Coria (Corbridge) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Coria (Corbridge) |
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 Location in Northumberland
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| Alternative name(s) | Coriosopitum, Corsopitum or Corsobetum |
| Founded | c. 84 AD |
| Place in the Roman world | |
| Province | Britannia |
| Structure | |
| — Stone structure — | |
| — Wood and earth structure — | |
| Built | c. 84 AD |
| Stationed military units | |
| — Alae — | |
| I Petriana ? | |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 54°58′42″N 2°01′59″W / 54.9784°N 2.03316°W |
| County | Northumberland |
| Country | England |
| Reference | |
| UK-OSNG reference | NY981647 |
| Site notes | |
| Condition | Ruined |
Coria was an important Roman fort and town in the ancient Roman province of Britannia. It was located about 2.5 miles (4 km) south of Hadrian's Wall. Coria was a key spot because a major Roman road, Dere Street, crossed the River Tyne here. Another Roman road, Stanegate, also met Dere Street at Coria. This road ran east to west between Coria and Carlisle.
Today, Coria is known as Corchester or the Corbridge Roman Site. It sits near the village of Corbridge in Northumberland, England. The site is looked after by English Heritage. You can visit parts of it and see a museum there.
Contents
What Was Coria Called?
The Roman name for this place was written in different ways in old records. Some records call it Corstopitum or Corie Lopocarium. However, these names might have been written incorrectly.
Historians think the real name might have been Coriosopitum, Corsopitum, or Corsobetum. But the Vindolanda tablets, which are ancient Roman writing tablets found nearby, simply call it Coria. This was a common name for a local tribal center. The full name likely included the name of the local tribe, who were part of the Brigantes group.
Early Life at Coria
Before the Romans arrived, there is proof that people lived here in the British Iron Age. They built round houses.
The first Romans in the area built a supply camp called the Red House Fort. This was about 0.5 miles (0.8 km) to the west. It helped support the Roman general Gnaeus Julius Agricola in his military campaigns.
The Roman Forts of Coria
Around 84 AD, after the Romans won battles in what is now Scotland, they built a new fort at Coria. This fort had walls made of turf and timber gates. Inside, there were buildings for soldiers (barracks), a main headquarters, the commander's house, offices, workshops, and places to store grain.
This first fort was probably home to a 500-strong cavalry unit called the Ala Gallorum Petriana. Sadly, it burned down in 105 AD.
Building New Forts
A second timber fort was built to protect the important crossing point of the River Tyne. At this time, the Roman frontier was between the Solway Firth and the River Tyne.
Around 120 AD, when Hadrian's Wall was constructed, the fort at Coria was rebuilt again. It likely housed infantry (foot soldiers) who were stationed away from the main Wall. About 20 years later, the Roman frontier moved further north to the Antonine Wall. At this time, the first stone fort was built at Coria under Governor Quintus Lollius Urbicus.
Historians have studied the many layers of forts at Corbridge. They found that several forts made of earth and timber were built before the stone buildings you can see today. They also found a hidden collection of metal objects within the fort. This collection might be linked to when the fort was left empty between 122 AD and 138 AD.
How Coria Was Found Again
Between 1906 and 1914, people started digging at the Corbridge site. The Northumberland County History Committee wanted to learn about the Roman remains there. This was before they wrote a book about the history of the area.
Francis J. Haverfield from Oxford University oversaw the work. He sent students like J.P. Bushe-Fox and Leonard Woolley to supervise local workers. This was one of the first times students were trained in archaeology in Britain. Later, Brian Dobson also led training digs for adults at Corbridge in the 1960s and 1970s.
The Tombstone of Flavinus
In 1881, during work on Hexham Abbey, a Roman tombstone was discovered. It was built into the stone walls of the church. This stone is beautifully carved and shows a Roman cavalry soldier on horseback riding over an enemy.
The writing on the stone tells us it honors Flavinus. He was an officer in the ala Petriana (the same cavalry unit that was at Coria). Flavinus died at age 25 after serving for seven years. Since the ala Petriana was stationed at Corbridge, people believe this tombstone dates back to the late first century. It probably once stood in the Roman military cemetery near the fort.
Coria in Stories
Coria, or Corstopitum, has appeared in several historical novels:
- In Rosemary Sutcliff's 1965 book The Mark of the Horse Lord, the main character is a gladiator in Corstopitum.
- In Mary Stewart's 1979 book The Last Enchantment, Merlin and Ulfin travel through Cor Bridge.
- In Juliet Landon's 2006 romance The Warlord's Mistress, the story is set in Coria in 208 AD.
- In Ruth Downie's 2008 novel Terra Incognita, the main characters are near Coria at the start of the book.
- In László Krasznahorkai's novel War and War, Corstopitum is one of the places visited by mysterious travelers.
Images for kids
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Plan of Coria showing the various stages of building
See also
In Spanish: Coria (Corbridge) para niños
