In 57 BC Gaius 04Julius Caesar (55; fl.85-44 BC) defeated an alliance of Belgic tribes (which included the Gallic Atrebates) in the Battle of the Sabis and made Commius (fl.57-30 BC), possibly of the tribe of the Gallic Atrebates, king of the tribe.
Caesar had already decided to invade Britain, but he first had to overcome the Veneti, a seafaring Gallic tribe living in Armorica in Brittany in northwest France, whose powerful navy largely controlled the sea lanes into Britain. Caesar ordered the construction of a fleet of warships and eventually Marcus 13Junius Brutus (43; fl.58-42 BC) overcame the Veneti fleet in a battle in Morbihan Bay in northwest France in the summer 56 BC.
In 55 BC Britain was still very much unknown territory to the Romans. Caesar sent Gaius Volusenus (fl.57-48 BC) in a warship to make a week-long survey of the coast of southeast England, while Caesar himself prepared a fleet based upon the warships used against the Veneti the previous summer.
The Britons learned of these preparations and sent envoys to Caesar to offer allegiance. He sent them back accompanied by Commius who was to negotiate terms, but he was arrested soon after his arrival.
Caesar’s entire army numbered about ten thousand men. It consisted of two legions (Legio X Equestris and Legio VII Claudia) plus cavalry and auxiliaries.
On 26 August 55 BC a fleet comprising eighty transports carrying the two legions and a squadron of war galleys carrying archers, slingers, artillerymen and catapults (which could be erected at short notice on their decks), set out from the port of Gesoriacum/Boulogne, France. Eighteen other transports carrying the cavalry were instructed to join the fleet.
At about 9 am the next day warriors armed with javelins were seen on the cliff tops at Dover. Caesar waited for suitable conditions and then beached his ships at about 3 pm, probably between Walmer and Deal.
The British put up fierce opposition but were eventually subdued with catapults and slings fired from the Roman warships, but they managed to escape because the transports carrying the cavalry had been delayed by adverse winds.
There followed a series of engagements with victories on both sides before the Romans gained the upper hand. The British sent delegations to Caesar to sue for peace and to hand over Commius. Having no cavalry support and with winter fast approaching Caesar accepted their surrender and only demanded hostages from their tribes.
In July 54 BC some six hundred transports and twenty-eight warships were concentrated at Gesoriacum/Boulogne, France. At the end of July the fleet sailed at sunset carrying five legions, two thousand cavalry and auxiliaries. The following midday the fleet landed unopposed, probably between Deal and Sandwich. A force of ten cohorts and three hundred cavalry were left behind under Quintus Atrius (fl.54 BC) to guard the fleet and its crews, while Caesar and the army marched inland.
Cassivellaunus (fl.54 BC), assumed to be of the Catuvellauni, had been warring with neighbouring tribes. He killed Imanuentius, king of the Trinovantes, and drove out his son Mandubracius (r.c.54-c.35 BC) who fled to Caesar in Gaul. As soon as the Roman threat appeared, local difficulties were forgotten and Cassivellaunus was elected the overall leader of a vast confederate army.
Caesar cut his way through Kent, crossed the Thames and took the battle into Cassivellaunus’ kingdom. Cassivellaunus realising that he could not defeat Caesar in open battle resorted to guerrilla warfare relying his knowledge of the territory and the mobility of his cavalry and four thousand chariots. As the legions advanced, the people and cattle were pulled back into the woods. Then, as the Romans foraged, the chariots attacked.
The Trinovantes now made peace with Caesar and other tribes in the vicinity followed suit. With their help Caesar was able to find Cassivellaunus’ stronghold, which was taken by a two-pronged assault.
Cassivellaunus responded to Caesar’s successes by sending a message to his allies Carvilius, Cingetorix, Taximagulus and Segovax, the four kings of Kent, to stage an assault on Caesar’s beachhead. When this attack failed, Cassivellaunus sued for peace. Commius was released and in an agreement negotiated by him, Cassivellaunus promised to give hostages, pay an annual tribute to Rome and not to make war against either the reinstated Mandubracius or the Trinovantes. After these arrangements had been settled, Caesar departed for Gaul.
Leave a Reply