| Author: | G A Vignaux |
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| Version: | 1.23 |
| Date: | 2003-07-21 |
| Reference: | 102.012_HadriansWall |
TO CHASE UP titles and dates of legions, particularly IV. Batavian cohorts and commander
| slide fdj000A: | View along the Wall |
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Parnesius, Centurian of the seventh cohort of the thirtieth legion:
"Just when you think you are at the world's end, you see a smoke from East to West as far as the eye can turn, and then, under it, also as far as the eye can stretch, houses and temples, shops and theatres, barracks and granaries, trickling along like dice behind -- always behind -- one long, low, rising and falling, and hiding and showing, line of towers. And that is the Wall" Rudyard Kipling
This talk is on the building and history of the Two Walls of Roman Britain: Hadrian's Wall and its short-lived partner, the Antonine Wall.
It is about the Roman North-West frontier which for most of the Roman period, from 80-400, was located on or about the Tyne-Solway Firth line (the Wall itself) with excursions forward to another, parallel, Wall in the Scottish Lowlands
| slide Lul138 Map SE Britain (col): | |
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Behind the Wall, of course, there was Roman civilization, towns and villas. This is what the Wall was guarding against the incursions of what the Romans called Barbarians.
Emperoar Claudius invaded Britain at an unfortunate time for the Empire. The period of expansion had ended and there were no more juicy conquests left (Macedonia (167 bc), Pergamon, Syria(63 BC), Gaul, Egypt. Each of these previous conquests made vast additions to the wealth of Rome in both gold and slaves. They were so rich that Roman citizens did not need to pay taxes and many were supported by the State.
But emperors also needed military successes to cement their hold on power and Claudius needed such a success.
Britain was a particularly exciting target. It was over the Ocean and was reputed to be very wealthy. He succeeded but it it was a poor exchange. Britain never paid its own way, except possibly at the start.
| slide fdj001: | early Roman advances |
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| 43: | Claudius's invasion of Britain was the first that deliberately attempted to really conquor the island. Caesar's two incursions neary 100 years before were not really invasions and he did not intend, or at least he claimed he did not intend, to stay. Led by Aulus Plautius, Claudius invaded with 4 legions. After defeating the British main opposition at Colchester (Camulodunum) they spread out to the North and West. By 47 the "frontier" reached the Trent-Severn line. This was the line of a road diagonally across Britain, the "Fosse way", from Exeter to Lincoln by way of Bath (Aqua Sulis) to Lincoln (Lindum Colonia). It took 40 years before the Romans, by combination of treaty with friendly native Kings and Queens and outright attack, conquored much of the borders of Wales, put down Boudicca's rebellion (61) and reached the borders of the Brigantes. They established fortresses in Wroxeter and York (71), each side of the Pennines. |
| 69: | Vespasian, who had taken part in the invasion in 43, became emperor. |
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| slide fdj002: | Later conquest |
| 78: | Veteran of British wars Agricola was appointed Governor of Britain. He immediately completed the conquest of North Wales and Anglesea, moved legions forward to Chester (Deva) and Caerleon (Isca Silurem) and then turned his attention to the Brigantes who were causing trouble and had broken their agreements after an internal civil war. |
| 80: | Agricola advanced each side of the Pennines into Brigantean territory. He build a defended road across a convenient gap between Stanwix, near Carlisle (Petriana) in the West and Corbridge (Coria) on the Tyne in the east. This road came to be called the Stanegate (the Stone-Road in Viking English) |
| 81: | He moved into lowland Scotland and built a line of forts between the Clyde and the Forth. Later this was to be the line of the Antonine Wall. Combining the two striking forces, He struck North up the east side of Scotland using naval forcesto supply troops. Eventually, he brought the British forces to battle at Mons Graupius. He used auxiliary troops, including the Batavian Cohorts, to fight the battle, leaving the legions in reserve. |
A legion was an independent force made up of professional, well-trained heavy infantry, with some cavalry. They were Roman Citizens.
A legion consisted of 10 cohorts each of 6 Centuries, about 480 each, except for the first cohort which was larger. In total about 5000 men.
Auxiliaries were units made up of conscripts from conquored tribes or provided as a result of treaties with 'friendly' tribes on the borders of the Empire. Some were specially valued for their particular skills, such as the Palmyran Archers. A modern example would be the Ghurkhas of the British Army.
Others were 'general purpose' infantry or cavalry but were not part of the Legions.
For example, 9 cohorts of Batavians were known. These were recruited from what is now Holland and Belgium. Some took part in the invasion and occupation of Britain.
Units were COHORTS.
Each consisted of 6 CENTURIES of 80 men, each commanded by a CENTURIAN. So about 480 all-told.
Some were MILLIARY cohorts- about twice the size. Some had cavalry TURMAE with them.
Auxiliary Cohorts were commanded by Roman ciizens of the equestrian class. Not necessrily Romans or even from Italy. (Carrer path for up-and-coming Roman citizens)
For example, FLAVIUS CERIALIS in Vindolanda AD103
Many of the letters were found around the Praesidium of the Vindolanda Fort were writted to or from Flavius Cerialis, Legate of 9th Cohort of Batavians
As we can tell from the name FLAVIUS, Roman citizenship was acquired by Cerialis or a father or grandfather during the time of the Flavian emperors: not earlier than AD70.
Traditionally allowed to be commanded by their own nobles and he is likely to be a Noble of that tribe, a citizen.
His wife also lived at the fort. Sulpicia Lepidina. I read out a letter to her from another commander's wife, Claudia Severa, wife of Brocchus. Sulpicia Lepidina might be a member of a family first granted citizenship in reign of emperor Ser. Sulpicius Galba (AD68-9)
The Cohort he commanded, 9th Cohort of Batavians, was recruited from Batavians from region round the Rhine/Scheldt mouth. They were renowned for horsemanship and were heavily used in conquest period.
| 83: | A line of forts was constructed to block the Scottish glens. A new legionary fortress, Inchtuthil, was constructed to house Leg 20. |
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| slide fdj004: | Inchtuthil fortress |
| ?: | RECALL OF AGRICOLA. Agricola was recalled having served as Governor for twice as long as usual for a provincial governor. Tacitus (Agricola's son-in-law): Britain was subjugated and immediately let slip. |
| 90: | Leg 2 Adiuctrix was withdrawn from Chester for service in central Europe. leg 20 replaces it at Chester. |
Inchtuthil construction abandoned and deliberately demolished. and the Scottish lowland forts given up.
Under Trajan, the frontier moved back to the Stanegate line.
| slide sal007: | The Stanegate frontier. Auxiliary forts |
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| 90: | Forts at 1-day marching intervals. Stretched from Corbridge to Carlisle. Shows the contur line and the line of the frontier along the two river valleys. 3 more forts added to the line to strengthen it. |
Early forts
| slide bir77005 Vindolanda from the air: | |
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| 100: | There was heavy fighting in the North about now. |
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| slide sal006 p123 Bronze head of Hadrian (in Thames): | |
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| 117: | accession of Emperor Hadrian. Fighting still occurring in Britain. Leg 9 vanished. Actually it was transferred from Britain (apparently not "wiped out" as the story went) and replaced by Leg 6 which moved to York. |
| 122: | Hadrian made an extensive tour of all frontiers. Frontiers were formalised and strengthened. He build frontiers along the Rhine and Danube and also in Africa and Palestine. In Numidia (Tunisia, Algeria) there was a stone wall and ditch with gateway stone towers every Roman mile and single towers between them. Palestine. |
| slide sal008: | H wall - first intentions |
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A running barrier was built, with a view to the North on the north side of the valley that the road ran through. Extended beyond the Stanegate to a new bridge at Newcastle Pons Aelius to the Solway firth and along the Cumberland coast.
the Wall was built by detachments from legions 2, 6, and 20. each Century of 80 men built a length of 45 yards, marking the end of their stretch of wall with centurial stones. Each legion was responsible for 5-mile blocks of the Wall, building everything within it, including milecastles, turrets, ditch, etc.
| slide fdj006: | p43 Remaining Wall at Walltown Crags |
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| slide fdj007 p46 Drawing of milecastle, stone: | |
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| slide brz002: | Model turret, two storeys, flat crenellated top, turf wall |
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| sal005 p120 Map Hadrian's Wall later Hadrians reign: | |
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After about 18 miles had been completed from Newcastle, and partially from there to the North tyne crossing and also from the Irthing to Housteads the Plan was changed.
It was decided to reduce the rest of the wall from 10ft to 8ft (the Narrow Wall) (DATE??)
| slide brz003 Curtain wall at Planetrees: | |
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It was decided to move the Auxiliary forts from the Stanegate to the Wall.
| slide fdj003 p23 Model of Roman Auxiliary Fort: | |
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| slide fdj005 Plan of auxiliary fort: | |
| More on auxiliary forts. No matter where a soldier comes from in the Emplire, or where he is stationed, he is familiar with the layout of the camp or fort. | |
| slide bir77004 p48- Pl 2 Housteads from the air: | |
MORE ON HOUSTEADS
| slide fdj012 Vallum at Limestone Corner, Chesters: | |
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| slide fdj013 p68bot Vallum at Sewinshields e of Housesteads: | |
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| slide brz007 Vallum crossing at Benwell: | |
| Roads passed through the Vallum by means of gaps in the North and South mounds and a causeway across it where a gateway was sited. | |
| slide sal009: | H Wall from the air |
Where and when was Newstead/Trimontium??
There are 14 forts actually attached to the Wall (from East to West):
| slide fdj009 E abutment bridge N Tyne at Chesters (Cilurnum= "cauldren"): | |
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The bridge was about 35m across with 4 arches and 3 piers, with a square tower at each end. It was about 7m wide and took the military way. Although the piers and abutments were of stone, the superstructure was probably timber. The E abutment was about 45m long. The one shown incorporates the abutment of an earlier bridge which was only around 3m wide and had 4 piers.
There may have been a water-mill attached to the bridge.
| slide stj005 p69 37 Hadrian's wall at Birdoswald looking WSW: | |
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Irthing was crossed at Birdoswald ("crooked glen" Camboglanna). Known as Banna - cf letters.
| slide fdj010: | Willowford bridge abutment |
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water-mill? CHECK - number of arches at Birdoswald?
| slide fdj011: | Corbridge from air |
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Large supply Depot at Corbridge, constructed by Agricola for his move into Scotland was used as a major base on the Wall. This was at the lowest fordable location on the Tyne.
The other major base, possibly the headquarters for the Wall, was at Carlisle at the Western end of the Wall.
| 130: | Hadrian's Wall completed. The turf wall was replaced in stone for about 5 miles around Birdoswald (Banna). Outbreak of hostilities in the North. Brigantes involved. Julius Severus sent to govern Britain. |
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Behind the wall, particularly in the south-east of Britain, the country became settled and Roman civilisation consolidated among the Romano-British population. Towns like Calleva Attrebatum (Silchester) based on tribal centres, or, like Lindum Colonia (Lincoln), based on a old roman fortress, or cities like Londinium, centre of administration and of trade.
| slide Lul033 Baths painting by Sorrell: | |
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| slide Lul034 Baths reconstruction: | |
| slide Lul122 Mosaic Spring (col): | |
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| slide Lul052 Mosaic Bellerophon and Seasons (colour): | |
| Shr001 Display case of Samian pottery: | |
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| whi011 open fire Pot Black Burnished ware: | |
| Shr002 Display case 2 Mortaria with wheat stalks: | |
| whi016 indented beaker, globular vessel New Forest: | |
| slide bir77003.p35 Fig 5 Military Bath-house, Vindolanda: | |
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| slide fdj008: | Corbridge Sorrel picture |
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| slide stj004 p67 36 Chesterholm (Vindolanda) fort and vicus looking W: | |
| slide sal021 p227Housteads fort.JPG Housteads fort: | |
| slide slide bo8008 Birthday invitation from Claudia: | |
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Let me read a postcard to Vindolanda:
To Sulpicia Lepidina, (wife) of Cerialis from Severa Claudia Severa to her Lepidina, Greetings (Salutem), On the third day before the Ides of September, sister, for the day of the celebration of my birthday, I give you a warm invitation to make sure that you come to us, to make the day more enjoyable for me by your arrival, if you are present(?). Give my greetings to your Cerialis, My Aelius and my little son sent him(?) their greetings. (2nd hand) I shall expect you, sister. Farewell (vale), sister, my dearest soul, as I hope to prosper, and hail (have).
| 138: | Antoninus Pius succeeds to the throne. Greek travel writer, Pausanias (AD176), reports that he never voluntarily involved the Romans in warfare except on two occasions:
Brigantes had invaded the more civilized districts. Emperor took a decision to reoccupy lowland Scotland. Governor Lollius Urbicus had orders to reoccupy southern Scotland and construct a new Wall across the Forth-Clyde isthmus. |
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| 139: | Romans prepared to move north from Hadrian's Wall immediately. Supply base at Corbridge (Coria) was reoccupied. |
| 142: | Antoninus Pius acclaimed as imperator presumably claiming a great victory in Britain. Hadrian's wall rendered open to traffic. Milecastle gateways opened (gates removed?). Vallum had causeways formed at regular intervals. Troops moved forward to garrison the forts to the Scottish Lowlands. |
NOTES: See the Wikipedia entry.
| slide brz010 p80 fig 16 Map of the Antonine wall: | |
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| 143: | Started construction of the Antonine Wall of turf forming a new frontier on the Forth-Clyde line. It took 5-6 years to build. |
| slide sal010 ditch of the Antonine Wall: | |
37 miles long (half length of Hadrian's Wall) turf-built 4m high, on heavy stone base 5 m wide.
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Garrison was not far short of the garrison of Hadrian's wall even though it was only about half the length. Much stronger frontier line.
Change in plan when construction had reached most of the way across the isthmus. (Breeze p98). Original plan: 6 forts at regular 8-9 mile intervals with milecastles. Not all milecastles built when plan changed.
Number of forts increased to 19 but the new ones were much smaller than the original 6. No milecastles. No turrets but beacon emplacements attached to the back of the Wall for signalling along it.
A military way along the length of the Wall.
| 154-7: | Serious Brigantian rebellion? Heavy legionary casualties. Withdrawal of troops from Scotland. Governor Julius Verus (155-8) with reinforcements from Germany. |
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| 154: | Hadrians Wall recommissioned |
| 158-160: | Army returns to Scotland again. Antonine wall recommissioned. Hadrian's wall repaired. The Vallum crossings removed. |
| 161: | Marcus Aurelius war threatening in Britain, sent Calpurnius Agricola against the Britons |
| 163: | Army finally withdraws to Hadrians Wall. Antonine wall abandoned. Hadrian's wall put back into working order and held strongly. Also the outpost forts win Southern Scotland were held. The old turf section of Hadrian's wall was replaced by a stone wall 9ft wide. Military way built along the Wall at this time? It sometimes rides on the North mound of the old Vallum. |
COMMODUS date ?
| 180: | early 180s. Cassius Dio records that: The greatest of the wars of Commodus's reign was fought in Britain. The tribes in the island crossed the wall that separated them from the Roman forts, doing much damage and killing a general and the troops he had with him; Commodus in alarm sent against them Ulpius Marcellus, who ruthlessly put down the barbarians. |
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| 184: | Victory celebrated by Ulpius Marcellus. Many of the turrets along the line of the Wall now abandoned. Milecastles had their gates narrowed. |
| slide fdj000B: | View along the Wall |
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The Wall remained as the northern barrier for another 200 years.
It was damaged in an invasion from the North in 197 during another civil war.
Another Emperor seeking glroy, Septimus Severus, advanced into Scotland in 208 and repaired the Antonine wall but the Army retired back to the Hadrian's wall only a few years later. Severus died at York in 211.
The 3rd century was relatively quiet: just another civil war when Britain was ruled by a traitorous Admiral in the 280s. Tribes overran the wall then as well.
In 343 there was a simultaneous invaseion from the N, E and West. The wall was outflanked by barbarians using ships. The whole country was overrun but London held out against the invaders.
IN 383 Magnus Maximus once again took troops from the Wall in an attempt to become emperor. This is the context of the story about Centurian Parnesius in Kipling's story in Puck of Pook's Hill
In 41 finally, Rome stopped paying army salaries and that was the end of the Wall. It slowly decayed and its stone was used for building farms and towns
Value of the wall. Walls as an illustration of Emperor's power. Did it do its job.
The limit of Roman conquest.
| 192: | Death of Commodus. Civil war. Britain supported the governor, D Clodius Albinus who took troops from Britain to the continent in 196. |
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| 197: | Albinus was defeated by Septimus Severus at the battle of Lugudunum (Lyons). The Wall was attacked from the North- catastrophe. |
| 208: | Septimus Severus advanced into Scotland again on a punitive expedition and repaired the Antonine wall. The reoccupation lasted only a few years. leg. XX Valeria Victrix may have fought its way up north along the west coast, but ultimately returned home to Chester. |
| 211: | (Feb 4) Septimus Severus died at York (Eboracum). Succeeded by Caracella (and Geta) (cf Baths of Caracella) |
| 208-296: | |
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| 286-293: | Admiral Carausius ruled Britain |
| 293-296: | Allectus murdered Carausius. |
| 296: | Carausius and Allectus civil war. Tribes overran the Wall? Constantius Chlorus heir to the Western Empire visited Britain. Reconstruction of some parts of the Wall (eg Chesters) |
| 296-306: | rebuilding of the Wall by Constantius Chlorus |
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| 306: | Constantius Chlorus set up a punitive expedition against the lowland tribes. He died at York (Eboracum), leaving the empire to Constantine the Great |
| 306: | Constantine the Great. |
| 315: | Constantine took the title of Britannicus (unknown reason) |
| 343: | Simultaneous invasion from N, E and W. Wall outflanked though fully manned and intact. The whole country was overrun. London held out against the invaders. Emperor Constans visited Britain in mid-winter. |
| 367: | disaster - Nectaridus, the Commander in chief of the Roman Forces killed in yet another invasion by the Picts, Scots, Saxons, Franks, and Attacotti. The "Barbarian conspiracy". A historical account by Amminius Marellinus 'Rerum Gestarum, Book 27'. |
| 368-369: | "Count' (Comes) Theodosius the Elder sent to Britain by Valentinian. Moved N and repaired the Wall though there is not much archaeological evidence that the Wall was damaged. He reduced the outpost forts and strengthened the Wall itslf. He also made arrangements with the tribes just N of the Wall, appointing some as friendly kings (evidence from the genealogies of early scottish kings.) as buffer states. |
| 382: | Magnus Maximus first led a campaign against the Picts and Scots. |
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| 383: | Maximus took troops across the Channel in an attempt to become Emperor. He probably removed them from the Wall (Note Centurian Parnesius in Puck of Pook's Hill) |
| 410: | Rome refused assistance to Britain - look after yourselves. They also stopped paying army salaries. |
| [forde-johnston1978] | James L. Forde-Johnston, Hadrian's Wall ,1978 |
| [frere1987] | Sheppard Frere, Britannia, London, Routledge and Kegan Paul, 3rd ed, 1987 |
| [hanson1983] | (1, 2) W S Hanson and G S Maxwell, Rome's North West Frontier |
| [todd1999] | Malcolm Todd, Roman Britain, Blackwell |
| [wacher1980] | John Wacher, Roman Britain, mainly Chapter 2. |
| [bedoyere1999] | Guy de la Bedoyere, Roman Britain: http://www.bedoyere.freeserve.co.nz/index.htm |
| [salway93] | Peter Salway, "The Oxford Illustrated history of Roman Britain", Oxford: Oxford University Press (1993) vuw=DA145 S186 O |
Hadrian Antonine Phase Dates Phase Dates 1A 122-42 1 142-c158 158 2 c158-164 1B 164-185 2 185-197 from [hanson1983] (Rome's North West Frontier, p143)
legion location dates comments II Adiuctix Chester 71-90 moved to Danube II Augusta WALL VI Victrix York WALL IX Hispana York -117 originally at Lincoln XX Valeria Victrix Chester 90- WALL Caerleon XIV Gemina 66-
Modern Roman Anglesea Mona Bath Aqua Sulis Birdoswald Banna Caerleon Isca Silurem Carrowburgh Brocolitia Chester Deva Chesters Cilurnum Colchester Camulodunum Corbridge Coria or Coriosopitum Greatchesters Aesica Housteads Vercovicium Inchtuthil Pinnatea Castra Lincoln Lindum Colonia Stanwix Petriana York Ebucarum
| Converted: | From reStructured text in HadriansWall.txt in ARCHIVE2/102.012_HadriansWall/ |
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