Brittany (Roman province)

Presentation of Brittany

Before the Roman conquest, Brittany is inhabited of Celtic people. Relations of long time exist with Mediterranean civilizations, for the trade of slave, gun dogs and metal: initially at the beginning of the Cornouailles, the centers of trade gradually moved towards the west. Thanks to the number of vestiges which the site left, one estimates that Hengistbury Head constituted a pole of it towards IIIe century before JC. This displacement could be in relation to the evolution of the situation on the continent.

The British Isles, considering their ore resources (gold of Ireland, tin of Cornouailles) always maintained the relations with Carthage in particular because the tin resources were limited in the Mediterranean world. The existence of Brittany is mentioned for the first time in a Marseilles tour of the Life century under the names of Ierne (Eire, Ireland) and Alien (the United Kingdom). In IVe front century JC, the Marseilles navigator Pythéas indicates them as Prétaniques islands (the word prétare means tin). In IIe front century JC, regular routes were established between Brittany and the Mediterranean, of the merchants Gallic, the Vénètes in particular, was used as intermediaries. Commercial footbridges thus existed also with Gaulle of north. British Isles are populated superimposed Celtic invaders with the old populations of the Bronze Age but these people are rather different from one island to another. In Ireland, first Celts installed with - Life century, remained the Masters and kept their dialect Gaelic

The Roman conquest

The Roman conquest proceeded by stages, after the conquest of Gaules.

In 55 before the Christian era Jules César unloads in the south of the island of Great Britain, then called “Brittany” or Britannia (in Latin), and reiterates its crossing into -54. These two unloadings allowed the establishment of first relations of being able between Rome and the kingdoms Breton: many kings go to César and slaves (Trinovantes, Cantii…) envoyent to him. There was however neither establishment of colonies nor annexation. On the other hand, a king atrébate, Commius, will flee the conquest of Gaulle to be established in Brittany. These military facts thus constituted a precedent and a way to be followed for the successors of César.
At the first century of the Christian era, of the Roman merchants settles in Brittany, with the agreement of Breton tribes, while many Breton kings are received in Rome by Auguste and his successors (see Dion Cassius, or LMBO Gestae Augusti ).
In 39, Caligula concentrates troops close to Boulogne-sur-Mer and made there build a monumental headlight, then gives up any unloading inexplicably.
In 43 of the Christian era, the emperor Claude wishes to neutralize the druidic religion , likely to be a nationalist leaven as a Gaulle, and whose bases remain in Brittany. The interest of the Roman tradesmen also could influence its decision, while it makes use obviously of the king Verica, despoiled of its kingdom by the Catuvellauni, like pretexts with the invasion. It sends in Brittany four legions: IIe Augusta, IXe Hispana, XIVe Geminated and XXe Valeria Victrix, ordered by Aulus Plautius, former governor of the Pannonia, Flavius Vespasien, the future emperor and Osidius Geta. The historians estimate at approximately 40.000 men the body of unloading which carried out the conquest of the south of Brittany, from 43 to 47. Claude even personally made the way as far as Brittany, to return to celebrate his triumph in Rome and to take the title of Britannicus, which it transmitted to his son.

In 60, Néron makes occupy the island of Mona (Anglesey), and destroy the sanctuary hearth of druidism.
In 60 and 61, following the leg in Rome of its kingdom by the king Prasutagus, brutalities of the tradesmen and the Roman administrators against Boudicca, queen of the Icenis, cause a rising of all the tribe. These troops took several cities, massacred the Roman garrisons and plundered Camulodunum, Verulamium and Londinium. According to Suétone, Néron plans to evacuate the island, but Suetonius Paulinus subdues the revolt. The Roman historians announce a terrible assessment: 70.000 Romans massacred at the beginning of the revolt, and surely much more on the Breton side.

Under Vespasien the Roman conquest begins again.

From 71 to 74 Petillius Cerialis subjects the Brigantes in the Pennine Chain.
From 74 to 77, Frontin conquers Wales
From 77 to 84, Julius Agricola attacks Highlands, and invades Calédonie. Domitien recalls it before it completes the conquest of it.

The Roman occupation was never complete on the island, because it did not extend to north from the Hadrian's Wall (long 95 km), who separates today England from Scotland (see the chart of Britannia); Britannia included/understood neither the Scotland North (Caledonia) nor the Ireland (Hibernia). The conquest of the highlands of Calédonie would have required a military and financial effort disproportionate compared to the interest of the operation. One did not find there grounds to be cultivated, nor vast grounds of breeding, only of the peat bogs and marshes, nothing which can justify for Rome a long and expensive war, because the local populations (Calédoniens) were very hostile to the Romans.

The incomplete Roman conquest of the island and the monitoring of the recently subjected tribes forced with the maintenance of three legions and of auxiliary troops, that is to say between 20 and 30.000 men. Britannia became a imperial Province, controlled since Camulodunum (Colchester), Eburacum (York) or perhaps already Londinium (London), by a legate who was to be a former consul, because them effective to order.

Organization of Roman Brittany

During Ier and IIe centuries, the province of Brittany was initially organized in various zones:

the province itself, distributed between zone militarized, according to the frontline, and pacified zone, in the back-country;
of the kingdom-customers, gradually incorporated in the province during second half of Ier century (Togidumnus in the south, Prasutagus in the west…).

While the kingdom-customers could keep a form of autonomy, the remainder of the territory thus had to be melted in an imperial diagram. However, in fact the preexistent Breton tribes will form administrative fabric of it, as as a Gaulle (Catuvellauni, Atrébates…). The organization of Roman Brittany is thus a hybrid phenomenon, with on the one hand an imperial diagram imposed by Rome, and on the other hand a properly Breton basic component.

Urbanization

Following the new conquests, new Roman cities were created, on the basis of existing tribe such as the Atrébates, the Trinovantes, the Iceni, the Coritani, the Ordovices, the Demetae and the Brigantes: sometimes, an urban center was already existing and the romano-Breton agglomeration was based above (Calleva, Verulamium, Camulodunum…) while of another time, a new center was founded by displacement of population (Noviomagus, Durovernum, Corinium…). One is unaware of where really the provincial capital was at that time: certain authors undoubtedly lean for Londinium (London), founded in the current of Ier century - others advance Camulodunum or Eburacum .

Various provincial towns from Brittany (Latin names):

Camulodunum (Colchester), military colony on the territory of Trinovantes and first capital of the province in 43
Lindum, (Lincoln - Lincolnshire) military colony founded under the Flaviens
Glevum, (Gloucester) military colony founded under Nerva
Eburacum (York), probably founded military colony under Antonin the Piles
Caesaromagus (Chelmsford), capital of Trinovantes
Verulamium (St Albans) single Municipe of Latin right of Brittany, capital of the Catuvellauni
Noviomagus Regnorum (Chichester), capital of the Regni
Calleva Atrebatum (Silchester) capital of Atrébates
Was windy Belgarum (Winchester) capital of Belgae
Durovernum Cantiacorum (Canterbury), capital of Cantii
Durnovaria Durotrigum (Dorchester), capital of Durotriges
Corinium Dobunnorum (Cirencester), capital of Dobunni
Ratae Corieltauorum (Leicester)
Deva (Chester)
Dubris (Dover)
Corstopitum (Corbridge), near to the Hadrian's Wall
Was windy Silurum (Caervent), at Silures
Mancunium or Mamucium (Manchester)
Aquae Sulis (Bath), which preserves vestiges of Roman baths

An important network of roads covered the country then, while a hierarchy of civils servant ensured the administration and that the army made reign the order. The connections with the continent took place by Dover and Boulogne-sur-Mer and since the Cornouailles by Nantes and Bordeaux. The activity and mining export were important: siver-bearing coal and iron and tin, copper, gold, black leads, even.

Romanisation

Obviously, the Latin was used as common language for the Romans and the local populations, estimated at a million inhabitants. However, the romanisation (or Latinization) of the inhabitants of the island (all called Brettones (or Breton) by the Romans) remained rather surface and especially seems to have related to the basin of London, while the old Celtic bottom will perdura, at least in the campaigns and particularly in Wales where the Romans were established little. In other words, the “Breton ones” continued to speak their Celtic languages, except for the local elites, generally bilingual, for which the romanisation obtained one big hit. Here what the historian Tacite about the Breton ones writes:

In fact, the local populations and rural were not assimilated by the occupants. The Latin language remained a foreign language, undoubtedly necessary for the relations with the Romans. The Latinization of the cities was more important, but not at the point to make change language the inhabitants| Tacit, Life of Agricola

Certain words English have however an origin which probably dates from the Roman occupation:

Installation:

*Street of strata (fitted),

*Wall of vallum (palisade, wall),

*suffixe - chester and - cester in names of locality for castrated (extremely),

*suffixe - coln in Lincoln, for " colonia" (colony)

town Life: dish, of discus (disc), wine of vinum (wine), cheese of caseus (cheese), cheap of caupo (landlord)

Defense of the province

Between 119 and 122, then in 142, the risings of Brigantes supported by the unsubdued tribes of Calédonie occurred on the northern border of Brittany, obliging with a reinforcement of the Limes (fortification on the border external of the empire):

It is during the voyage which the emperor Hadrian (117-138) accomplished in Calédonie (Scotland) in 121-122 that the construction of the Hadrian's Wall ( Hadrian' S Wall ) started to finish into 128. This wall was surrounded by ditches, was marked out forts, barracks, of a whole military infrastructure which was effective during more than three centuries. It was a question for the Roman Empire of relieving the armed forces of the pressure of Pictes, which was done increasingly strong; certain historians speak more about a “line of demarcation” that of a line of fortifications.
In 142, the emperor Antonin the Piles made build another wall, between Forth and Clide, which “doubled” in north the fortification already built by his/her Hadrian adoptive father.

Brittany in IIIe and IVe centuries

During the 3rd century, the Roman troops of Brittany take part in the political disturbances of the Roman Empire and face attacks come from north and sea, but which do not have the gravity of the Germanic attacks on the Rhine or the Danube.

193: the legate Clodius Albinus rises against the assassination of the emperor Pertinax. In 197, it unloads as a Gaulle to face Septime Sévère, and is made beat in Lyon.
from 208 to 211: Septime Sévère fights the incursions of Calédoniens. It divides Brittany into two provinces, higher Brittany (capital Deva) and lower Brittany (capital Eburacum/York). Septime Sévère dies in Eburacum into 211.
from 259 to 274, Brittany supports the Gallic emperors and fact part of the Empire of Gaules
286: usurpation of the general Carausius in Brittany, which controls with its fleet the coast of Gaulle of the Scheldt in the Seine. Majestic the Maximien Hercules monopolized by defense against the German ones does not manage to reduce it
293: the César Constance Chlorinates obliges Carausius to leave its positions as a Gaulle. Allectus, civil servant supported by the merchants of London, assassinates Carausius, proclaims emperor in his turn and brings back its legions to Brittany.
296: Constance Chlore unloads in Brittany. Allectus is killed in the engagements and the Empire takes again the control of the province.
In IVe century, after the great reforms of Dioclétien, the province of Britannia is divided into several provinces, of north in the south:

Valentia, in north
Maximum Caesariensis (Pennine Chain), capital Eburacum (York)
Flavia Caesariensis (area in the north of the Thames, between the sea and Wales), capital Londinium (London)
Brittany II (Wales)
Brittany I (Cornwall and areas in the south of the Thames), capital Corinium Dobunnorum (Cirencester),

the whole forming the Diocese of Brittany, attached to the prefecture of the court of Gaules.

At the same time, London becomes a monetary Atelier imperial
306: Constance Chlore dies in Eburacum (York), whereas it was apprétait to go against Pictes revolted
Christianity touches the island slowly, and three Breton bishops take part in the council of Arles into 314.
368-370: Théodose Old the pushes back the incursions of Pictes, of Scots and of the pirates Saxons
In 383, the count Maxime is made proclaim emperor after his victory against Pictes and Scots. He passes as a Gaulle with part of his army and the army of the Rhine then that of Rhétie join with him. Brittany is dismantled, the remaining troops cannot defend any more the Hadrian's Wall against the new attacks of Pictes and Scots and give up this line of defense.

End of Roman Brittany

407 : The Roman troops push back attempts at unloading of the Germanic people which have just invaded Gaulle and proclaim emperor their Marcus generals, then Gratien, then Constantin III. This one transfers its troops as a Gaulle and leaves the island without defenders.
after 407, dismantled Brittany of troops is denied as it can against the attacks of the Saxons, the Angles, of the Jutes, the Pictes and the Scots. The Roman forces as a Gaulle are impotent to bring to him of the assistance.
In 429, Saint Germain of Auxerre will fight to Brittany against the Pélagianisme, Christian doctrines considered as heretic, and helps the Breton ones to fight against the invaders.

The sources over this period are rare and sometimes legendary. The resistance of Breton is allotted to various characters: Ambrosius Aurelianus between 460 and 480, which leads refugees in Armorique, Vortigern, president (and not king because elected) of the council with London towards 425 or 450. Is island fall under the authority from the Anglo-Saxons. This area is closed again on itself and loses for example the contact with the Catholic church in Rome. From this turbid time will be born the legend from the king Arthur.

Roman archeological sites

Bath, vestige of the Roman Thermal baths
Hadrian's Wall, of which the fort of Vindolanda, where one discovered exceptional remainders of correspondences of the soldiers stationed in this fort.
Theater of Verulamium with St Albans
(nonexhausitive list)

Documentary sources

Some interesting books:

general History of the Roman Empire of Small Paul, 1974, edition of the Threshold
MILLETT, Mr., The Romanization off Britain. Year essay in archaeological interpretation , Cambridge, 1990.
MACREADY, S., & THOMPSON, F.H., Cross-country race-Chanel Trade between Gaul and Britain in the Old Iron pre-Novel , London, 1984.
WACHER, J. (ED), The Civitas Capitals off Romance Britain , Leicester, 1975.
TODD, Mr. (ED), has companion to Roman Britain , London, 2004.

Internal bond

External bonds

a septentrional province of the empire: Roman Brittany by Patrick Galliou, Professor at the university of Western Brittany; Incorporated, doctor of history.
Britannia - Bibliographies and resources Internet on Roman Brittany Bibliographical Atlas of Traditional Antiquity. Library of Sciences of Antiquity (University Lille 3)
New theory on the origin of English (in English)

late Antiquity

Simple: Novel Britain

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