Roman Britain AD 43 – c 411
The Romans were originally a people from central Italy. Over several centuries, beginning in 509 BC, they came to control much of the land surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. Then, in the middle of the first century BC, a Roman general, Julius Caesar, invaded Gaul (modern France). As part of his war in Gaul, he invaded Britain twice, in 55 BC and 54 BC.
Britain did not become part of the Roman Empire as a result of Caesar’s invasions. Instead, after defeating a king named Cassivellaunus, who was probably king of the people of Hertfordshire, he made a treaty with the Britons. Some historians now believe that after this, the kings of south-eastern Britain were now chosen by the Romans for their friendliness.
Over the next century, the wealthy people of south-eastern Britain took on Roman habits: they imported pottery from the Roman Empire, their coins copied Roman coins and some probably even began to speak Latin. The sons of these kings were also educated in Rome. Around AD 42, Cunobelinus, king of the Catuvellauni and the most powerful ruler in Britain died. Without waiting for the Roman government to appoint a new king, the tribal chiefs chose Caratacus, who was against the Romans. Around the same time, Verica, a king ruling south of the Thames, was overthrown in a coup and fled to Rome. The Romans now had an excuse to invade Britain again.
In the summer of AD 43, a Roman army landed on the south coast and marched up towards Camulodunon (Colchester), the capital of Caratacus. After a few months, the Emperor Claudius joined his army for the siege and capture of Camulodunon, which he made the capital of the new province of Britannia. Over the next forty years, the Romans conquered more and more of Britain.
Eventually, in the Scottish Highlands, the Romans found that they could go no further. Their enemy in the north, the Caledonii, fought a guerrilla war against them and they were unable to defeat them. Instead, the Roman government decided to pull back and make a boundary across the island. It took about thirty years to find a safe place for the boundary, but in 122, the Emperor Hadrian chose a line for a wall running from Gateshead (near Newcastle-upon-Tyne) in the east to Bowness (near Carlisle) in the west.
In 138, Hadrian’s adopted son, Antoninus Pius, decided to return to a more northern boundary. He built a new wall, running from Carriden (near Edinburgh) in the east to Old Kilpatrick (near Glasgow) in the west. This wall proved more difficult to defend, so after twenty years or so, the army returned to Hadrian’s Wall, where it remained until the beginning of the fifth century.
During the third and fourth centuries, as the bureaucracy of the Empire became more complex, so Britain was split first into two separate provinces and later into four and perhaps even five provinces. North Hertfordshire always lay in the province controlled from Londinium (London), but its main town, Baldock, was not an important administrative centre.
Buildings in Roman North Hertfordshire
No Roman buildings survive in North Hertfordshire. This is not just because they would now be very ancient – there are much older buildings still standing in some places – but because of what they were made from. Almost all the buildings of Roman Britain were timber framed: they were made from carefully shaped posts jointed together to make a frame. The walls were then made by filling up the gaps in the frame with thin strips of wood (known as wattles) and covering them with clay or plaster. In most cases, the framework rested directly on the ground surface or was lowered into post holes. Sometimes, though, a stone or brick foundation level was laid first.
Lots of stone or brick was used only in the grandest buildings, especially public buildings such as council offices or temples. Another building material called adobe was also used: this was simply sun-dried clay. It would make a perfectly strong wall so long as it remained dry. Once the roof was removed, the building would literally dissolve! It was especially popular in Roman Baldock, where traces of very few buildings have been found despite the size of the town.
Most roofs were probably thatched with straw or reeds. Clay tiles were used on more expensive buildings: tegulae (flat tiles with raised edges) and imbrices (curving ridge tiles) have been found on many sites. A cheaper alternative was to use wooden shingles that could be laid overlapping like tiles.
Windows were always small. This was because window glass was expensive, so few people could afford it, and was only made in small panels. Most windows would have shutters.
Roman religion, beliefs and superstition
Religion, superstition and magic played an important part in the everyday lives of the people living in Roman Hertfordshire. The first temples and shrines were built in Britain during the Iron Age, often on sites that had been considered sacred for hundreds of years. The tradition continued after the Roman conquest and new styles of temple were introduced.
Statues of gods were displayed in these temples and people would leave small symbolic objects (votive offerings) as gifts for the gods. They would also nail up metal inscriptions to give their thanks or lead curses, usually asking the gods to punish thieves and restore stolen property. Gold and silver plaques dedicated to local gods and goddesses have been found at Barkway and Ashwell.
Many households also had private shrines, often containing small bronze statues, where daily offerings of food and drink were made to the family gods.
During the fourth century, Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire and many places would have had their own churches. Archaeologists find them difficult to recognise, though, and so far, none have been found in North Hertfordshire.
The Roman army
We have not found any Roman forts in Hertfordshire and we do not think that we ever will. This is because the rulers of the Catuvellauni decided to ally themselves with the Romans and gave up supporting their King Caratacus around the time of the invasion. Instead, the Romans appointed a new king, whose name we do not know.
