|
The Trinovantes territory was on the north bank of the river Thames, expanding to the county of Essex, where the tribal capital of Caer Colun was situated, the territory expanded to the southern part of Suffolk and the easterly parts of Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire. The Trinovantes may have been the first British tribe to enter in a treaty with the Romans, and played an important part in Julius Caesar's invasions, 55BC, when they wanted to be part of the Roman Empire and in 54BC, when they didn't. In the following century, before the Roman conquest of Britain, the Trinovantes traded extensively with the Romans from Caer Colun, (Colchester) in those days, a vibrant port, as archaeological evidence has proved. For the counties of Essex, Suffolk, Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire are rich in remains of the Brythonic, Belgic and Roman periods. As with trade, the Trinovante canton became very wealthy, at this time in history, they were the most powerful tribe in Britain, ruled by a series of Trinovante kings from Caer Colun. However the neighbouring tribe of the Catuvellauni, were at this time growing in strength, Belgic nobility, who had fled the Roman imperialism which was engulfing their native Belgae, bringing with them warriors, wealthy with gold from Gaul. The Belgae were establishing themselves in the south of England, with the co-operation of the indigenous Brythonic tribes. Iron bars that had previously served as currency, were being replaced by gold coinage, minted in Gaul. Cassivellaunus, a nobleman, from the Belgic royal family of the Catuvellauni, became the commander of a multi-tribal army. Cassivellaunus had been constantly at war with certain tribes of England, his multi-tribal army had successfully overthrown the king of the Trinovantes, aided by the Cenimagni, a branch of the Iceni, and the Segontiaci, from North Wales. He had also united the Thames valley tribes of the Ancilites, the Bibroci and his personal followers, the Cassi, under the banner of his royal surname of Catuvellauni. Mandubracius, the eldest son of the king of the Trinovantes, fled to Julius Caesar in Gaul, asking for his help and giving him his formal submission. By this time Caesar had seized the gold of Gaul and defeated Vercingetorix. Caesar interest in the mysterious island of Britain was a question of economics, for the island to the north had a reputation of being rich in pearls and precious metals. The trade of tin and copper from Cornwall and the gold from the Welsh mountains, exported to Gades, Narbo and the Greek port of Massilia in Gaul, had been going on for centuries, so the Romans might have viewed Britain as an El Dorado, there for the taking, Caesar was also aware that much of the gold from Gaul had disappeared overseas. Gaul and Belgic nobilities had sailed to Britain, making it a hot-bed of anti-Roman activities, wealthy men hatching plots to topple Rome. So Caesar listened to Mandubracius's plea and set sail for Britain in 55BC. He took a small force of legionaries, but hardly achieved more than a secure landing place in Kent, spending only a day in Britain and a pitched battle on the beach, the Romans sailed away at night time, but Caesar was determined to return. In 54BC, five legions of Romans sailed back, this time Caesar stayed for three months, during which, he was engaged in some hard fighting. His principal opponent being Cassivellanus, a war-chieftain, with a Belgic principality in Middlesex and Hertfordshire, also the defeated canton of the Trinovantes, were under his yoke, Cassivellaunus had personally laid the foundation for British imperialism. Though the Romans easily defeated the Britons in open warfare, Cassivellaunus disbanded the army and gave orders to break into smaller groups and use guerrilla tactics against Caesar. The British guerrillas ambushed the Roman legions in the forests, they used harrying tactics, designed to prevent Caesar's army foraging for food and with the speed of their chariots and their great horsemanship, also the knowledge of their home territory, forced Caesar to change his tactics, he discovered Cassivellaunus's stronghold at Wheathampstead, in the upper Lea Valley and promptly surrounded it. Cassivellaunus's followers, the Cassi, managed to get messages to the four kings of Kent, to gather forces and attack the Roman camp on the coast, but the Romans defended themselves successfully, capturing the Celtic chieftain Lugotrix, the Mouse king. On hearing of this defeat and the Roman devastation of his supporters territories, Cassivellaunus formally surrendered to Caesar. The multi-tribal army was disbanded and Caesar demanded a tribute, that was never paid. On returning to Rome, Julius Caesar declared to the Senate, that Britain should be left to its own devices and to invade that island and to keep an occupation army there, would produce Rome with an unfavourable balance-sheet. The most striking case of actual reversal of Roman policy is provided by the fate of the Trinovantes, whom Julius Caesar had specifically protected against their powerful neighbours, the Catuvellauni of Hertfordshire. This did not save them from complete absorption by the Catuvellauni some fifty years later, a step which would advance Cunobelinus, the contemporary representative of the royal line of Cassivellaunus, to virtual supremacy of South-Eastern Britain. His realm seems to have embraced the Chilterns and the middle of the Thames Valley, as well as Essex and part of Kent. The Trinovatian lands, however were the richest, and it was here at Caer Calun, that Cunobelinus established his imperial tribal capital in 10AD. Renaming Caer Calun, the Fortress of the war-god Camulos, or Camulodunum. He might have been responsible for naming Cambridge as Camulos, the indigenous Brythonic tribes knew nothing of the war-god Camulos, the deity had been transported from the plains of North-Eastern France (Belgae) by the Catuvellauni family. The Camulodunum of Cunobelinus, was a huge area, twelve square miles, enclosed by large dikes, but as for habitation, this was concentrated into small scattered units, Cunobelinus was more interested in the acquisition of wealth through trade, so mercantile and productive activities abounded by the riverside, archaeological evidence at these sites show that overseas trade was brisk. Later in the days of the emperor Augustus, some fugitive British chieftains appealed to Augustus for assistance, but the emperor refused, the chieftains told Augustus that Julius Caesar's former antagonist Cassivellaunus'es heirs, Cunobelinus and Tasciovanus, had both extended their sovereignties over most of South-Eastern Britain, but Augustus rightly assumed that Romano-Gaul was in no danger from these British chieftains, whose aim was to remain on friendly terms with the New Empire. Tasciovanus, was now called Ricon Tasciovanus by his subjects, the word ricon in the Celtic tongue means great king, he had transfered his imperial capital to Verulamium (St.Albans) and his son, the under-king Cunobelinus to Camulodunum, under this new impetus, the two rulers gave overseas trade, the principle of cross Channel trades routes. Archaeologists have excavated enough of the port of London, to prove that it did not exist as a town-port until 47AD, but there is enough evidence that Camulodunum, (Colchester) was a very vibrant port at this time. Caer Lud was just marsh-land with two dominant hills by the broad waters of the river Thames.*** CONTINUED IN THE COURTYARD ***
|
|
|
|
|
All Posts (14) Messages posted by Althildus
|
Althildus's Groups
|
