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ENGLAND
In England I found the terrible thing about admitting being English was the Xenophobia, that exuded from every pore of people supporting England both in sport and in general. The sports people themselves I could contend with but the fans coupled with the ‘Flag of St. George’, which had been taken up by fascists who seek to envelope anything remotely English in it. I simple could not bring myself to support England in any sport. As a personal 'answer' I latched on to my Welsh heritage from my Nain's side, my Dads mum from Conwy. This had strictly unintended personal consequences for as soon as I mentioned supporting Wales in Rugby, the change in attitudes were palpable certainly at work. It brought out reactions not all of which I'd say were simply to generate a response, the worst aspect was a family one as I would hate to think that my zealous Welsh support should alienate anyone from my Welsh relatives. I'd had small examples from Welsh Relatives of being the English Cousin, which I accepted easily enough as I lived in England. While still living in England my consideration of life in Wales, was of involvement in Welsh life as a natural chance to further my ideas. I paid scant heed to any potential change, in my attitude to being predominately English. Or to the perspective of an English Republic. Here is my 1st concerted stab at it, though my considerations have been germinating for some time.
Thomas Paine
As a republican socialist Thomas Paine is the founding father of Republicanism with his work Common Sense, and also Socialism with his work Rights of Man.
ANCIENT HISTORY
IRON AGE
ROMAN INVASION
26th – 31st August 55BC
Julius Caesar attempted to invade Britain
Julius Caesar crossed the Channel with a force of around 10,000 soldiers. They landed at Deal and were met by a force of Britons. The Romans took the beach and waited for cavalry to arrive from France. But a storm prevented them from reaching Britain, and Caesar had to withdraw.
July – Sept 54BC
Julius Caesar’s
2nd Invasion
of Britain
Julius Caesar crossed the Channel with a force of around 27,000 infantry & cavalry. They again landed at Deal and were unopposed, the Britons had retreated to higher ground. The Romans marched inland and met a large force of Britons led by Cassivellaunus, north of the River Thames. After a hard battle the Romans defeated the Britons, and some tribal leaders surrendered to the Romans. Cassivellaunus ordered crops to be burned and made guerrilla attacks on Roman Forces. But the Romans were too strong and Cassivellaunus was forced to surrender. In September Caesar was forced to return to Gaul [France] to deal with problems there and the Romans left Britain.
Roman influence increased
54BC – 43AD
Although not present in Britain, the influence of the Romans increased due to trade links.
5 AD
Cymbeline
Cymbeline, King of the Catuvellauni tribe, was acknowledged by Rome to be King of Britain.
Romans Invaded Britain
May 43AD
A Roman force of about 40,000 led by Aulus Plautius landed in Kent.
They defeated a force of Britons led by Caratacus and began taking the South-East of Britain. Caratacus escaped and fled to Wales, where he set up a resistance base
Autumn 43 AD
Claudius arrived with reinforcements
43 – 47AD
Conquest of the South
The Roman emperor Claudius arrived in Britain with reinforcements. Colchester (Camulodunum) was taken and eleven tribal Kings surrendered to the Romans. Claudius appointed Aulus Plautius Governor of Britain before returning to Rome.
The Romans continued their conquest and by 47 AD had conquered the whole of South Britain and claimed Britain as part of the Roman Empire.
47 – 50 AD
London Founded
London (Londinium) was founded and a bridge built across the river Thames. A network of roads was built across the south of Britain.
51 AD
Caratacus defeated
and captured
Caratacus’ guerrilla force was joined by other tribes who resisted Roman conquest, and confronted the Romans near the River Severn. However, Caratacus was defeated. He escaped again and sought shelter with the Brigantes tribe. However their Queen, Cartimandua betrayed him to the Romans. Caratacus, his family and other rebels were taken prisoner and sent to Rome. In Rome Caratacus was pardoned by Claudius and allowed to live out his days in Italy.
60 – 61 AD
Boudicca leads revolt against the Romans
Prasatugas, King of the Iceni tribe who had signed a peace treaty with the Romans, died. His wife, Boudicca intended to honour the treaty, but after the local Roman authorities seized Prasatugas’s property and raped his two daughters, Boudicca retaliated by signing a treaty with Trinovantes who were hostile to the Romans. Boudicca is said to have been very tall with striking red hair that hung to her hips. Her army of Iceni tribesmen and women captured and burned Colchester, London, St Albans and caused the governor of Britain, Suetonius Paulinus, to raise the biggest force he could. Boudicca’s army were eventually cornered and massacred. Boudicca poisoned herself to evade capture.
63 AD
Joseph of Arimathea visited Britain
Joseph of Arimathea, one of Jesus’s disciples, was sent to Britain to convert the people to Christianity.
75 – 77 AD
Roman Conquest of Britain completed
The Romans defeated the last of the resistant tribes in the North making all of Britain Roman.
Life in Roman Britain
77 – 400 AD
Under Roman rule the Britons adopted Roman customs, law, religion. Many were taken by the Romans as slaves. The Romans built many roads, towns, bath houses and buildings. Trade and industry flourished under Roman rule.
79 AD
Agricola invaded Scotland
The Governor of Britain, Agricola, attempted to conquer Scotland for Rome but was unsuccessful.
122 AD
Hadrian’s Wall built
The Emperor Hadrian visited Britain and ordered that a wall be built between England and Scotland to keep the rebellious Scottish tribes out. Construction of the wall began in 122 and was completed by 139.
142 AD
Antonine Wall Built
The Romans made another attempt to conquer southern Scotland and after making some gains, built another wall across the land between the Forth and the Clyde. It was abandoned in 160AD.
216 AD
Britain Divided into 2 Provinces
In order to better control Britain the Romans divided the land into two provinces. The South was known as Britannia Superior and the North Britannia Inferior. {The Romans thus Create The North / South Divide?}
260 – 274 AD
The Gallic Empire
The Roman general Postumus rebelled against Rome and established himself as Emperor of France (Gaul) and Britain (Britannia)
22nd June 304 AD
St. Alban Martyred
Alban became the first Christian Martyr in Britain. The Emperor Diocletian ordered that all Christians should be persecuted. St Alban, a recent convert to Christianity changed places with a local priest who was wanted by the Romans. When he was discovered he was executed at Verulamium (St Albans).
312 AD
Christianity the official religion of the Empire
The Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity and made Christianity legal throughout the Roman Empire.
360s AD
Attacks from Picts, Scots, Franks, Saxons
Roman Britain was attacked by tribal groups of Picts, Scots, Franks and Saxons. Reinforcements were sent to Britain and the attacks were repelled.
388 – 400 AD
Romans begin to
leave Britain
The Roman Empire was being attacked by many different barbarian tribes and soldiers stationed in Britain were recalled to Rome
410 AD
Last Romans
leave Britain
All Romans had been recalled to Rome and the Emperor Honorious told the people of Britain that they no longer had a connection to Rome and that they should defend themselves.
500 AD
Ambrosius Aurelianus – British warlord
Ambrosius Aurelianus was a British warlord who commanded the victorious Britons at the Battle of Mons Badonicus. The Saxons had pushed the Britons further and further west unchecked until this battle.
The story of King Arthur dates from this period.
A Beaker pot from a grave in East Yorkshire, showing the characteristic bell shape and decorations made by impressions into the surface © Wetwang Garton Slack
Stonehenge
Stonehenge
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