不列颠时期，在上不列颠行省建立的一座城市。在今汉普郡的温切斯特。“万塔”一名出自古布立吞語，是“城镇”或“聚所”之意。2世纪达到鼎盛，4世纪时逐渐衰落。 (zh) comment Venta Belgarum was a town in the Roman province of Britannia Superior, the civitas capital of the local tribe, the Belgae. The name Venta is Brittonic, meaning 'town' or 'meeting-place'. Today it is known as Winchester and is situated in the English county of Hampshire. But in earlier ages so called Venta Belgarum is named historically as Venta-Bulgarum.

(en) Venta Belgarum was een stad in de Romeinse provincie Britannia Superior. Het was de civitas (hoofdstad) van de lokale stam, de Belgae. De naam Venta is Brythonisch en betekent 'stad' of 'ontmoetingsplaats'.Vandaag is de plaats bekend als Winchester, een stad in het Engels graafschap Hampshire. (nl)

Question: Venta Belgarum was the Roman name for which Hampshire town in England?
Answer: Winchester