Danisha Kaur

Why did the Roman Empire conquer Britain?

There are many reasons to why the many generations in the Roman Empire
wished to conquer Britain. These entailed the many riches and material that
could be found in Britain, revenge for Britains part in aiding Gaul, the tribal wars
within Britain of roman and non-roman clients and most importantly, the various
emperors wanting recognition as powerful leaders.
In the first century BC, Julius Caesar was in debt due to his financial expenditures
as consul and so his initial response was to plunder territories for riches and
material gain.1 Caesar turned to the region of Gaul to exact his conquest, which
led to many battles and many victories. He claimed there were many political
reasons for these occupations. Caesar also claimed that Britain had aided the
people of mainland Gaul; 2 along with escapees of the Gallic Belgae taking
residence in Britain, and the Veneti of Armorica in the coast of Britanny, who
established anti roman tribes, calling for help from their British allies in 56 BC.
This gave the Julius Caesar the ammunition he needed to set sail to Britain, and
conquer the country that was allying itself with his enemies. While the 55 BC
invasion was more of reconnaissance-as stated by Caesar himself, it would be an
advantage to himself simply to visit the island, observe the character of the
natives, and get to know the lie of the land, the harbours and landing places, 3
the 54 BC invasion was more so an actual attempt of invasion. As Stotter states,
the purpose was to keep the Britons of the south-east from interfering in Gaul
as they would be too busy trying to defend themselves from Caesars army. 4 With
the superiority of the Roman army, it was a likely story that Britain would have
been invaded; however the strong winds in the channel that happened to occur
at the same time saved Britain from the full force of the Romans both in 55 BC
1 Suetonius (1997) Lives of the Twelve Caesars, Revised edn. NTC/Contemporary
Publishing Company. Pg. 31
2 Paul Johnson (2013) The Offshore Islanders. [Online]. Available at:
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=4UyqAAAAQBAJ&dq (Accessed: 4th July
2015).
3 Senior Lecturer Department of Classics and Ancient History Stanley Ireland, Stanley
Ireland (2008) Roman Britain: A Sourcebook, Revised edn. Routledge. Pg. 24

4 David Shotter (2012) Roman Britain, revised edn. Routledge. Pg. 13

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and in 54 BC. Though the occupation was initially for Romes personal interest,
the prospect of gaining more riches and a more popular upstanding was too
enticing for Caesar to miss as he could extend his empire to the much alluring
and mysterious Britain.
Britain, to the Romans, had been a dangerous and exotic place that was
occupied by barbarians. To be the first roman to gain access to Britain would be
prestigious, for even traders who had good reason to cross over to this new land
had never seen further than the seaboard. There was always a level of intrigue in
Rome about Britain: Conybearne states that The leaders of Roman society, like
Maecenas, drove about in British chariots, smart ladies dyed their hair red in
imitation of British warriors, tapestry in woven with British figures was all the
fashion, and constant hopes were expressed by the poets that, before long, so
interesting a land might be finally incorporated in the Roman Empire. 5 This
could suggest that the Romans conquered Britain simply out of their sheer
interest of the place and the pure glory it would bring for them. If Caesar was to
be the first one to conquer Britain then he would gain glory. Britain was full of
material goods that could be plundered in the country, for example, rocks and
minerals such as copper, zinc, and lead, gold, silver and iron 6, plus British and
Welsh mines that procured tin and copper too. Strabo too states that the
precious metals and pearls found in Britain were the prize of victory 7.
Furthermore there was the trade of slaves and hunting dogs in Britain would be
good income for the Romans. Julius Caesar saw the excuse of Britain aiding Gaul
as another means to come into riches and increase his powerful status. However,
despite never having actually invaded Britain, Caesar was seen as a military hero
in Rome and was held at a high esteem, implying that the conquering of Britain
was mostly for the recognition as a powerful leader.

5 John William Edward Conybearne (2007) Early Britain-Roman Britain. Google Books
[Online]. Available at:
https://books.google.co.uk/books/about/Early_Britain_Roman_Britain.html?
id=OpbZVMtHuzYC&hl=en (Accessed: 4th July 2015). Pg. 160

6 Ibid Pg. 16
7 Ibid Pg. 18

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In 41 AD, the title of the roman emperor was given to Claudius. He was seen as
an old fool-an unintelligible member of the imperial family. However, as the new
emperor, he faced many political problems and had to find quick solutions for
this. The senate were opposed to Claudius as the leader and so he in turn had to
prove himself worthy for he was seen as a weakling that would not be able to
uphold the empire. The best and most assured way to achieve popularity as an
emperor was through the military as this was where they showed their prowess-it
was the many reasons that led to the empire in the first place- so what better
place to show this strength than to invade Britain once more. As Salaway states,
There was more honour and glory in extending the empire than administering
it8 and Claudius obvious success fulfilled his purpose of becoming a powerful
emperor who should not be doubted. Furthermore, it was also suggested by
Salaway that Claudius wished to emulate Caesar to gain trust as a leader for he
was one of the greatest leaders Rome had. It was only From Caesar onwards
that Britain occupied a particular and significant place in the roman
consciousness"9 thus leading to the idea that Claudius invaded Britain for the
simple recognition as a powerful leader.
Another reason for Claudius invasion of Britain, according to Cassius Dio, is
suggested to be due to Verica (Bericu), to restore his kingdom back to him 10.
Mattingly also agrees with this as he states the restoration of the House of
Vericawas a prime objective of the invasion 11. Verica inherited the Atrebates
after his older brother Eppillus died in 15 AD. The Atrebates in Britain were a
Belgic tribe that were once considered to be one of the most powerful tribes and
was great ally as they were a Roman client tribe. However by 15 AD the tribes
land was being consumed by the ever growing Catuvellauni tribe. By
approximately 40 AD the Catuvellauni tribe had mostly destroyed the Atrebates
8 Peter Salaway (2015) Roman Britain: A Very Short Introduction, 2nd edn. OUP Oxford.
Pg. 2

9 Ibid Pg. 5
10 Cassius Dio Cocceianus (1917) Roman History., Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University
Press. Pg. 417

11 David J. Mattingly (2013) Imperialism, Power, and Identity: Experiencing the Roman
Empire, Revised edn. Princeton University Press. Pg. 84

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and Verica took aide under Claudius. This is a similar story to the British prince of
Catuvellauni, Adminius, who fled to the previous emperor Caligula after being
exiled by his father and two brothers for his pro-roman tendencies. Despite the
Catuvellaunis good relation with the Roman Empire during the early years, the
actions of the two brothers were seen as anti-roman (they were also the reason
the Catuvellauni destroyed Atrebates in their growing territory). Mattingly states,
The flight of Verica and Adminius are seen as representing the expulsion of
recognised Roman clients or of pro-Roman elements 12 and so the fact that
two Roman allies were forced to flee Britain gave the both emperors reason to
invade: there was an ever increasing back-lash to Roman client tribes and the
fact that two ally tribes were expelled was undermining the emperor and his
power and so Claudius crossed the channel in 43 AD and invaded Britain.
Since Caesars time in Britain, it was becoming more distant from Rome, which
led to tribal disputes between roman allied tribes and those who werent. There
were many attempts by Augustus-Octavian and Caligula to invade Britain as
there were signs of this rebellion from within, however on many efforts by both
emperors, the planned invasions never transpired due to political problems in
Rome that took precedent. In Augustus reign, two supplicants fled to Rome at
approx. 7 AD; the two being, as stated by Augustus, The following kings sought
refuge with me as suppliants: Dubnobellaunus and Tin[comarus] from
Britain13. The former sought refuge due to a clash between Cunobeline as to
who succeeds the throne of Trinovantian. This war would cost Rome in its trade
and there was a danger of anti-roman forces gaining control 14 which was reason
for another invasion of Britain. However, according to Dio Cassius, Augustus also
wished to emulate his predecessors work Julius Caesar 15 nonetheless, which hints
to the point that Augustus did wish to gain more power and recognition as a
great leader just as his adopted father was. In Caligulas reign there was still the
12 Ibid Pg. 83
13 Stanley Ireland Op cit. Pg. 43
14 Graham Webster (2003) The Roman Invasion of Britain, revised edn. Routledge. Pg.
64

15 Cassius Dio Cocceianus Op cit. Pg. 421

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issue of the anti-roman tribes but Caligula only had the ambition of so vast an
empire16 and the need for military glory to bolster his prestige 17. This turmoil
carried on into Claudius reign therefore what better reason for him to conquer
Britain; it would solve his issue of being seen as a strong roman leader and also
rid of the situation that was disrupting the trading system that Rome were so
very dependent on. Furthermore, according to Strabo, the British already paid
more in duties than could be gained from them in taxes if they became part of
the Empire. The Romans had little motive for invasion while trade continued
uninterrupted, which emphasises the point that this invasion was for a
spectacular show of strength.
Since the reconnaissance of Britain during Caesars invasion, the influence of
Rome on Britain had gradually grown and so it seemed like a natural response to
collect the country under the Roman Empire. One of the reasons for this
influence was the trading system between the British tribes and the Empire and
another influence was the internal politics of the British tribes. Britain had
already established "schools, theatres and courts of justice" 18 and "the language
of Rome was spoken everywhere"19, implying that the Roman culture was
overshadowing the British due to its quick expansion in the land. This in turn
implies that recruiting Britain into Rome wasnt such a drastic decision as the
land was slowly adapting some of the Mediterranean culture.
In conclusion, the Roman Empire had many reasons for conquering Britain but all
those reasons were a pretext for the real purpose of empire and power. Caesar
hadnt actually invaded Britain but he reaped the glory of it as if he had. His
reasoning, such as revenge for aiding the Belgic tribes was to hide the fact that
he wished to be the one to draw Britain into the Empire and be the one to
promote himself as a glorious leader by doing so. This is the same for Claudius,
16 John William Edward Conybearne Op cit. Pg. 161
17 David Mattingly (2008) An Imperial Possession: Britain in the Roman Empire, 54 BC AD 409 (Penguin History of Britain), Illustrated, reprint edn. Penguin (Non-Classics). Pg.
121

18 John William Edward Conybearne Op cit. (Accessed: 5th July 2015). Pg. 213
19 Ibid

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for he too needed to launch himself as a leader as great as Caesar and the most
proficient way for a Roman leader to do so is through the military. The fact that
Britain was coming under threat and Verica fled from Britain, gave Claudius his
opportunity to show his strength. Finally, the anti-roman tribes from Augustus
reign were a real issue for conquering Britain as it disrupted trade, and to disrupt
trade is to disrupt profit, and to disrupt profit is to take away the empires power.

Danisha Kaur

Bibliography
Primary:

Cocceianus, Cassius Dio. Roman History (Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University

Press. (1917))

Suetonius Lives of the Twelve Caesars (Revised edn. (1997)

NTC/Contemporary Publishing Company.)

Secondary:
Ireland, Stanley. Roman Britain: A Sourcebook (Revised edn. (2008) Routledge.)
Shotter, David. Roman Britain (Revised edn. (2012) Routledge.)
Conybearne, John.W.E (2007) Early Britain-Roman Britain. Google Books [Online].
Available at:
https://books.google.co.uk/books/about/Early_Britain_Roman_Britain.html?

id=OpbZVMtHuzYC&hl=en
Salaway, Peter. Roman Britain: A Very Short Introduction (2nd edn. (2015) OUP

Oxford.)
Mattingly, David J. Imperialism, Power, and Identity: Experiencing the Roman

Empire, (Revised edn. (2013) Princeton University Press.)

Webster, Graham. The Roman Invasion of Britain (Revised edn. (2003)

Routledge.)
Mattingly, David. An Imperial Possession: Britain in the Roman Empire, 54 BC AD 409 ((Penguin History of Britain), Illustrated, reprint edn. (2008) Penguin

(Non-Classics).)
Johnson, Paul. (2013)The Offshore Islanders. Google Books [Online]. Available at:
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=4UyqAAAAQBAJ&dq