INVASION: Late summer AD 43 – Following the initial invasion of Britain, the Roman emperor, Claudius, arrived to symbolically lead his army to victory. In August, the Romans captured Camulodunum (Colchester), which was the capital of the powerful Catuvellauni tribe. With the whole of south east Britain overrun, eleven British kings made their submission to the Roman invaders. Aulus Plautius, commander of the invasion force, was appointed first Roman governor of Britain, but the majority of the island would not be pacified for at least another 50 years. This heavy bronze helmet dates from the first century AD and was found at Hawkedon in Suffolk. It would have originally had a tinned surface, giving it a shiny silver appearance. The wearers face would have been encased in an intricate hinged mask with eye-guards. The nearest place to Hawkedon that gladiators are likely to have fought was Camulodunum, the leading town of the province in the first century AD, and just 20 miles away from where this helmet was found.
Posted on: Wed, 28 May 2014 09:30:00 +0000
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