BattlefieldsRoman Advance into Cornwall 50-75 AD
Roman Period

Roman Advance into Cornwall 50-75 AD

50–75
Cornwall, England
Also known as: Roman penetration of the Cornish peninsula · Dumnonii western resistance
Era
Roman Period
Battle Type
Skirmish
Location
Cornwall, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Western Dumnonii
Forces
Western Dumnonii: c. 800–1,500.
VS
Victor
Rome
Forces
Romans: c. 1,500–2,500
Outcome
Tin and copper resources secured; auxiliary forts established at key points; tribe not fully romanised
The Battle

History & Significance

Roman penetration into Cornwall appears to have been relatively light compared to other western areas. The tin-rich peninsula was economically valuable, but the rugged terrain and the small scale of settlements made large-scale military campaigns impractical. The Dumnonii in Cornwall maintained their tribal identity and traditional hillfort settlements more than almost any other British tribe throughout the Roman period.

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

Aubrey Research

Explore the landscape around Cornwall

Aubrey generates in-depth historical research for any location in Britain — drawing on Domesday records, scheduled monuments, Victorian OS maps, geological data and archaeological archives to tell the full story of a place.

Research a location near Cornwall