Pre-Roman Celtic Kingdoms

Tribe of the Atrebates

A British Celtic tribe occupying modern West Sussex, western Surrey, Berkshire, Hampshire, and north-east Wiltshire, centred on Silchester and Selsey, and lying immediately east of the Belgae, which tribe they seem to have controlled or been overlord to. Closely related to a north-western Gaulish tribe of the same name, they were at their most powerful in the first and second centuries BC.

Due to their location in Britain, the Atrebates were one of the more successful and civilised Celtic tribes. They traded with the tribes in Europe right up until the Romans conquered Gaul, and saw the conquest as an opportunity to increase their regular trade in fine cloth, hunting dogs and military items. The process worked both ways, enabling them to absorb new ideas, and so giving them advantages in culture and technology which some of their neighbours did not possess.

Their capital was Calleva Atrebatum (Silchester in Hampshire), with a secondary capital at Noviomagus, belonging to a division of the Atrebates known as the Regni or Regninses. These people were thinly scattered north and south of the Weald in south-west Kent,  East Sussex and eastern Surrey. They seem to have escaped true conquest or even much influence from the Atrebates.

(Additional information taken from The Oxford History of England: Roman Britain, Peter Salway.)

c.56 - 54 BC

Commius is probably of the Gaulish Atrebates. In around 56 BC he becomes an aide to Julius Caesar, and helps the Romans during both expeditions to Britain. In 54 BC he persuades Cassivellaunus, High King and king of the Catuvellauni, to succumb to the Romans.

53 BC

Commius leads the Gaulish Atrebates in an unsuccessful attempt to overthrow Vercingatorix during the siege of Alesia.

51 BC

Commius flees the Continent. Frontinus writes: 'Commius, the Atrebatian, when defeated by the deified Julius, fled from Gaul to Britain, and happened to reach the Channel at a time when the wind was fair, but the tide was out. Although the vessels were stranded on the flats, he nevertheless ordered the sails to be spread. Caesar, who was following from a distance, seeing the sails swelling with the full breeze, and imagining Commius to be escaping from his hands and to be proceeding on a prosperous voyage, abandoned the pursuit.'

51 - 35 BC

Commius (the Gaul)

Settled with the British Atrebates and founded a dynasty.

35 - 20 BC

Commius (the Younger)

Son.

20 BC - c.AD 7

Tincomaros / Tincommius

Son. Ruled jointly from c.30 BC.

It is possible that during the period of joint rule Tincommius governs the southern half of the territory from the southern capital of Noviomagus. His brother, Eppillus, governs the territory north of Calleva, during which time the oppidum at Calleva develops into the main centre of Atrebatean power.

c.AD 7

Tincommius is overthrow in a coup launched by his younger brother, Eppillus. He travels to Rome to plead before Emperor Augustus for reinstatement. This request is refused as Augustus is in no position to mount a military campaign in Britain at this time. Not only is Tincommius exiled from Britain, but Eppillus is officially recognised as king by Rome.

c.7 - c.15

Eppillus

Brother. King of the Belgae & Cantii. Deposed by Verica.

c.15

Eppillus is in turn overthrown by his younger brother after the latter builds up a following of nobles disaffected by Eppillus' grab for power, and flees to the land of the Cantii, where he overthrows the ruler and takes command.

c.15 - c.25

Verica (Bericus)

Brother. Recognised by Rome.

c.25 - c.35

Epaticcus

Brother of Cunobelinus of the Catuvellauni. Forced Verica out.

c.25 - 43

Following the Catuvellauni expansion into the territory of the Atrebates, it seems that Verica continues to fight his rival for some time, gradually being forced further south by his stronger opponent. In around AD 35 Epaticcus dies and Verica makes some progress toward retaking his lost lands. He is finally defeated by AD 43 and flees to Rome, giving the new emperor Claudius the pretext for the Roman conquest of Britain.

43

Caratacus / Caradog

King of the Cantii & Catuvellauni.

43

The Romans conquer the kingdom. Part of the Atrebates' lands are organised into the pro-Roman kingdom of the Regninses under Tiberius Claudius Cogidubnus, who may be Verica's son.

43 - 65?

Cogidubnus

Roman client king of the Regninses area and the Belgae.

c.65?

Direct rule under the Romans follows. The tribal territory is later organised into the civitates (administrative districts within a Roman province) of the Atrebates, Regni/Regninses and possibly the Belgae.

By the fifth century the Romano-British Atrebates had regained some level of independent power in the form of the postulated territory of Caer Celemion.