Site of the Claudian invasion of Britain facts for kids

The Roman invasion of Britain in the year 43 AD is a bit of a mystery. Historians aren't totally sure where the Roman army landed. Most think they sailed from a place called Boulogne in modern-day France.

Many believe they landed at Richborough in Kent, on Britain's east coast. But others think they landed further west along Britain's south coast.

What Cassius Dio Said

Most of what we know comes from a Roman writer named Cassius Dio. He wrote his Roman History about 150 years after the invasion. He said the main Roman army, led by Aulus Plautius, sailed in three groups.

One idea is that these three groups landed at different spots in Kent:

• Lympne (for the Legio II Augusta led by Vespasian)
• Dover (for the Legio XX Valeria Victrix)
• Richborough (for the Legio IX Hispana and Legio XIV Gemina)

After landing, these groups would have marched inland and met up at the River Medway.

The Shooting Star Clue

Some historians disagree about the Kent landing. Cassius Dio wrote that the Roman soldiers saw a shooting star while at sea. This made them feel hopeful. He added that the star traveled from east to west. This was the direction the Romans were sailing in.

However, if they sailed from Boulogne to Kent, they would have traveled from south to north. This makes some historians think the landing was somewhere else.

Landing Further West

Historians like John Morris think the Romans landed much further west. They suggest places like the Solent or Southampton Water on Britain's south coast. This idea fits better with the shooting star story.

This idea is also supported by why the Romans invaded. Verica, a king of the Atrebates tribe, had asked Rome for help. His kingdom was in the area of modern-day Hampshire. Also, the Roman general Suetonius wrote that Vespasian conquered the Isle of Wight. This island is close to the Solent.

The Bodunni Tribe

Cassius Dio also wrote that the Romans quickly won a victory. A tribe he called the "Bodunni" surrendered to them. No tribe with this exact name is known. But it sounds very much like the Dobunni tribe. They lived in the area of Gloucestershire.

If the Dobunni were the tribe that surrendered, it would make sense for the Romans to land near Chichester or Portsmouth. These places are closer to the Dobunni lands.

Archaeological Finds

Archaeologists have found old Roman military storehouses. These date back to the time of the invasion. They were found under Fishbourne Roman Palace near Chichester. This palace was a large Roman house built later.

Because of these finds, archaeologist Barry Cunliffe changed his mind. He used to think the Romans landed in Kent. Now, he believes the evidence points to a landing on the south coast.

Why Kent Might Still Be Right

Other historians still argue for a landing in Kent. The Roman invasion fleet was huge, possibly up to 1,000 ships. Most of these were slow troop transports. Commanders would want to spend as little time at sea as possible. This would avoid bad weather. The short trip to Kent would be better than the longer journey up the Channel to the Solent.

Richborough had a large natural harbor. It is now filled with mud. This harbor would have been a good place for ships to land. There are also old earthworks at Richborough. These look like defensive ditches. They were dug to protect the landing area around the time of the invasion.

There is also evidence of a special arch at Richborough. This arch might have celebrated Richborough's role in the invasion. But the arch was built around 80 AD. By then, Richborough was a main port for travel between Britain and Europe. So, its connection to the invasion itself is not certain.

British Defenders and the Thames

The British defense was led by Caratacus and Togodumnus. They were kings of the Catuvellauni tribe. This tribe lived in the east and had power over Kent. The Romans' first goal seemed to be crossing the River Thames. They wanted to reach the Catuvellauni's land.

The Dobunni tribe, who Dio said paid tribute to the Catuvellauni, might have sent soldiers to help them. These soldiers could have then surrendered to Plautius in Kent. In this case, Vespasian's conquests in the west could have happened after the Romans secured the Thames crossing.

Another Starting Point?

Suetonius wrote that Emperor Claudius sailed from Boulogne. It's usually thought that Plautius's main army sailed from there too. But it's possible that Plautius's forces sailed from the mouth of the Rhine. Strabo mentioned that this was a common starting point for trips to Britain in the early 1st century.

Ships often sailed along the coast of Belgic Gaul (modern-day Belgium and northern France). Then they would make a short open-sea crossing to Britain. This could explain the westward journey mentioned by Dio.

However, if they started from the Rhine and wanted to reach the Catuvellauni, landing south of the Thames might not have been needed. It could have been as risky as landing north of the river.

Different Landing Spots?

Cassius Dio's mention of three divisions also suggests something else. Maybe the main landing was in Kent. But perhaps part of the army sailed to the Solent to help King Verica. Or it could have been the other way around.

Remember, Cassius Dio wrote his history much later. We don't know his sources. So, some details in his account might not be completely accurate.

Images for kids

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  Claudian earthworks at Richborough Fort