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Roman cities in Britain facts for kids

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Roman Britain 410
This map shows how the Roman provinces were set up in Britain.

This article lists cities in Great Britain from when the Romans arrived in 43 AD until the 5th century. The Romans called their cities civitas. These were often strongholds where local tribes lived, ruled by Roman officials. Many of these cities were once important places for Iron Age tribes. Others were built along main Roman roads or were busy trading spots.

Some Roman cities were completely new settlements. A famous example is Aquae Sulis, which we now call Bath. At least 26 of today's 63 cities in England and Wales were Roman civitates. Camulodunum (modern Colchester) was the first capital of Roman Britain. Later, Londinium (modern London) became the capital. Today, London is still the capital of England and the UK.

This list covers cities across Great Britain. It does not include Cornwall or Scotland, as the Romans had less control there. The list shows the modern names, the old Brythonic names, and the Roman names. Brythonic names often started with "Caer," meaning "stronghold" or "fortress." This word later became "-caster," "-cester," or "-chester" in English names.

An author named Nennius wrote about 28 civitates in the 8th century. Most of the cities on this list are from his writings. Many Roman civitates continued to be important towns or cities after the Romans left. Others became ruins, with only small villages nearby today.

What Was a Roman City Like?

Roman cities, or civitates, were important places. They were usually protected by walls. These cities were centers for local tribes, but they were governed by Roman officials. This helped the Romans control the areas they had conquered.

How Did Roman Cities Start?

Many Roman cities began as places where local tribes already lived. These were often tribal capitals. Other cities grew up in important locations. Some were built along the main Roman roads for easy travel and trade. A few were new settlements built by the Romans themselves.

What Happened to Roman Cities?

After the Romans left Britain in the 5th century, many of these cities changed. Some continued to grow and became the cities we know today. Think of places like London or Chester. However, other Roman cities were abandoned. They slowly fell into ruin, and now only their remains can be seen, often near small villages.

List of Roman Cities in Britain

This table shows many of the important Roman cities in Great Britain. It includes their modern names, their older Brythonic and Roman names, and which tribe was linked to them. You can also see if they were mentioned by Nennius, the old Welsh writer.

Modern Name Brythonic Name Roman Name Associated Tribe Historic County Flag Current Status Image Mentioned by Nennius
Alcester Caer Alen Alauna Local Tribe Warwickshire Town No
Aldborough Caer Isurion Isurium Brigantum Brigantes West Riding of Yorkshire Village No
Bath Caer Baddon Aquae Sulis Roman Settlement Somerset Flag of Bath.png City No
Brough Caer Petuar Petuaria Parisi East Riding of Yorkshire Town No
Builth Wells Caer Peris Unknown Ordovices & Silures Brecknockshire Town Yes
Caernarfon Caer Segeint Segontium Ordovices Caernarfonshire Town Yes
Caistor (Thancaster) Caer Correi Caistor Corieltauvi Lincolnshire Town No
Cambridge Caer Grauth Duroliponte Catuvellauni Cambridgeshire Flag of the City of Cambridge.png City Yes
Canterbury Caer Ceint Durovernum Cantiacorum Cantiaci Kent Flag of Canterbury.png City Yes
Cardiff Caer Teim Tamium Silures Glamorgan Flag of Cardiff.svg City No
Carlisle Capital of Britannia Valentia Caer Ligualid Luguvalium Carvetii Cumberland Flag of Carlisle.png City Yes
Carmarthen Caer Merddyn Moridunum Demetae Carmarthenshire Town Unlikely
Catterick Caer Catarauc Cataractonium Brigantes North Riding of Yorkshire Village Yes
Chepstow (Caerwent) Caer Guent (possibly) Venta Silurum Silures Monmouthshire Town (Village) Yes
Chester Caer Legion Deva Victrix Cornovii (Midlands) Cheshire Flag of Chester.png City Yes
Chichester Caer Cei Noviomagus Reginorum Regni Sussex Flag of Chichester.png City No
Cirencester Capital of Britannia Prima Caer Ceri Corinium Dobunnorum Dobunni Gloucestershire Town No
Colchester Early Capital of Britannia Caer Colun Camulodunum Trinovantes Essex Colchester Flag.png City (2022) Yes
Conwy (Caerhun) Caer Canovion (Informally) Canovium Deceangorum Deceangli Denbighshire Town (Village) No
Doncaster Caer Daun Danum Roman Settlement West Riding of Yorkshire Flag of Doncaster.png City (2022) Yes
Dorchester Caer Durnac Durnovaria Durotriges Dorset Town No
Dunster Caer Draitou Unknown Dumnonii Somerset Village Yes
Durham (Binchester) Caer Weir Vinovia Brigantes County Durham Flag of Durham.svg City (Village) No
Exeter Caer Uisc Isca Dumnoniorum Dumnonii Devon Exeter Flag.png City No
Gloucester Capital of Britannia Secunda Caer Glout Glevum Dobunii Gloucestershire Gloucester Flag.png City No
Hereford (Kenchester) Caer Fawydd Magnae Dobunnorum Dobunni Herefordshire Flag of Hereford.png City (Village) No
Ilchester Caer Pensa vel Coyt Lindinis Lendinienses, part of Durotriges? Somerset Village Yes
Leicester Caer Lerion Ratae Corieltauvorum Corieltauvi Leicestershire Flag of the City of Leicester.png City Yes
Lichfield (Wall) Caer Luit coyt Letocetum Cornovii (Midlands) & Corieltauvi Staffordshire Flag of Lichfield.png City (Village) Yes
Lincoln Capital of Britannia Flavia Caer Lind-colun Lindum Colonia Corieltauvi Lincolnshire Flag of Lincoln.svg City No
City of London Later Capital of Britannia Caer Londein Londinium Catuvellauni & Trinovantes Middlesex Flag of the City of London.svg City Yes
Manchester Caer Maunguid Mamucium Roman Settlement Lancashire Flag of Manchester.png City Yes
Monmouth (The Doward) Caer Guorthigirn Blestium Silures Monmouthshire / Herefordshire Monmouth flag.jpg Town (Village) Yes, Probably
Norwich (Caistor St Edmund) Caer Guin Truis (possibly) Venta Icenorum Iceni Norfolk Flag of Norwich.png City (Village) No
Newport (Caerleon) Caer legion guar uisc Isca Augusta Silures Monmouthshire Flag of Newport.png City (Town) Yes
Portsmouth (Porchester) Caer Portus Portus Adurni Belgae Hampshire City Flag of Portsmouth.svg City (Village) No
Rochester Caer Dourbruf Durobrivae Cantiacorum Cantiaci Kent Town No
Salisbury (Old Sarum) Caer Sallwg Sorbiodunum Atrebates Wiltshire Salisbury Flag.svg City Yes
Shrewsbury (Wroxeter) Caer Guricon Viroconium Cornoviorum Cornovii (Midlands) Shropshire Town (Village) Yes
Silchester Caer Celemion Calleva Atrebatum Atrebates Hampshire Village Yes
St Albans Caer Municep Verulamium Catuvellauni Hertfordshire FlagOfStAlbans-PS01.svg City Yes
Whitchurch Caer Meguidd Mediolanum Cornovii (Midlands) Shropshire Town Yes
Winchester Caer Guent (possibly) Venta Belgarum Belgae Hampshire Winchester Flag.png City Yes
Worcester Caer Guiragon Vertis Dobunii & Cornovii (Midlands) Worcestershire Flag of Worcester.png City Yes
York Capital of Britannia Maxima Caer Ebrauc Eboracum Brigantes North Riding of Yorkshire Flag of York.svg City Yes
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