Editing Silures (section)

== Romanization ==
To aid the [[Roman Wales|Roman administration]] in keeping down local opposition, a legionary fortress ([[Isca Silurum|Isca]], later [[Caerleon]]) was planted in the midst of tribal territory.

The town of [[Venta Silurum]] ([[Caerwent]], six miles west of [[Chepstow]]) was established in AD 75. It became a Romanized town, not unlike [[Calleva Atrebatum]] ([[Silchester]]), but smaller.<ref name=EB1911/> An inscription shows that, under the [[Roman Empire]], it was the capital of the Silures, whose ''ordo'' (local council) provided local government for the district.<ref name=EB1911/> Its massive Roman walls still survive, and excavations have revealed a [[Forum (Roman)|forum]], a [[temple]], baths, [[amphitheatre]], shops, and many comfortable houses with mosaic floors, etc.<ref name=EB1911/> In the late 1st and early 2nd centuries, the Silures were given some nominal independence and responsibility for local administration. As was standard practice, as revealed by inscriptions, the Romans matched their deities with local Silurian ones, and the local deity [[Ocelus]] was identified with [[Mars (mythology)|Mars]], the Roman god of war.<ref name=gch/>

Caerwent seems to have continued in use in the post-Roman period as a religious centre. The territory of the Silures later developed as the 5th-century Welsh kingdoms of [[Kingdom of Gwent|Gwent]], [[Brycheiniog]], and [[Gwynllwg|Gwynllŵg]]. Some theories concerning [[King Arthur]] make him a leader in this area. There is evidence of cultural continuity throughout the Roman period, from the Silures to the kingdom of Gwent in particular, as shown by leaders of Gwent using the name "[[Caradoc]]" in remembrance of the British hero [[Caratacus]].<ref name=gch/>