In AD 43 the Emperor Claudius sent an army of about 40,000 men under Aulus Plautius across the Channel to conquer Britain, giving himself a military triumph, which he needed to bolster his position. After defeating British tribes at the Medway and the Thames, Claudius himself arrived to receive the surrender of eleven kings at Camulodunum (Colchester) and brought elephants. Britain became the province of Britannia, with London founded as a trading town. Rome held southern Britain for nearly four centuries, until the legions left around 410.
Before and after
- 15 December 37 CEBirth of Nero
- 30 December 39 CEBirth of Titus
- 24 January 41 CEDeath of Caligula
- 42 CEOrigins of Coptic Orthodox Church
- 43 CERome invades Britain
- c. 47 CEOrigins of London
- 48 CEPublication of Epistle to the Galatians
- 1st centuryConstruction of Pont du Gard
- 1st centuryConstruction of Garni Temple
More in Wars, politics & history
- from 499 BCE to 449 BCEGreco-Persian Wars
- from 431 BCE to 404 BCEPeloponnesian War
- 335 BCEAlexander the Great crosses into Asia
- from 218 BCE to 201 BCESecond Punic War
- 217 BCEHannibal destroys the Roman army at Cannae
- from 59 BCE to 51 BCECaesar begins the conquest of Gaul
The era
This moment belongs to the Ancient civilizations (3,200 BCE to 500 CE), writing, cities and empires. You can also browse everything in the 1st century.