Editing Lincoln, England (section)

===Lindum Colonia===
[[File:Newport Arch.jpg|left|thumb|[[Newport Arch]], a 3rd-century Roman gate]]
{{Main|Lindum Colonia}}
The Romans conquered this part of Britain in 48 CE and soon built a legionary fortress high on a hill overlooking the natural lake, Brayford Pool, formed by the widening of the River Witham, and the northern end of the [[Fosse Way]] Roman road (A46). Celtic ''Lindon'' was later [[Latin language|Latinised]] to ''Lindum'' and the title ''Colonia'' added when it became settled by army veterans.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Harper |first=Douglas |title=Lincoln |url=http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=Lincoln&allowed_in_frame=0 |work=Online Etymology Dictionary |access-date=30 October 2011 |location=Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA |year=2001–2011 |quote=Lincoln: English city, county town of Lincolnshire, O.E. Lindcylene, from L. Lindum Colonia from a Latinate form of British *lindo "pool, lake" (corresponding to Welsh llyn). Originally a station for retired IX Legion veterans. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119072937/http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=Lincoln&allowed_in_frame=0 |archive-date=19 January 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The conversion to a ''colonia'' occurred when the legion moved on to [[York]] (''Eboracum'') in 71 CE. '''Lindum colonia''' or more fully, '''Colonia Domitiana Lindensium''', after the then Emperor [[Domitian]], was set up within the walls of the hilltop fortress by extending it with about an equal area, down the hillside to the waterside.

It became a flourishing settlement accessible from the sea through the [[River Trent]] and through the River Witham. On the basis of a patently corrupt list of British bishops said to have attended the [[Council of Arles (314)|314 Council of Arles]], the city is often seen as having been the capital of the [[Roman province|province]] of [[Flavia Caesariensis]], formed during the late 3rd-century [[Diocletian Reforms]]. Subsequently, the town and its waterways declined. By the close of the 5th century, it was largely deserted, although some occupation continued under a ''Praefectus Civitatis'' – [[Paulinus of York|Saint Paulinus]] visited a man holding this office in Lincoln in 629 CE.