Timeline – some key events in Roman Britain

AD 367–8: The AD 122: Work begins AD 43: Emperor on Hadrian's Wall AD 208 parts of the ‘barbarian Claudius orders Antonine Wall briefly conspiracy’ expeditions to AD 142: Work begins Britain on the Antonine Wall reinstated AD 410: Emperor 55-54 BC: first (abandoned AD 162) AD 71-84: AD 260–74: Britain, Gaul Honorius tells the Roman Campaigns in c. AD 197: division of expeditions to northern Britain Roman Britain into and Spain temporarily Britons to defend Britain two provinces split from the empire themselves

100 BC–0 AD 0–100 AD 100–200 AD 200–300 AD 300–400 AD

Further information about the events 55-54 BC: first Roman expeditions to Britain: Julius Caesar was engaged in wars in Gaul when he first invaded in Britain in 55BC. His second invasion led to the installation of a client king (a king friendly to Rome) in south-eastern Britain.

AD 43: Emperor Claudius orders expeditions to Britain: The expedition of AD 43 focused on south-eastern Britain. The next three decades saw Roman power spread west and north, eventually reaching the Brigantes.

AD 71–84: Campaigns in northern Britain under the governors Cerialis (71–4) and Agricola (78–84). In the intervening period, the governor Frontinus focused on Wales. The Romans had been exerting influence amongst the Brigantes in the middle of the first century, during the tensions between Venutius and Cartimandua. Venutius’s successful revolt in AD 69 ultimately prompted Roman campaigns in the north.

AD 122: Work begins on Hadrian’s Wall: This wall runs through the Tyne-Solway gap (the land between the Tyne estuary and the Solway Firth). Its construction took eight years.

AD 142: Work begins on the Antonine Wall (abandoned AD 162): This wall runs across Scotland’s central belt. It took twelve years to build and was intended to supersede Hadrian’s Wall. However, it was frequently attacked and was abandoned eight years after it had been completed. c. AD 197: division of Roman Britain into two provinces: Emperor Septimius Severus divided Roman Britain into two provinces, Britannia Superior (governed from London) and Britannia Inferior (governed from York). The provinces were sub-divided further under Emperor Diocletian in 296.

AD 208: Parts of the Antonine briefly reinstated: Emperor Septimius Severus conducted campaigns in Scotland, which resulted in the temporary repair of parts of the wall.

AD 260–74: Britain, Gaul and Spain temporarily split from the empire: During times of instability, the commander Postumus established a breakaway portion of the empire, known as the ‘Gallic empire’. It endured after his death, and until Emperor Aurelian recaptured Gaul.

AD 367–8: the ‘barbarian conspiracy’: In 367 there was a major Pictish attack from the north, and the Picts apparently co-ordinated their movements with other ‘barbarian’ groups (groups based outside the empire). The invasion may have been facilitated by some elements of the northern frontier garrisons. It took a year to counter the barbarian attacks. This was the culmination of an upsurge of barbarian raids during the fourth century. AD 410: the ‘Honorian rescript’: The Roman Britons sought assistance from Emperor Honorius, and he replied by telling them to defend themselves, an acknowledgement of their autonomy. This may have been intended as a temporary measure, but it is now seen as the end of Roman Britain.