| |
Londinium did not exist as a tribal capital when Julius Caesar explored it (probably crossing with his legions near the ford of what would become Westminster); it was not until after the Claudian conquest of Britain that the city was founded as a trading capital to serve the legions, circa 50 A.D.
Map of Roman Londinium
The settlement stood north of the river Thames (Thamesis), between two hills (Cornhill and Ludgate) in what is now known as “the city.” There was also a suburb in Southwark. Laid out in the typical legionary grid pattern, the city was approximately 62 acres in size and had become an important trading center by the time of the Boudiccan Revolt, when it was completely and savagely destroyed.
Rebuilding after the city was burned, a permanent legionary fortress was built to the west of the imperial city. From AD 61 onwards, there was a major building program, including the building of an impressive Imperial Forum and a later Forum (in the second century) that was nine acres in extent. The docks along the Thames suggest vibrant trading activity from Britannia to Europe, and Flavian docks were rebuilt that stretched longer than 330 yards along the riverfront. From 61 AD, Britain rated its own procurator, and a procurator’s palace was built that probably remained the headquarters of Imperial government. The governor’s guard and staff were seconded and lived here, drawn from other legionary units, probably in the fort near Cripplegate, built around 90 A.D. In the late second century, a great fortress gate surrounded the city, parts of which survive to this day, enclosing more than 330 acres. At the same time (and perhaps, due to disturbances that accounted for building the great wall), Londinium’s trade apparently suffered some decline, although luxurious townhouses continued to be built in the city.
Roman Londinium was a cosmopolitan center, and had many beautiful public buildings. Besides the governor’s palace, there was a Mithraeum, an ampitheatre, large markets, luxurious homes, and all the trappings of Roman provincial luxury. The status of Londinium is unclear: it may have been, successively, a municipium and a colonia and may have served as a provincial capital in the Early Empire. By the early third century A.D., it was certainly the capital of Upper Britain, and was renamed Maxima Caesariensis under Diocletian. At some point, it was also named, simply, “Augusta.”
Dependent upon imperial trading culture, as Roman Britain became more threatened by Anglo-Saxon invasion in the fourth and early fifth centuries, Roman Londiniuim declined and was eventually abandoned after the Roman armies left Britain.
The excellent Roman map comes from The Romans in Britain. For more on the Revolt of Queen Boudicca, see The Encyclopaedia Romana. .
|
