The Romanisation of Herefordshire

The successful invasion under the Emperor Claudius took place in AD 43, but it was not until c. AD 75 that the Silures and their neighbouring tribe, the Ordovices, were finally overcome by the Governor Julius Frontinus. He established the military legionary base at Caerleon in Wales, and built the strategic roads and forts essential to the military occupation of south Wales. The first phase of the occupation in this area was the establishment of a temporary frontier along the line of the Fosse Way, c. AD 47. This highly strategic road, strengthened by forts (both temporary and permanent) for the legions, ran through the territories of friendly tribes such as the Dobunni (in the Cotswolds) and the Coritani (in the East Midlands). To the north and west lay great rivers and the hostile tribes of the Brigantes, the Silures and the Ordovices (in central and north-west Wales). The Ordovices in particular, led by Caratacus, were on the offensive against the Roman invasion.

The first move by the Romans against these troublesome tribes took place c. AD 48, when the Governor Ostorius Scapula advanced to the Upper Severn, established a legionary base at Wroxeter and pushed into north-east Wales. Trouble with rebel tribes in East Anglia cut this move short and the Romans did not regain the initiative until c. AD 50, when they advanced to the Lower Severn and established a legionary base at Gloucester.

In AD 51 the Romans staged an attack across the Severn which led to the famous battle between Caratacus and the Romans in Ordovican territory. The exact site of the battle is not known and it has been "sited" upon almost every hill-top in the Central Marches of Wales. Caratacus was defeated and his subsequent plan of carrying on the war from the territory of the Brigantes came to nothing.

In AD 52/53 the Silures stormed the legionary base at Gloucester and killed the commander in charge. Ostorius Scapula died before he could fulfil his vow of destroying the whole tribe in revenge. Under Ostorius Scapula's successor, the Governor Didius Gallus (AD 52-58), the Roman position on the River Severn was restored but no further pushes west were attempted.

The Governor Suetonius Paulinus (AD 59-62) moved the Roman troops forward from Wroxeter into north-west Wales. It was hoped that this campaign would push right up to Anglesey but a revolt by Queen Boudicca in AD 61 recalled Suetonius Paulinus back inland, where he attempted to defend Londinium (London) and the south-east. This revolt caused the Romans such problems that it was another 14 years before the troublesome Silures could be tackled again, and this time it was to be resolved by the Romans for good.

Governor Julius Frontinus moved from the base at Gloucester to Caerleon and from this strategic offensive base was able to overrun and subdue all of south Wales. To his operations belongs the road from Wroxeter to Caerleon (probably routed at first via Hereford and Monmouth and then later running via Kenchester and Abergavenny).

The military work of Julius Frontinus was enduring, and he must also be given the credit for introducing the Roman way of life into this area. Caerwent was founded as a political and cultural centre for the Silures c. AD 75, and there is evidence that the small market town of Kenchester began about the same time. From then onwards the Herefordshire area belonged to the civil zone of Roman Britain for as long as the Roman occupation lasted - a period of more than 300 years.

Within Herefordshire there are scant traces of troops or permanent garrisons, of civil administration or municipal life. The inhabitants of the province were not Romans, but romanised Britons. It was a sparse and moderately civilised population, romanised in language, arts and industries yet with no large Roman centre in the area to leave a lasting influence after the occupation.

We have no exact record as to when and why the Romans were forced to abandon Herefordshire, but there are signs that its towns were destroyed by violence and fire (large quantities of charred earth were found during excavations at Kenchester, Leintwardine and Ariconium), and no Roman remains have been discovered that date from later than the beginning of the 5th century AD.

[Original author: Miranda Greene, 2004]