Northwest Europe, Britain (Britannia), 5C ENGLAND, Pre-Roman Iron Age (800 BC-AD 43): Celtic Kings

Caesar does not mention Cassivellaunus’ tribe, nor refer to him as a king, but as the territory he controlled corresponds with that of the Catuvellauni it generally assumed that he was the king of that tribe. He was succeeded by Tasciovanus (r.c.20-00-c.09) who, ruling from Verlamion, a site at Prae Hill just west of St Albans, for a brief period issued coins from the Trinovantian centre Camulodunum/Colchester, apparently supplanting Addedomarus. Tasciovanus was succeeded by his son Cunobelinus (r.c.09-c.40), Shake-speare’s Cymbeline. His kingdom grew for most of his reign, perhaps extending into Kent. He was succeeded in turn by his sons Togodumnus (r.c.40-43) and Caratacus (r. 43-51).

In 52 BC Commius (fl.57-50 BC) joined forces with other Gaulish leaders in an attempt to relieve Vercingetorix (c.80-46 BC) during the Siege of Alesia. When Caesar soundly defeated the relief force, Commius escaped back to Britain where, judging from coins bearing his name, he seems to have been accepted as king of the British Atrebates. He ruled until c.20 BC and was then succeeded by his (possibly adopted) son Tincomarus (r.c.25-00-c.08) ruling from the tribal centre at Calleva Atrebatum/Silchester, Hampshire. He was succeeded by his elder brother Verica (r.15-25, 35-41), whose territory was threatened from the east by the Catuvellauni, led by Epaticcus, who conquered Calleva Atrebatum c.25. After Epaticcus’ death c.35, Verica regained some territory, but Cunobelinus’ son Caratacus completed the conquest some time after 40 AD. Verica fled to Rome.

Mandubracius (r.c.54-c.35 BC), ruler of the Trinovantes, was succeeded by Addedomarus (c.35-c.15, c.10–c.05 BC), who moved the capital from Braughing in Hertfordshire to Camulodunum/Colchester, Essex. In c.15 BC, Tasciovanus, ruler of the neighbouring Catuvellauni tribe to the west, seized his territory from him and began issuing his own coins from Camulodunum. The two kingdoms were then apparently ruled jointly from the Trinovantian capital. Addedomarus somehow regained control in about 20 BC and reigned over the Trinovantes until his death about 10 BC. Addedomarus was succeeded by his son ⁰²Dubnovellaunus (r.c.05-00-c.07), but a few years later the tribe was finally conquered by Tasciovanus’ son, Cunobelinus, followed by Caratacus.  

⁰¹Dubnovellaunus (r.c.40-c.10), ruling the Cantiaci from the tribal capital at Durovernum Cantiacorum/Canterbury, Kent, was succeeded by Vodenos/Vosenios (r.c.10-00-c.15) and Anarevitos (r.c.10-00-c.15), possibly ruling concurrently. The area appears to have been briefly conquered by Eppillus (r.c.15-c.35) and then reconquered by Cunobelinus who put one his sons, Adminius (r.c.35-c.39), in charge. The two men quarrelled and Adminius fled to mainland Europe with a small group of followers and Caratacus took over.