Although Caesar himself wrote a report on his invasion, the details of many of his battles have puzzled historians and researchers for hundreds of years.
Julius Caesar invaded Britain more than 2,000 years ago. In fact, the famous Roman conqueror launched two invasions from his base in Gaul.
The first landings were made in the late summer of 55 BC. Arriving with only two legions, he established a beachhead, but was forced to withdraw his army before winter arrived.
The following year's invasion involved five legions with a total strength of at least 25,000 men, as well as an unknown number of cavalry, auxiliary units, and slaves. In the second campaign, he captured the capital of the warlord Cassivellaunus and his Catuvellauni tribe, in what is now Hertfordshire.
However, although Caesar himself had first-hand accounts of his British invasion, the details of many of his battles have puzzled historians and researchers for centuries. Here begin to answer all the questions about the general's life on the shores of England.
Adapted from the story of Julius Caesar's army landing in England in the 1st century BC.
Where is the "Marching Camp"?
Perhaps the most confusing mystery is the location of the Romans' makeshift marching camp.
The camps were built by the Roman army as temporary defensive bases, and the distance between them was about a day's marching distance. They also serve as supply depots for the logistical needs of the army. They are usually built by moving armies. After a day of marching, the troops will complete the construction of the barracks before dark. Each legionnaire carried a defensive tool and was assigned to an area around the perimeter to dig trenches and build barriers.
Despite centuries of searching, no evidence has been found that Caesar built fortifications while crossing the south of England.
Are these ridges in the forest near Loveton all remnants of Roman walls from 54 BC?
After years of investigation, especially in the late 16th, early 17th and 19th centuries, folk traditions have gradually passed down. However, although Caesar himself wrote a report of his invasion, no evidence was found.
There was a detailed study that for the first time determined the location of the temporary marching camp. There were four of them, one day away from the other.
Remains of Roman marching camps have been found in southwestern Canterbury, Dangwood on the Stuhl River, Kensley near Sitimbourne, North Kent, East Tilbury, across the River Thames in Essex, and Camp Lotton in Epping Forest, Essex.
A map showing the believed location of Caesar's marching fortress in 55 BC and the location of the crossing point of his legion on the River Thames
Where did Caesar's army cross the River Thames?
Another mystery involves the location of Caesar's army across the River Thames.
The site where Caesar's army waded across the river is now identified as East Tilbury in the lower Londons. This crossroads has always been thought to be in the London area, probably because, overall, the upper reaches of the River Thames are relatively narrow. However, Caesar wrote, "The River Thames can only pass in one place, and it is difficult to pass." This effectively excludes the location of the London area as a crossroads, as there are many ferries around London today, of course before the construction of the in the 19th century.
However, there was a ferry crossing in the lower East Tilbury of the Thames river before 2,000 years ago, which was undoubtedly negotiable, although Caesar wrote that it was difficult.
Fascinatingly, when we map the marching camp grounds, the Thames Ferry crossing, and Kathy Fraunus's headquarters, they are all in a straight line. Therefore, when the line goes back to the coast, it is possible to determine the location of the coastal landing
Roman troops landed in the south of England
Where did Caesar's army come ashore?
Surprisingly, it was Dover, but everyone thought it wise that Caesar did not land near the famous White Cliffs during the second invasion, as local defenders could use these heights to repel the invaders. This was what happened during the first invasion in 55 BC.
But Caesar cautions that in the Second Campaign of 54 BC the Britons had fled the coast after seeing the Roman army having such a large force in this campaign. The fact that Caesar mentions this clearly shows that he was explaining that he was indeed able to make a second landing in Dover in 54 BC and that it was safe to do so.
The discoveries also included identifying the location of the war between the ancient Roman army and the ancient Britons, which began when Caesar's legions were out in search of grain. According to Caesar, the Britons swooped down on them "from all sides" in chariots. This place can be found in Chatham Downs, south of Canterbury.
The detailed study is, including a complete analysis of the two invasions of 55 and 54 BC. It also contains a plausible analysis of the most likely location, Portus Itius, named by Caesar as the port of northern Gaul, where troops landed in Britain.
Caesar's English expedition was only temporary, but the Romans would make a comeback in the 1st century AD. This is a royal coin minted in London more than 200 years later
Did Caesar accomplish his mission?
Whether the invasion was successful or not has been a topic of debate over the years. Based on the goals set by Caesar, my research considered the extent to which the Romans succeeded.
Those who argue that the invasion was a failure point out that both invasions were temporary and that the Romans did not immediately and permanently occupy the island. However, in his own description of these battles, Caesar did not once say that he wanted to occupy LinkedIn country permanently. Instead, what he wrote was that his goal was to punish the local population for supporting them in the war between the Gaul (now French) tribes and Rome, and to ensure that they would not provide aid to the Gauls in the future.
During the invasion of 55 BC, Caesar believed that only two legions would be enough to achieve his goal of suppressing the Britons. In fact, he received assurances from the Tribes of Britain that they would not attack the Romans. However, the natives proved treacherous, and when Caesar landed, they attacked his army. In addition, bad luck hindered the first invasion. A great storm destroyed many of his ships, and as a result of this storm, the ships with cavalry were forced to return to Gaul, which caused Caesar to lose his cavalry, which was an essential part of his army.
Despite this, the Roman army succeeded in defeating the local tribes, and Caesar returned to Gaul before winter came. Based on his experience with the first invasion, he drew up plans for a large-scale invasion of troops for the following year, 54 BC.
So far, there have been various theories about the location of Caesar's landings and the route to the south of England, especially scholars who have expressed surprise that Caesar's temporary marching camp has never been discovered. Detailed research has shown that those who look for evidence based on Caesar's invasion of Britain are in the wrong place.
Shortly after Caesar invaded England, the whole of Gaul (now France and Belgium) became a province of Rome, and all of Britain's trade with the European continent was effectively with the Romans. As a result, Britain became increasingly Romanized during the claudius invasion in 43 AD, which led to a permanent Roman occupation of England.