| Colchester.uk.com | The History of Roman Colchester |
| Year | Events |
| BC | During the first century BC the Iron Age hillforts were largely abandoned and were replaced by oppida
One of these oppida covered an area of 16 square kilometers, and was protected by the rivers Colne and Roman River to the north and south, and a complex set of dykes to the west It was called Camulodunum, meaning the fortified place of Camulos, the Celtic god of war, and belonged to the Trinovantes tribe It included a settlement at what is now Sheepen, sacred sites at Gosbecks, burials at Lexden and Stanway, and a royal mint |
| 20BC | (circa) Coins minted at Camulodunum under Tasciovanus (20-15BC) |
| 10BC | (circa) Lexden Tumulus burial with the most divers group of Iron Age grave goods known in Britain; possibly the grave of Addedomaros (15-10BC) |
| 5BC | (circa) First coins of Cunobelin, son of Tasciovanus |
| 39AD | Adminius, one of Cunobelin's sons, flees to Rome to look for support from the Emperor Gaius Caligula |
| 40AD | (circa) South eastern Britain becoming unified and ruled from Camulodunum by Cunobelin, who Suetonius describes as "King of the Britons" |
| 41AD | Claudius succeeds Gaius Caligula as Emperor of Rome
(circa) Cunobelin dies leaving sons Caratacus and Togodubnus |
| 42AD | (circa) Caratacus and Togodubnus begin to feud with other Celtic tribes |
| 43AD | 4 of the Roman Empire's 27 Legions invade Britain and reach the Thames valley where they stop to wait for the Emperor Claudius
Claudius, along with members of his Praetorian Guard, elephants and several Roman senators, join the Roman advance on Camulodunum, where they accept the surrender of the British kings The Roman Senate awards Claudius the title "Britannicus" and allow a victory parade in the Imperial city |
| - | Legionary fortress established at Camulodunum, possibly for the XXth Legion and the First Thracian Cavalry
The seige and capture of Camulodunum and the surrender of the British kings is reenacted at the Campus Martius in Rome |
| 50AD | (circa) XXth Legion leaves to engage with Caratacus' army in Wales
Colonia Claudia Victricensis founded giving Camulodunum the highest rank of Roman cities and its population citizenship of the Empire; Tacitus records in his Annals that "A colonia, consisting of a powerful body of veterans, was established at Camalodunum, to settle upon the conquered lands, as a resource against the rebels, and for initiating the allies in the requisitions of the laws of Rome." |
| 55AD | (circa) The Colonia is the administrative and cultural capital of the new Roman province of Britannia, and is extended and augmented by the Temple of Claudius, (the largest classical temple known in Britain), a 3,000 seat theatre, a monumental arch at the west gate; shops in the city sell produce from around the Empire: samian pottery, fine coloured glassware, coriander, figs...
...but it is poorly defended and Tacitus records that "those who had been recently planted in the colonia of Camalodunum had thrown the (native) people out of their houses and driven them from their lands, calling them captives and slaves. These outrages of the veterans were encouraged by the common soldiers, through similarity of occupation and the hope of enjoying the same privilege. They had also before their eyes a temple erected to the deified Claudius, which they regarded as the citadel of endless domination. Priests were also appointed who, under pretence of religious rites, exhausted their whole substance." |
| 61AD | The Colonia is razed to the ground and its population, many of whom seek refuge in the temple, is massacred by a Celtic army led by Boudicca, queen of the Iceni. Citizens are taken out to sacred groves where they are slaughtered
The evidence of the revolt is found throughout the centre of modern Colchester as a burnt layer, known as the "Boudican destruction layer" IXth Legion attempts to relieve the city but is lost |
| 70AD | (circa) The temple of Claudius is restored and the Colonia is rebuilt with the first city wall in Britain, 2.8km long with six gates; the west gate incorporates the earlier monumental arch (65-80AD)
(circa) Administrative capital of the province is moved to the port of Londinium, but Colonia Claudia Victricensis remains the seat of the Imperial cult and an important religious centre |
| - | At least nine religious sites are known at Roman Colchester:
The classical Temple of Claudius, the base of which forms the foundation of Colchester castle At least four Romano-British temples at Sheepen; one dedicated to Jupiter A Romano-British temple at the CRGS playing fields, dedicated to Silvanus A Romano-British temple at Gosbecks, possibly dedicated to Camulos (Mars) and associated with a 5,000 seat theatre - the largest known Roman theatre in Britain A probable Roman Christian church by the modern Police Station (c.330) |
| - | |
| 260 | (circa) Invasions from outside the Empire; revolts begin to break out and the north western provinces including Britannia split from Rome |
| 272 | (circa) Coin hoards hidden around the city (271-274)
(circa) Saxon Shore forts built at Walton-on-the-Naze and Othona |
| 274 | Gallic Empire reunites with Rome
(circa) The Colonia's defensive ditches are widened |
| 287 | Britannia splits from the Roman Empire again |
| 296 | Constantius invades Britannia and reunites it with Rome |
| 300 | (circa) The Colonia's west gate is blocked (Balkerne) and houses outside the walls are abandoned |
| 330 | (circa) Roman Christian church built in the Butt Road cemetery; apse added c.380 |
| 409 | (circa) Britannia finally splits from the Roman Empire after repeated uprisings |
| 420 | (circa) End of the circulation of bronze coinage leading to the collapse of the urban economy |
| The History of Colchester :: Saxon : 1051-1100 : 1101-1150 : 1151-1200 | |