From the Claudian invasion to the Roman withdrawal — conquest, rebellion, and frontier warfare.
The Roman period in Britain began with the Claudian invasion of 43 AD and lasted nearly four centuries. Military engagements ranged from the storming of Iron Age hillforts to Boudicca's revolt of 60–61 AD, the subjugation of Wales, and repeated warfare along Hadrian's Wall and the Antonine frontier. These battles were the crucible in which Roman and native British identities were forged and contested.
76 battles and skirmishes are recorded in this period. A selection of the most significant are shown below — use the full battlefield directory to search and filter all of them.
The most significant Roman battles in Britain include the Battle of the Medway (43 AD), Boudicca's defeat at the Battle of Watling Street (60–61 AD), the siege of Maiden Castle, and the campaigns of Agricola in Scotland culminating at Mons Graupius (83–84 AD).
The Romans maintained a military presence in Britain from 43 AD to around 410 AD — nearly four centuries — fighting campaigns of conquest, suppressing native rebellions, and defending the northern frontier.
Roman battles were concentrated in the south-east during the initial conquest, in Wales and the Marches during the subjugation of the Silures and Ordovices, and along the northern frontier in what is now Yorkshire and Scotland.
The Romans fought a range of native British tribes including the Catuvellauni, Trinovantes, Iceni (led by Boudicca), Silures, Ordovices, Brigantes, and the Caledonians of Scotland.
Pick any location and Aubrey pulls together 15 strands of its history, each drawn from the record:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.