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Limes Britannicus facts for kids

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Claudius 1007 20060709
Claudius, a Roman Emperor
Roman Roads in Britannia de
Important Roman roads in Britain around the 100s AD
Part of Tabula Peutingeriana showing Britannia
An old map showing Britain. Only the yellow part is original.
Lunt fort baginton
A rebuilt gate at Lunt Fort in the Midlands
Roman Signal Station - geograph.org.uk - 92130
Remains of a Roman watchtower in northern Britain
Hadrian coin
Hadrian, a Roman Emperor
Antonine wall
Part of the Antonine Wall in northern Britain
The Stanegate above Vindolanda - geograph.org.uk - 785569
The Stanegate road near Vindolanda
Antpius
Antoninus Pius, a Roman Emperor
Fosse Way Wiltshire
A section of the Fosse Way, an ancient Roman road
Roman Fortifications in Museum Gardens York
A corner tower from a Roman fort in York
Constantine York Minster
A statue of Emperor Constantine I in York
Sicherungssystem d. Hadrianswalls
A drawing showing how Hadrian's Wall was built
Arbeia Roman Fort reconstructed gateway
A rebuilt gate at Arbeia Roman Fort
Reconstruction of Hadrian's wall - geograph.org.uk - 407926
A rebuilt wooden tower at Vindolanda
Reconstruction Turret at Vindolanda II
A rebuilt stone tower at Vindolanda
Milecastle 39 on Hadrian's Wall
The ruins of Milecastle 39 on Hadrian's Wall
Segontium - geograph.org.uk - 1212236
Remains of barracks at Segontium fort in Wales
DevaMinervaPlan(bq)
A model of the Roman fort Deva (Chester)
Caerleon-Roman Fortress Walls
Remains of walls at Isca Roman fort
CaerwentWall
The late Roman wall of Caerwent
Aureus Carausius RIC 0005 (obverse)
Carausius, a Roman leader in Britain
Saxon Shore, Portchester Castle - geograph.org.uk - 258616
The east wall of Portus Adurni fort
Outer wall Pevensey Castle - geograph.org.uk - 1410474
Part of the wall at Anderitum fort

The Roman Empire's border in Britain is sometimes called the Limes Britannicus. This name refers to the walls and forts built to protect Roman Britain. These defenses were used from the 1st to the 5th centuries AD. They stretched across what is now England, Scotland, and Wales.

Britain was a challenging part of the Roman Empire in Europe. It took a lot of effort for the Roman army to control it. Even though Claudius' general, Aulus Plautius, quickly won battles in the south in 43 AD, the local people kept fighting for a long time. Still, the Romans managed to strengthen their control. However, the Roman soldiers had to defend Britain on three sides. Attacks from tribes in the north were a constant problem. To the west and south, they had to protect against attacks from Ireland and Germanic peoples.

Despite these challenges, the Roman Empire held onto Britain for almost 300 years. Many people believe Roman rule was good for Britain. It brought a long period of peace and wealth to the island. Behind the strong protection of Hadrian's Wall and the natural coastlines, the area we now call England was greatly changed by Roman ways of life. Hadrian's Wall and the forts along the Saxon Shore are still important symbols of Roman rule in Britain.

Roman Soldiers in Britain

After the fighting in the south calmed down in the late 1st century, Britain became known for having a huge number of Roman soldiers. For the next 300 years, about 10-12% of the entire Roman army was stationed there. This was a lot, considering Britain was only 4% of the whole Empire. The legions, helper units, and the navy were all led by the Roman governors of the province.

At its peak, the Roman army in Britain likely had 35,000 to 40,000 soldiers. This large number wasn't just because the British people fought hard against the Romans. It's also possible that Britain's location, far away at the edge of the Empire, was seen as a good place to keep any rebellious legions busy and isolated. Even some of their commanders were known for causing trouble.

Britain is surrounded by water, which made it harder for soldiers there to start a rebellion against the emperor. However, in 185 AD, 1,500 British javelin throwers marched all the way to Rome. They even killed the emperor Commodus' chief guard and his family. It's still a mystery how these soldiers got so far into the Empire without being stopped. Perhaps people in Rome thought the troops in Britain were too far away to be a real threat. Later, in the 3rd century, during the time of the Gallic Empire and British Empires, the soldiers in Britain often supported leaders who tried to take power from the emperor.

Roman Legions in Britain

In the first 40 years after the invasion in 43 AD, four Roman legions were based in Britain. After that, the number was reduced to three until the end of Roman rule. Their main bases were in:

Together, these legions had about 15,000 soldiers.

Time Period Legion Name Main Locations
1st to 5th centuries Legio II Augusta
1st century Legio II Adiutrix Pia Fidelis
2nd to 5th centuries Legio VI Victrix Pia Fidelis
1st and 2nd centuries Legio IX Hispana
1st century Legio XIV Gemina Martia Victrix
1st to 3rd centuries Legio XX Valeria Victrix

Auxiliary Troops in Britain

More than half of the Roman soldiers in Britain were from helper units, called auxilia. These units were rarely mentioned in old writings.

Under Emperor Hadrian, there were 14 cavalry (horseback riding) regiments. Each of these ala units had about 500 soldiers. There were also 45 infantry (foot soldier) battalions, called cohortes peditae, each with about 480 soldiers.

Here are some terms you might see:

  • civium Romanorum = Roman citizens
  • equitata = partly mounted (some soldiers on horseback)
  • milliaria = 1,000 men strong
Cavalry Units Mixed Cavalry/Infantry Units Infantry Units (Part 1) Infantry Units (Part 2)

ala Augusta Gallorum Petriana milliaria civium Romanorum
ala Augusta Gallorum Proculeiana
ala Augusta Vocontiorum
ala Gallorum et Thracum classiana
ala Picentiana Gallorum
ala Hispanorum Vettonum
ala Agrippina Miniata
ala I Pannoniorum Sabiniana
ala I Pannoniorum Tampiana
ala I Hispanorum Asturum
ala I Thracum
ala I Tungrorum
ala II Asturum
ala II Gallorum Sebosiana

cohors I Augusta Nerviana Germanorum milliaria equitata
cohors I Vangionum milliaria equitata
cohors I Vardulorum civium Romanorum milliaria equitata
cohors I Batavorum equitata
cohors I Hispanorum equitata
cohors I Aelia Hispanorum milliaria equitata
cohors I Lingonum equitata
cohors II Gallorum veterana equitata
cohors II Lingonum equitata
cohors II Tungrorum milliaria equitata
cohors III Lingonum equitata
cohors IV Lingonum equitata
cohors IV Gallorum equitata

cohors I Menapiorum
cohors I Morinorum
cohors I Frisiavonum
cohors I Baetasiorum civium Romanorum
cohors I Celtiberorum
cohors I Aelia classica
cohors I Ulpia Cugernorum civium Romanorum
cohors I Aelia Dacorum milliaria
cohors I Delmatarum
cohors II Asturum
cohors II Delmatarum
cohors III Bracaraugustanorum
cohors IV Delmatarum
cohors IV Breucorum
cohors V Gallorum

cohors I Tungrorum milliaria
cohors I Augusta Bracarum
cohors I Aquitanorum
cohors I Nauticarum
cohors I Nerviorum
cohors I Sunucorum
cohors I Thracum
cohors I Hamiorum sagittariorum milliaria (bowmen)
cohors II Nerviorum
cohors II Pannoniorum
cohors II Thracum veterana
cohors II Vasconum civium Romanorum
cohors III Nerviorum
cohors IV Nerviorum
cohors VI Gallorum
cohors VII Thracum

The Roman Fleet in Britain

The Roman navy in Britain, called the Classis Britannica, was in charge of watching the waters around the British Isles. It started with the ships used during the Roman invasion. These naval units often worked closely with the ground troops. They were also very important for bringing supplies to the Roman army in the province.

The fleet played a big role in the campaigns of Gnaeus Julius Agricola in northern Britain. Its crews explored the coasts of Ireland and Scotland and even sailed all the way around Britain. When the forts along the Saxon Shore were built in the 3rd century, the fleet became even more important. A writer named Vegetius, who wrote in the late 4th century, mentioned that the provincial fleet still existed then.

The main job of these warships was to keep the important sea route between Britain and Gaul (modern France) safe. This route went from Dover to Calais. The fleet's main port in Britain was probably Dubris (Dover) at first. Later, under Carausius, the fleet's command center was moved to Portus Adurni (Portchester). After that, it was moved again to Rutupiae (Richborough).

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