Editing Roman Britain (section)

=== Roman invasion ===
{{Main|Roman conquest of Britain}}

The invasion force in 43 AD was led by [[Aulus Plautius]],<ref>{{Citation |last=Dio |first=Cassius |title=Historia Romana |at=[https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Cassius_Dio/60*.html#19 60.19–22] |language=la}}</ref> but it is unclear how many [[Roman legion|legions]] were sent. The ''{{Lang|la|[[Legio II Augusta]]}}'', commanded by future emperor [[Vespasian]], was the only one directly attested to have taken part.<ref>{{Citation |last=Tacitus |title=[[Histories (Tacitus)|Histories]] |at=[[s:The Histories (Tacitus)/Book 3#44|3.44]]}}</ref> The ''{{Lang|la|[[Legio IX Hispana]]}}'',<ref>{{Citation |last=Tacitus |title=Annals |at=[[s:The Annals (Tacitus)/Book 14#32|14.32]]}}</ref> the ''{{Lang|la|[[Legio XIV Gemina|XIV Gemina]]}}'' (later styled ''{{Lang|la|Martia Victrix}}'') and the ''{{Lang|la|[[Legio XX Valeria Victrix|XX]]}}'' (later styled ''{{Lang|la|Valeria Victrix}}'')<ref>{{Citation |last=Tacitus |title=Annals |at=[[s:The Annals (Tacitus)/Book 14#34|14.34]]}}</ref> are known to have served during the [[Boudican revolt]] of 60/61, and were probably there since the initial invasion. This is not certain because the [[Roman army]] was flexible, with units being moved around whenever necessary. The ''{{Lang|la|IX Hispana}}'' may have been permanently stationed, with records showing it at [[Eboracum]] ([[York]]) in 71 and on a building inscription there dated 108, before being destroyed in the east of the Empire, possibly during the [[Bar Kokhba revolt]].<ref name="Webster">{{Cite book |last=Webster |first=Graham |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v0f4SEf7rosC&pg=PA66 |title=The Roman Imperial Army of the first and second centuries AD |publisher=University of Oklahoma Press |year=1998 |isbn=978-0-8061-3000-2 |edition=New ed of 3rd revised |page=66}}</ref>

The invasion was delayed by a troop mutiny until an imperial [[freedman]] persuaded them to overcome their fear of crossing the [[Oceanus|Ocean]] and campaigning beyond the limits of the known world. They sailed in three divisions, and probably landed at [[Richborough]] in [[Kent]]; at least part of the force may have landed near [[Fishbourne, West Sussex]].<ref>{{Harvp|Manley|2002}}.</ref>

[[File:British.coinage.Roman.invasion.jpg|thumb|left|Conquests under Aulus Plautius, focused on the commercially valuable southeast of Britain]]
The Catuvellauni and their allies were defeated in two battles: the first, assuming a Richborough landing, on the [[battle of the Medway|river Medway]], the second on the [[river Thames]]. One of their leaders, [[Togodumnus]], was killed, but his brother [[Caratacus]] survived to continue resistance elsewhere. Plautius halted at the Thames and sent for Claudius, who arrived with reinforcements, including artillery and elephants, for the final march to the Catuvellaunian capital, [[Camulodunum]] ([[Colchester]]). Vespasian subdued the southwest,<ref>{{Citation |last=Suetonius |title=[[The Twelve Caesars#Vespasian|Vespasian]] |at=[https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Suetonius/12Caesars/Vespasian*.html#4 4]}}</ref> [[Tiberius Claudius Cogidubnus|Cogidubnus]] was set up as a friendly king of several territories,<ref>{{Citation |last=Tacitus |title=[[Agricola (book)|Agricola]] |at=[[:s:Agricola#14|14]]}}</ref> and treaties were made with tribes outside direct Roman control.

British archaeologist Richard Hingley said that the [[Roman conquest of Britain]], beginning with [[Julius Caesar]]'s expeditions and culminating with the construction of [[Hadrian's Wall]], was a drawn-out process rather than an inevitable or swift victory.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hingley |first=Richard |title=Conquering the ocean: the Roman invasion of Britain |date=2022 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-093741-6 |series=Ancient warfare and civilization |location=New York |pages=17–42 |quote=The conquest of this exotic island, however, was a challenge that even Caesar, despite his political and military brilliance, had been unable to achieve.}}</ref>