Romans in Britain AD 43 ~ AD 410
The Roman occupation on Britain lasted almost 400 years, during this time the Romans introduced new developments in agriculture, urbanisation, industry and architecture. Attempts were also made to turn the native aristocrats away from their war like behaviour, it appears to have been a success and by the first century south east Britain was filled with Roman style cities and private villas.
AD 43 - Emperor Claudius orders the invasion of Britain
With a force of 4 legions and around 20,000 auxiliaries, the Roman army lead by Aulus Plautius landed at Richborough, Kent. The Roman army was met by a large army of Britons led by the Catuvellauni kings Caratacus and his brother Togodumnus, on the River Medway, Kent. After 2 days of heavy fighting the Britons were defeated, Togodumnus was killed and his brother Caratacus retreat west.
AD 49 - Roman Colony founded at Camuldunum (Colchester)
Due to many legionnaires retiring the Romans founded a colony for veterans at now modern day Colchester. Army barracks were converted into private houses and public buildings, farms and a temple where made available for the veterans living there.
AD 61 - Roman army defeat a revolt un Boudicca
The territory of the Iceni was annexed by the Romans after the death of the tribe's king, Prasutagus. Angered by this, his widow Boudicca led a rebellion that resulted in thousands of deaths and the burning of Camulodunum (Colchester), Londinium (London) and Verulamium (St Albans). Boudicca was finally defeated by a vastly superiour army at the Battle of Watling Street and died soon after.
Boudicca by Thomas Thornycroft, near Westminster Pier, London
AD 71 - Romans Conquer Northern England
Venutius was king of the Brigantes in northern Britain, initially he was loyal to Rome but revolted against Roman rule in around AD 51 then again in AD 69. Governor Quintus Petilius Cerialis, campaigned against Venutius and defeated him taking control of Northern England.
AD 78 - Romans Conquer Wales
Governor Sextus Julius Frontinus had been campaigning for 3 years before Wales was finally subdued, first against the Silures (in south east Wales) and then against the Ordovices (in north Wales). To ensure Wales remained under Roman control forts where built on hillsides linked by roads which allowed the legions at Caerleon in the south east and the other at Chester in the north east to respond quickly should they be needed.
AD 100 - Romans establish a new frontier on the Tyne-Solway line (between Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Carlisle)
The new emperor, Trajan ordered a complete withdrawal of Roman forces from what is now Scotland and a new frontier, comprising road, forts and signal-stations was built. This frontier ran from modern day Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Carlisle on the Solway.
AD 122 - Emperor Hadrian orders the construction of a wall across northern Britain
To keep out the 'Barbarians' in the north Hardian set about building the 73-mile-long stone wall stretching from modern Newcastle to Carlisle. The wall was built by Roman soldiers and marked the northernmost boundary of the empire.
Hadrians Wall
AD 155 - Fire destroys much of central Verulamium (St Albans)
Verulamium (St Albans) was one biggest towns in Roman Britain at the time but was still mainly made up of timber house and businesses. It's not know how the fire started but it appears to have spread quickly through the central part of town. The damage was so severe in places that areas where left undeveloped for over a century.
AD 182 - All out war erupts in northern Britain
Continual attacks from the tribes of northern England and southern Scotland broke out all along Hadrian's wall, despite the efforts of the Roman soldiers guarding the wall these attacks went on for years. Concerned towns further south took precautions against possible attacks by building earth and timber defences.
AD 209 - Emperor Septimius Severus wages war in northern Britain
Continual fighting on the frontier prompted the Emperor to try and subdue the tribes to the north. Guerrilla warfare rather than major confrontations left the Romans with a long and inconclusive struggle. The Emperor entered into peace treaties with the tribes, but no sooner had he with drawn back behind the wall the revolt started again.
AD 211/12 - Britain is divided into two separate Roman provinces
Emperor Septimius Severus in an effort to subdue Britain once and for all split the province into two, the southern province Britannia Superior (Upper Britain) with its capital at Londinium (London), and the northern province Britannia Inferior (Lower Britain), with the capital at Eboracum (York). It was hope these changes as well as subduing the Britons it would make the administration easier, however, Septimius Severus never saw the results as he died in his winter quarters at Eboracum (York) during the same period.
AD 250 - New attacks in northern and western Britain and references to the Picts appear for the first time.
New enemies began to threaten Briton, the Scots attacked Ulster and western Scotland, Angles, Saxons and Jutes attacked the eastern coast from Germany and the Painted tribes (Picts) from Scotland appear for the first time in the record books.
AD 259 - 'Gallic Empire' is created in by the usurper Postumus
While defending the western empire from attacks by 'barbarian' tribes, Postumus declared himself emperor. He became emporor of what was to be called the Gallic Empire (Britain, Gaul and Spain), but was murdered by his soldiers in 268.
AD 287 - Another usurper Carausius declares himself emperor and seizes Britain
Carausis having been accused of corruption by the emperor Maximian took his revenge by seizing Britain and northern Gaul and declaring himself emperor. Although he had strong local support and established an effective administration he was unable to gain legitimacy and support from the true Roman emperors Diocletian and Maximian and was later assassinated by his treasurer, Allectus. Allectus declared himself emperor and began building defences to counter any invasion.
AD 296 - Roman emperor Constantius recovers Britain
A group of four emperors called the 'Tetrarchy', ruled Rome during this period, Constantius Chlorus a Junior of the most senior Emperor Maximian was given the task to recover Britain. A battle was fought near Silchester, where Constantius defeated and killed the usurper Allectus. Following orders from the four emperors, Constantius divided Britain into four provinces - Maxima Caesariensis, Britannia Prima, Flavia Caesariensis and Britannia Secunda.
AD 306 - Constantine is hailed as emperor by the army in Britain
Constantius died while campaigning in northern Britain,on hearing the news his soldiers at Eboracum (York) hailed his young son, Constantine, emperor. In AD 312, after a period of civil war, Constantine defeated his main rival Maxentius and restored the rule of a single emperor in the west.
Emperor Constantine
AD 367 - 'Barbarian' raiders launch a coordinated attack on Roman Britain
Roman Britain's frontier defences where overrun by attacks of Picts from Scotland, Attacotti from the Western Isles, Scots from Ireland and Franks and Anglo Saxons from Germany. The near simultaneous attacks were sometimes referred to as the 'Great Conspiracy'.
AD 369 - Theodosius drives out the 'barbarians' and restores Britain's defences
Following the barbarian invasion of Roman Britain, Theodosius was sent to Britain to regain control, he managed to regain control of southern Britain and restore the frontier defences. However, the attacks continued mainly from 3 non Roman Kingdoms established north of Hadrian's Wall, these were Strathclyde (south central Scotland), Gododdin (modern Lothian) and Galloway. It appears by this time that the Romans had given up on being able to control Scotland.
AD 400 - Roman troops are withdrawn from Britain to defend Italy
It was necessary for Stilicho the commander of the Roman armies in the west, this left insufficient troops to defend Britain against the continuous attacks of the barbarians and would mark the beginning of the end of Roman rule in Britain.
AD 410 - Roman control ends
With troops continually being withdrawn to defend Italy and attacks from all sides by Angles, Saxons, Picts and Scots a plea to Emperor Honorius for help is ignored with Honorius telling them to 'look to their own defences'. This act is often seen as marking the end of Roman Britain.
Anglo Saxons 410 - 1066
After the Romans withdrew from Britain around AD 410, settlers from German regions of Angeln and Saxony made there way into Britain. Communities of different peoples ruled by a chieftain or king living within poorly defined borders now sprung up in Britain.
AD597 - The conversion of England to Christianity
Augustine arrived in Kent probably at the request of Æthelberht the king of Kent who's wife was a Christian. Augustine was given land by the king in Canterbury so he could build a church, it appears that Æthelberht was the first Anglo-Saxon king to convert to Christianity.
Augustine was later made a saint.
AD 616 - Æthelberht, the first Christian English king dies
Æthelberht was one of the most powerful kings of his time and one of his legacies is the 'Law of Æthelberht', which are a set of legal provisions written in Old English mainly concerned with preserving social harmony, through compensation and punishment for personal injury.
King Aethelbert of Kent
AD789 - First recorded Viking attack
Portland in Dorset has the dubious honor of having the first recorded attack by the Vikings. The reeve of Dorchester was sent to greet the Vikings after they landed, he was killed.
AD 793 - The monastery of Lindisfarne attacked
The record of this attack was made by Alcuin of York, he described the attack as a punishment by god on the kingdom for its fornication, adultery, incest and greed.
AD 829 - King Egbert of the West Saxons, conquers Mercia
King Egbert was the most powerful ruler in Southern England, his conquest of Mercia and of the Northumbrians allowed him to retain his dominance in England.
AD 867 - Viking army kills rival kings of Northumbria
Taking advantage of a battle between kings Osberht and Ælle, the Viking army joined the fray and killed both kings and captured York. Many people were killed both inside and outside of the city, the city was then renamed to Yorvik and became the Viking capital in England.
AD 869 - 878 The Vikings attacks continue
AD 869 King Edmund of the East Angles, is killed in battle in East Anglia.
AD 870 Vikings destroy Dumbarton
stronghold on the British kings of Strathclyde, looting and taking prisoners including the king.
AD 874 Vikings conquer the kingdom of Mercia
King Burhred met the Viking army but was defeated and forced to flee the country, he later died in exile.
AD 877 The Vikings defeat the Welsh king Rhodri Mawr, who is forced to flee to Ireland.
AD 878 King Alfred of Wessex is overrun by Vikings and is forced into hiding.
AD 886 - Peace treaty is signed
King Alfred of Wessex, having fought and regained London sought terms with King Guthrum. A treaty was signed by Alfred, Gruthrum and the East Angles dividing England and giving Alfred control of the west and the Vikings control of the east between the river Thames and the river Tees.
AD 937 - Viking and Scottish armies invade England
An army made up of West Saxons and Mericans led by King Athelstan of Wessex, inflict a heavy defeat on the combined forces of King Guthfrithson, the Kings of Strathclyde and the Scots.
AD 939 - King Athelstan, the first king of all England dies
Having retaken York from the Vikings, forced the submission of Constantine of the Scots, subdued Cornwall, forced the the five Welsh kings into submitting a large annual tribute and defeated the combined invasion force in AD 937 it is fair to say Athelstan was the first true King of all England. He is buried in Malmesbury Abbey, Wiltshire.
The Tomb of Athelstan at Malmesbury Abbey
AD 973 - Edgar is crowned king of England
Fourteen years after taking power, Edgar was crowned king of England at Bath, he died two years later having ruled from AD 959 to 975.
AD 978 - King Edward of England is murdered
King Edward succeeded to the throne in AD 975 after the death of his father, however, he was unpopular and was murdered at Corfe in Dorset. His half-brother Æthelred became the new king. Edward was buried at the convent of Shaftesbury and it is said miracles were witnessed at his tomb.