Sequential Maps of Pre-Roman Britain 55 BC-AD 43

54 BC

When Julius Caesar landed on the Kent coast in 55 BC, he had a basic knowledge of what to expect of the south-eastern Britons from his dealings with their close relatives on the Continent. What he wasn't prepared for was the English Channel, and some bad weather almost cost him dear. His expedition doesn't seem to have made it out of Kent's borders on this occasion.

However, when he returned a year later, it was with a much larger force and a much better idea of how to deal with some of the problems. He quickly defeated the Cantiaci tribe and advanced towards the Thames, crossing it at modern-day Brentford in Essex. He received envoys and offers of friendship from six tribes in the south, although the British tribal names which are mentioned (not shown) cannot be tied in with any later information.

Then he marched on the Catuvellauni stronghold near St Albans, and his victory over them would have delivered him the entire south-east had he stayed. Instead, he decided to winter in Gaul, and events there conspired to prevent him ever returning to Britain.

Sequential Maps of Pre-Roman Britain 55 BC-AD 43

AD 10

Rome maintained trading and political links of a sort with the Britons, and was able to observe the slow coalescence of the south-east into a unified kingdom. The Catuvellauni, having already proved themselves as national leaders in times of external threat, were starting to make their presence felt far and wide.

By about AD 1 they had already placed a Catuvellauni prince, Cunobelinus, as ruler of the Trinovantes, and circa AD 10 he became king of the Catuvellauni themselves, uniting the two kingdoms.

Around AD 25 the Catuvellauni also seem to have gained control of the Cantiaci, and Cunobelinus' brother seized the throne of the Atrebates, fighting a war to dislodge the ruling house from the southern half (the territory of the Belgae) so that he gained it all by AD 43.

The tribes further to the north and west had still not been identified by the Romans in the form that they are shown here, but whatever names they were using, they certainly existed, and were becoming more sophisticated as Roman imports made their way inland from the kingdoms on the coast.

Sequential Maps of Pre-Roman Britain 55 BC-AD 43

AD 43

On the eve of the Roman invasion, the south-east was dominated completely by the Catuvellauni. They, if any, could claim the legendary high kingship of Britain.

As well as having conquered the Cantiaci, the Trinovantes, and the Atrebates and their subsidiary branch, the Belgae (the Regninses may not have borne a separate identity until after the Roman invasion), the Dobunni tribe also seem to have developed a north-south divide thanks to their powerful neighbours.

The northern half was being heavily influenced by the Catuvellauni, while the southern half was clearly trying to retain some level of independence. But for the invasion, it was an independence which was unlikely to last.

One question which could be asked is how long would it have been before Britain was formed of just three kingdoms: the dominating Catuvellauni; the Wales-based tribes, having formed an alliance of necessity in the face of the threat; and the Brigantes who dominated the north.

It may have taken another century before this scenario could have been realised but the evidence suggests that it was a strong possibility. However, the Romans were coming...