The Fall of the Druids in Roman Britain - the Claudian Invasion -  Part 2

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Julius Caesar briefly invaded Britain in 55 BC using the famous phrase "Veni, Vidi, Vici" or "I came, I saw, I conquered" to describe his victory. Strabo explained, "although the Romans could have held Britain, they scorned to do so, because they saw that there was nothing at all to fear from the Britons (for they are not strong enough to cross over and attack us)".

The Catuvellauni were among the tribes in southern Britain who formed alliances with Caesar during and after the invasion. The new opportunities for trade with Rome were also exploited. For the next one hundred years, ships laden with goods sailed across the English Channel to the coasts of the Roman province of Gaul.

Diodorus of Sicily described how "tin is brought in large quantities also from the island of Britain to the opposite Gaul, where it is taken by merchants on horses through the interior of Celtica both...to the city of Narbo, as it is called. This city is a colony of the Romans, and because of its convenient situation it possesses the finest market to be found in those regions".

Gold, silver, iron and other metals were exported. Grain and slaves were considered to be essential commodities by the Romans. According to Pliny hunting dogs from Britain, which were possibly Irish Wolf Hounds. were famous throughout the Roman world.

Olive oil, glass, jewellery, fine pottery and other Roman luxury goods also became fashionable. Imported Roman wine was particularly popular even among those who were anti-Roman.

Emperor Claudius ordered the invasion in the third year of his reign, in AD 43. An Emperor could secure his position and authority by adding a new province to the Empire after a military triumph. Britain's mineral wealth and other resources together with its importance as a source of grain for the Roman army also made the island an attractive proposition.

The Roman general Aulus Plautius was appointed as the new governor of Britain. He led a large invasion force across the English Channel and landed unopposed by the Celtic tribes at the mouth of the River Thames. The Roman legions then marched through southern England with little resistance. The Atrebate (Hampshire and Sussex) were among the tribes who were friendly towards Rome (Celtic tribes in Britain (BBC)).

Military forts and camps were established to ensure the continued loyalty of the native tribes. For example, Noviomagus Reginorum (modern-day Chichester) was built as a Roman fort shortly after the invasion and then became a Romano-British settlement when the legions withdrew.

Caractacus was the king of the Catuvellauni and the leader of the largest tribe in southern Britain. He resisted the invading forces as but was defeated at the River Medway. The king fled to his stronghold of Camulodunum (or modern day Colchester) which was then besieged by the Romans.

Emperor Claudius travelled to Camulodunum at the invitation of Aulus Plautius and led the final assault while riding on the back of an elephant. Caractacus fled the city in a chariot and rallied his forces in the west. The formal surrender of the eleven leaders of the Celtic tribes was accepted by Claudius before returning to Rome.

The tribal leaders in Britain were friendly or surrendered quickly to the Romans. The Celtic tribes in Britain, Gaul and the rest of Continental Europe were rarely successful in battle against a well-disciplined Roman army. Surrendering was a wise choice as they could retain their positions as tribal leaders and so keep their lands as allies of Rome. The punishment for resisting could be severe.

Caractacus was captured by the Roman governor Ostorious in AD 51 after being betrayed by Queen Cartimandua of the Brigantes, a Roman ally. The lands of Catuvellauni were confiscated and pacified and military bases were established. Caractacus and his family were taken in chains to Rome and displayed in a triumphal celebration of the conquest of Britain. Camulodunum, which was the capital of the Catuvellauni, became the first colonia or military town in Britain in AD 49.

The Celtic nobles belonged to the warrior class and were elected as leaders by their tribe. They proved their worthiness by victory in battle which in turn ensured the freedom and gratitude of their people. Their status was diminished when confronted with a seemingly unstoppable Roman invasion.

The Romans offered a means of prolonging their standing in society by bribing them with wealth and power as an ally. Adopting a Latin name, carrying out public works such as building temples or owning a villa in the country allowed them the opportunity to progress in the Roman world as they could be elected as priests or local officials. Demonstrations of their loyalty could eventually be rewarded with the prestige of becoming a Roman citizen.

For example, Tiberius Claudius Cogidubnus became a client king in southern Britain under Emperor Claudius. His Roman name indicates he was given Roman citizenship. The sumptuous Roman style palace he built at Fishbourne in AD 65 was a display of the wealth and power he amassed in a short time after the invasion. He is also mentioned in the dedication stone of the temple built to the Roman deities Neptune and Minerva in Chichester.

Temples were introduced in Gaul and the Rhineland during the reign of Augustus and normally built over the sacred shrines of local cults. Worshipper made offerings and prayers to Celtic gods and goddesses who were paired with Roman deities.

A statue of a previously unknown British Celtic goddess was found in Hertfordshire in 2003. It is thought "Senua was probably an older Celtic goddess, worshipped at a spring on the site, who was then adopted and Romanised - twinned with their goddess Minerva - by the invaders. There is a direct parallel at Bath, where the Romans seamlessly absorbed the Celtic god Sulis, and a much older shrine, into their religion" (Guardian).

The Romans preferred a wealthy and loyal, secular priesthood who worshipped a combined Roman and Celtic religion in temples. The practice of worshipping Celtic deities in the open was abandoned and the Druids were eventually outlawed by the Romans. Temples were usually built on ancient sacred Celtic shrines and were of a distinct Romano-Celtic type rather than in classical Latin style ( Roman Britain).

Emperor Augustus (27 BC to AD14) banned Roman citizens from taking part in Druidic rituals in Gaul meaning that Druids could not become Roman citizens. Emperor Tiberius (AD 14 to AD 37) took further measures by outlawing Druidism throughout the Roman Empire. Writers of the time rarely mentioned Druids and human sacrifices among the Celtic tribes once they were assimilated into the Roman Empire.

Many historians believe the actions of Caesar and the succeeding Emperors were a genuine wish to remove barbaric practices from the Celtic religion and in so doing civilise and eventually assimilate the numerous Celtic tribes in Gaul, the Rhineland and Britain.

Historians believe the numerous local cults that venerated the deities in the Celtic religion were tolerated by Roman Emperors because they were important in the daily lives of the native tribes. However, the Emperors demanded the Celtic tribes demonstrate their loyalty to Rome in return for their tolerance.

A classical style temple was built between AD 49 and AD 60 and dedicated to Emperor Claudius in Camulodunum (modern day Colchester). Tacitus wrote "Seneca jibes that, instead of aspiring to divinity, Claudius should be content with the worship of barbarians. 'Is it not enough that he has a temple in Britain, that savages worship him and pray to him as a god'".

Tacitus and other Roman writers including Julius Caesar also believed many of the Celtic deities were more or less similar to Roman gods and goddesses. Caesar referred to the Celtic gods and goddesses by their Roman names so his readers could understand their characteristics.

A new, distinct religion was created in the Celtic world which combined Celtic religious beliefs with strong Roman influences. The Celtic religion became the Romano-Celtic religion. The new religion was also used by the Romans to encourage the conquered tribes to adopt Roman values and way of life.

The Druids, who were the guardians of the Celtic religion, were singled out by the Romans because of their opposition to the introduction of the new measures and in so doing represented a political threat. They had considerable sway over the native tribes, especially tribal leaders and their warriors and had the ability to unite them. For example, several Celtic tribes gathered together to celebrate ceremonies and rituals presided over by the Druids.

Druidism was one of few religions relentlessly persecuted by the Romans. The first stage was propaganda. Julius Caesar and other writers of the time described the rituals and practices of the Druids as barbaric while maintaining the priesthood was intelligent. It seems that the propaganda was successful. The Roman view of the Druids has been accepted even in the popular imagination today.

Julius Caesar had already taken measures against the Druids in Gaul during his conquest of the region in 52 BC. The Roman writer Lucan described the destruction of the sacred groves of Massilia in modern-day southern France. He described the Roman soldiers witnessing "the barbaric gods worshipped there had their altars heaped with hideous offerings and every tree around them sprinkled with human blood".

Sacred groves were the centre of worship for a village or community as their gods and goddesses were believed to dwell there. These sacred places were usually feared by the local population and only the Druids could enter them. Julius Caesar and his soldiers were horrified by such places and destroyed them.

Emperor Claudius was said to be tolerant of other religions with the exception of Druidism mainly because he found their practice of human sacrifice repugnant. Druidism was officially banned from the Empire, including the new Roman colony of Britain, by Claudius in AD 54. He followed in the footsteps of the Emperors Augustus and Tiberius in suppressing Druidism.

The Roman writer Pliny said Emperor Claudius ordered a Romanised Celt from the Vecontian family in Gaul be put to death in Rome when it was discovered he had brought an Anguinum Ovum, or serpent's egg, to a trial. The complaint was the talisman gave an unfair advantage to those who used it and so corrupted justice. Claudius was concerned about the influences of Druidism on Rome and its citizens.

Anguinum Ovum, which is also known as the serpent's egg or adder's stone, is thought to be a mystical stone or ball of glass which the Druids of Britain and Gaul wore on their person. The legend surrounding the serpent's egg was it could be used as lucky-charm which brought success during trials in courtrooms.

The Druids in Britain would have been fully aware of Rome's hostility and the actions the Emperors had taken against them in neighbouring Gaul. Their participation in inciting unrest among the Celtic tribes was understandable. They encouraged the rebellion of AD 60 against the despised Roman governor Caius Suetonius Paullinus who had been carrying out a military campaign in their heartland of Wales.