The first recorded incursions onto British soil by a Roman force were led by
in 55 and 54 BC, respectively. While no permanent occupation began at this time, it led the way for the eventual invasion nearly a century later.
That invasion came at the order of Emperor
in 43 AD, when Roman General
became the first Governor of the new Roman Province of Britannia. Amongst his officers was another, future Emperor of Rome who would rule from 69 to 79 AD. His name was
.
The occupation of Britain was met with fierce resistance by King
and the Catuvellauni tribe, who resisted the Roman incursion for over 10 years before finally fleeing to the territory of Celtic Queen
of the Brigantes, who captured him and turned him over to the Romans, who executed him.
More resistance came from the Iceni Queen
, who mounted an insurrection in 60 and 61 AD. She led the British tribes to great victories, destroying Camulodunum, Londinium and Verulamium along with upwards of 80,000 foes. But the Roman Governor
was able to regroup the Roman forces and ultimately quell the uprising. This victory helped Emperor
with his decision to maintain the Roman presence in Britannia.
A few years later in 77 AD,
was appointed as Governor of Britannia. He began a campaign of conquest, securing what is today Wales and Northern England, and even pushing into Scotland. His tenure as governor ended in the year 85 AD, when Emperor
recalled him to Rome.
Over 50 years later, another Roman emperor visited British soil when
arrived in 122 AD, following the suppression of another uprising that was put down by Governor
. In an effort to defend Britannia's northern border from unconquered Caledonia, the emperor ordered the construction of a wall with fortifications that extended 117.5 km (79 mi) from Wallsend on the River Tyne in the east to Bowness-on-Solway in the west of what is now northern England.
Two other significant instances to highlight in the remaining 300 years of Roman occupation in Britain include: the campaign by Emperor
from 208 to 210 AD, who made a concerted effort to conquer Caledonia to the north, and only stopped when he fell ill; and the decision by a Roman general to declare himself Emperor
in 407 AD, resulting in his withdrawal of the Roman forces in Britannia to support his efforts. This effectively marked the end of the Roman occupation of Britain within a few short years.
