Rome ruled over vast lands, stretching from Egypt and Syria in the east, to the Atlantic coast of Spain and Gaul. For most of the empire’s rule though, Rome ruled over the foggy little island of Britain, well known for the production of tin and placed an indelible make on its history and culture Dear reader, welcome to The History Lens’s first article on a series on Roman Britain. I hope you enjoy.

For millennia before the 50s B.C, knowledge about Britain was scarce in the Mediterranean power centers. It was rumored that the Britons were monsters. Despite the voyages of Carthaginian and Greek explorers in the 5’th and 4’th centuries B.C, Rome had no interest in the island. This would all change in 55 B.C, when Gaius Julius Caesar, conqueror of Gaul arrived on the Atlantic Coast.

Fresh off from his conquest of Gaul, Caesar decided to attempt an invasion of Britain. Unlike Rome, the Gallic tribes in northern France had a long history of contact with their fellow Celts across the Channel. A Belgic king based had even controlled territory on Britain. Caesar used this connection as a Casus Belli, claiming that his enemies in Gaul were being sheltered by the Britons. It was most probably an attempt to gain more power and popularity as his invasion of Gaul had been.

Caesar was well known for his meticulous planning and this time was no different. Sending a tribune, Gaius Volsenus to explore the coast of Britain, Caesar amassed a fleet of 80 transports, warships as well as the 7’th and 10’th Legions as well as a secondary force of 18 transport ships which were to be filled with cavalry. On 23’rd August, 55, he set out for Britain.

When Caesar came in sight of the shore, he saw a large force of natives assembled (from the tribes in the area) on the cliffs above. Dissuaded from landing In the area, Caesar moved to an open beach where an amphibious landing was easier. When his troops tried to land, they came under attack from a large force of infantry, cavalry and chariots. With Caesar’s force getting picked off while wading ashore, it seemed that his force would be repulsed. The situation was saved by Legio X’s standard who rallied them. Despite the fact that the Britons were eventually forced to retreat, Caesar’s expedition was in deep trouble.

The Romans established a camp on the beach and engaged in negotiations with the native tribes. Hostages were sent to them while the British armies disbanded. It seemed that Britain too would bend the knee, when Caesar’s ships were wrecked by a storm. Seeing this, the British tribes mobilized their troops and began ambushing Roman foraging parties. These attacks culminated in an all out offensive on the Roman camp which was handily beaten back by the legionnaires. Caesar’s legions would have been able to spend winter in Kent though, under attack from British tribes, and so they withdrew back to Gaul with Caesar plotting his revenge.