Who Was the First Roman to Conquer Britain?

[@HankD13]

"I Claudius" was brilliant and told his story amazingly well. Derek Jacobi rocks.

[@johnwarr7552]

Robert Graves Rocked :-)

[@cameronmeikle6766]

@@HankD13 aye they were great at writing their owns history lol

[@JohnnieAshton]

@@cameronmeikle6766 Er Robert Graves, was an English Poet? No Romans involved in writing ~I Claudius~ It is a brilliant exposition of looking afresh at History and putting pieces together that fit the outcome, not the accepted narrative. If you read Tacitus and Suetonius, you will find they didn't think Claudius was up tp the job. Graves says, hey this supposed dim wit actually ruled successfully for 13 years, How? Because he played the dimwith when needed? May I humbly suggest you read up on Claudius, from the original Latin sources, and also watch the brilliant Derek Jacobi playing the fool?

[@patmanchester8045]

that is how I figured it out, too.

[@gaugeray7462]

Great show. Mesmerizing.

[@paladin56]

Gluteus Maximus. He came, he saw, he sat down.

[@annecarter5181]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@BTL6666]

Stultus est! Tu adducendum!!!

[@yodaz101]

No, you idiot ...but funny 🤣🤣🤣

[@yodaz101]

AHAHAHA.......😂😂😂😂😂

[@michaelmoorrees3585]

and according to Life of Brian, his buddy, Biggus Dickus.

[@famebrightstudio451]

I've never hated humanity so much. Thanks! The guy spouting early celtic mythology as history was very special.

[@petergibson2318]

It could be Biblical mythology as well "There were Giants in the earth in those days." (Genesis 6:4 King James Version.)

[@amogorkon]

Well, he did stick to his story 😛

[@Immopimmo]

The guy was just making stuff up, I can respect that. It's better than just guessing and getting it wrong.

[@rexmyers991]

Very interesting - even for an American.

[@098anne]

Has NOBODY watched “I, Claudius”??!

[@alanjones7815]

Apparently not😊

[@kevinjohnbetts]

I remember it being first broadcast! Derek Jacobi in the titular role was simply brilliant.

[@lizzieh5284]

Brilliant series. I rewatched it recently.

[@123bwlch]

Romand did nothing for England or english people because the place did not excist in any form until the 5th century

[@kevinjohnbetts]

@@123bwlchEngland, as a geographical entity, existed just as much as Germany. If you wish to argue that the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes had no contact with the Romans then I am afraid you have not studied history in the appropriate depth. If you are conflating the English with the British it's even worse!

[@ripvanwinkle2002]

easy! it was Biggus Dickus!

[@davidsullivan7743]

He has a wife you know

[@mairiconnell6282]

@@ripvanwinkle2002 😂 😂

[@benchapple1583]

I think that it was actually Woderik.

[@PH_1964]

​@benchapple1583 😂

[@PH_1964]

😂

[@csipawpaw7921]

By Dr Elliot's prior definition of invasion vs incursion, Agricola's invasion of the north was just an incursion as he did not stay. So no one Roman ever conquered all of Britain! But Claudius was responsible for conquering most of Britain.

[@OptimusPrinceps_Augustus]

@@csipawpaw7921 Emperor Domitian had Agricola recalled out of reasons of jealousy according Agricola's son in law Tacitus

[@OptimusPrinceps_Augustus]

@@csipawpaw7921 The Emperor Flavius Vespasianus was in the invasion and conquest of Britain under Emperor Claudius as an legionary commander, years before he became Caesar.

[@the_dark_braga2190]

All I remember of High School Latin was the work agricola meant "farmer."🤔

[@susanb8354]

I watched I Claudius years ago and I thought I remembered that he conquered Britain. In my opinion, I Claudius is the best thing that was ever on TV, which is saying a lot in the face of Masterpiece Theatre, not to mention all the mystery TV series like Midsomer Murders, and the situation comedies, Are You Being Served was my first, I think. I believed I Claudius offered employment to everyone who lived on this island. If you watched the credits of I Claudius you’d think so too. Unbelievable number of people involved in making it and incredible cast.

[@OptimusPrinceps_Augustus]

Logical conclusion indeed

[@bobkoroua]

I have to comment 😂. Not sure I can take your ranking seriously when "are you being served" is in the same bag. To each their own I guess.

[@X-boomer]

@@bobkorouaI, Claudius was absolutely magnificent. BBC historical drama at its very best, despite the very limited budget.

[@bobkoroua]

@@X-boomer I think you missed my jab but thanks for the recommendation.

[@X-boomer]

@@bobkoroua no I did see it, but it wasn’t me who composed that list. I’m no fan of lowbrow “nob joke” TV situation comedy from any decade. I’m just here to speak up for “I, Claudius”.

[@draoi99]

Claudius. Though Caesar came here on holiday.

[@JackBlack-gh5yf]

CLAVDIVS, as we used to call him (when I was at skool nearly 50 years ago) 😁

[@bvyup2112]

yup, kind of a trick. Caesar landed first, Claudius conquered first. Good ol Claudius the "idiot"

[@sherlockcooms7777]

​@@bvyup2112 Imagine having a lisp and you're kind of a nerd and fearing for you life until one day, the guards start doing everyone like the end of goodfellas, then they find your goofy ass behind a curtain and say "you're the captain now", I find the 'dullards' of history to be fascinating (he is the same guy who raised Caligula and supposedly had little boys swimming around him in the pool... so an evil dullard.. chaos dullard?)

[@richardscanlan3419]

best answer.

[@kennyshortcake999]

Twice

[@ShazWag]

Wow, what an amazing explanation. I learnt so much.

[@jarlborg1531]

Claudius, of course!

[@OptimusPrinceps_Augustus]

By Jove you're correct!

[@davidwright7193]

I am surprised you found someone who thought that Geoffrey of Monmouth was an accurate source.

[@vortimer2351]

...though they've confused his made up Trojan Brutus with the real Roman Brutus. They know some obscure stuff, but not the relatively easy.... Like someone who can attempt a souffle without being able to hardboil an egg!

[@rocktapperrobin9372]

Though he got it wrong. Brutus, according to ol’ Geoffrey, was not a Roman but the first Briton and if you read the entire text, the Romans never conquered Britain at all, they just popped over from time to time on request to help the Britons out

[@paulspeedy4704]

Agricola conquered the half of Britain that Claudius had not conquered. You can't fill the top half of a glass of water until the bottom half has been filled , so Claudius was the first to conquer Britain.

[@JohnnieAshton]

That's my take as well. No Clau, Clau, Claudius, no Conquest of Britain.

[@xhagast]

Yes, but she asked who was the FIRST to get in boats and go over there.

[@RasheedahNizam]

​@@xhagast was that the question?

[@xhagast]

@@RasheedahNizam Listen to her before she starts asking people.

[@adeliomoro2069]

​ Such record happened thanks tò the Scottish and apparently the English keep punishing them for that since

[@daemonartursson5952]

Due to Simon Scarrow's Eagles series of books . .i thought it was Aulus Platus ( with help from Macro and Cato and their CO Vespasian ) l. Very enjoyable video. Thanks

[@youtubeyoutube936]

Macro what a guy. What went wrong with Cato's wife Julia? It must have been that feminist dance class

[@daemonartursson5952]

@@youtubeyoutube936 difference in class. She didn't know it but she was beneath Cato.

[@djowen5192]

Fishus Chipus.

[@janetmalcolm6191]

😂

[@enkisdaughter4795]

It was Clavdivs, bless him. Absolutely loved Sir Derek Jacobi in I, Clavdivs.

[@OptimusPrinceps_Augustus]

Clau Clau....

[@dulciemidwinter1925]

​@@OptimusPrinceps_AugustusOdd comment! Lost in translation, or just stupid?

[@grovermartin6874]

This slice of hostory was so well fleshed out. Truly entertaining, time well spent!

[@CrankyGrandma]

“They had slavery”. Dude. Through history until modern times just about everyone had slavery.

[@OptimusPrinceps_Augustus]

Logical conclusion

[@RC-fm6bj]

what a knob. woke knob.

[@B-A-L]

Shhh , don't tell the African Americans that!

[@charttrenelogan635]

@@B-A-Lyour sheet is showing black people know and understand that slavery existed. But what people who like to you refuse to acknowledge is that what was practiced during then was not on a global scale and was not the same as chattel slavery. The slavery created and practiced on black people was created specifically and only for the color of a persons skin. Not through conquests of war. Then with other cultures before chattel slavery you were able to be integrated within the society you earned your freedom and were a citizen. You could marry be paid for your work still be allowed to move freely within the society. You were not enslaved because of the Color of your skin. Your children had the chance to be born free.So don’t pretend that black people didn’t or don’t know the difference on what was done to us as a whole. The chattel slavery practiced was done with cruelty and precision and then church even got in on the debasement to profit on the depravity. Please remove your sheet it seems to be preventing you from reading a book😮

[@MyRackley]

@@charttrenelogan635 Uh-oh! Someone's done a degree in Sociology . . .

[@DanielFerguson-l2u]

It's got to be Agricola, because he led the Army to the farthest north of the island of Britain, but he was not the Emperor of Rome but only the agent of the ruler Domitian. He was recalled by Domitian who was jealous of Agricola's success, & not allowed a Triumphal entry into Rome. The conquest of the north was desirable, to 'complete' it geographically & logically, but it also was to ensure peace, by ending the raids by the northern tribes into the Province, & removing the focus for rebellion. The earlier invasion is named Claudian because Claudius was the Emperor who instigated it, through the Governor Aulus Plautius. The Emperor, like a King, does not have to personally take part in an action by his deputies or army to be able to claim it. The number of Roman troops in Britain was not due to the threat posed by the Britons, but mostly based on the size of the forces available. The invasion force of 4 Legions, supported by a similar number of Auxiliaries in Cohorts of infantry, cavalry , & mixed units, was large enough for initial success, but was reduced before long to 3 Legions, with a corresponding reduction in Auxiliary numbers also. After this the Army, or at least the number of units, both Legions & Auxiliary Cohorts, remains constant, & in place within Britain, which suggests it was more or less adequate for the task it was meant to do, that is maintain the peace, resist & repel hostile forces, & make advances into unconquered territory through punitive raids. Occasionally the army in Britain was augmented by additional forces. This was essentially for specific reasons, very little to do with problems within the British Province itself. Firstly, Britain was a convenient place to send new draughts of Auxiliaries, of uncertain loyalty, because it was far from their homelands &, as an island, isolated so that any hint of mutiny could be nipped in the bud. It was also necessary occasionally to augment the forces within Britain, as all sitting armies are likely to degrade over time & a fresh injection of manpower can counter this. An example of this is the posting to the Province of a large number (5000?) of Sarmatians by Emperor Marcus Aurelius, in the 170's. Inscriptions mentioning such troops have survived at Ribchester fort where some of these were in garrison, but they could not have all been in this single site, as the Romans would never keep such a large force together, for fear of mutiny, but also because troops had to be spread around for resource & logistical reasons. These Sarmatians were most likely cavalry, which would be usefully employed in patrolling the Pennine hills etc. At times when a concerted effort was to be made to complete the conquest of the whole island by a drive to the limits of the north, usually led by an Emperor in person, then many extra troops came along, just for the prestige of Rome & glory of the Emperor. This would include units of the Praetorian Guard, & the Emperors personal bodyguards, then extra Legions, & as well as any other troops or allies that the Emperor fancied. This was mostly for display, these extra troops usually left the Province with the Emperor, if not before him, so had very little effect on the regular operation of the army in Britain. At a very late stage in the Roman occupation 'rescue' expeditions came into Britain, under the Magister Stilicho etc, including 'Legions' , actually by this time late in the 4th century, units of the mobile army of Commitatenses, which would also leave as soon as possible once immediate emergency had been dealt with. The conquest & continued occupation of Britain was NOT to do primarily with resources, minerals & financial gain, because the Province even at the best of times was probably at net loss to Rome, & could barely support the Army kept there to hold on to it. No, it was to do with pushing sources of revolt ever further away by absorbing new areas & peoples until, at the end of the island all resistance was ended & the whole could be prosperously at peace. Then there was imperial prestige to consider. Emperors had to display leadership, & the most Roman way to do this was through successful military actions, & conquests. Very little thought seems tohave been given in this regard to the cost of such adventures, except the idea that they could undertake them in the first place.

[@DW-nb2zc]

So kinda like Australia

[@davejlh4988]

If you were to ask this question in Scotland I would expect the answer to be none of them!

[@Krolose_hill]

Exactly, the question wasn't "Which Roman Emperor was the first to hold territory in Britain?" was it!

[@CompleteClassics.]

Answer would still be agricola

[@paladin56]

@@davejlh4988 However, the Romans did conquer a large proportion of Scotland, hence the Antonine wall. Apparently, they didn't think conquering the rest of it was worth the effort.

[@Cruithneach]

​@@paladin56That's one theory

[@musik102]

Did Claudius actually visit Britain?

[@occamraiser]

All my late Republic / Early Empire Roman history is courtesy of the BBC's astonishingly good 'I Claudius'. So, the first invasion of Britain was by 'the Devine Julius' shortly before 'I Claudius' starts - which will have been sometime around year 10 (?). Then, subsequently Claudius went and recaptured Britain - sucessfully and comprehensively - using elephants. (Although I believe that being historically accurate, Claudius didn't invade, he simply joined the campaign once it had been a success - Emperors can't afford to be seen to fail!)

[@frglee]

Julius Caesar's incursion in Britain was in 54BC. There were three emperors between Julius Caesar and Claudius (Augustus, Tiberius and Caligula). Claudius invaded and conquered Britain in 43AD, some 88 years later. Within 5 years the Romans had conquered much of the south-east of England up to the Fosse Way, but it took 4 decades to hold the rest of England and Wales, along with a chunk of Scotland. ( source: wiki 'Roman Conquest of Britain')

[@zedeyejoe]

Claudius for me. As he took the first part of Britain. Without that base, the other conquests could not have happened.

[@FinlayMacintyre-ti9li]

Derek Jacobi

[@penneyburgess5431]

Yes!😂

[@kristinepauwels4086]

Good answer ! Still keep the whole series of I Claudius. Great actors.

[@OptimusPrinceps_Augustus]

🌿😂🌿👍

[@peterdollins3610]

Claudies as Robert Graves lays out in 'I Claudius' into 'Claudius the God.'

[@Jared7873]

But who got the seashells? Little Boots!

[@williamrobinson7435]

Thanks all! Most people are fooled by Julius and Hadrian as they built stuff. I know I was. Really interesting! Good this. 🌟👍

[@marsspacex6065]

I think about the Roman Empire all the time and also the Roman republic.😊

[@OptimusPrinceps_Augustus]

🌿😃🌿

[@nicholasjones7312]

The oversized legionary fortress and amphitheatre at Chester (and it’s location in the North West) gives credence to the theory that Chester was going to be the Roman capital of Britain, strategically located at the Centre of the UK (including Ireland and Scotland, but those were never conquered).

[@ericconnor8251]

Yes, though the Scottish Lowlands beyond Hadrian’s Wall were conquered multiple times by the Romans who not only built towns there but also another great wall, the Antonine Wall. Obviously they only invaded the Scottish Highlands under General Agricola in the late 1st century AD, but never held the region like the Scottish Lowlands.

[@warrenstanford7240]

Live just up the road from Chester, there is a theory that the amphitheater was the legendary Camelot of King Arthur. 🤔🤷🏻‍♂️

[@fredginger1969]

they would have use it as a starting point to conquer Ireland. However Hadrian stopped the expansion and started to consolidate his empire.

[@Rwthless1]

Caesar entered on his head a helmet on each foot a sandal in his hand he held a trusty sword to boot They didn't do punctuation back then.

[@kevincasey5035]

Another brilliant video Louise!

[@MaBer-67391]

According to the book Claudius The God, Claudius invaded Britain because he wanted to stamp out Druidism in Gaul, and the Druid priests were getting their training in Britain. Also, the new king in Britain treated Claudius very disdainfully in public correspondence, and Claudius had to declare war or be viewed by other Romans as weak. Later in the campaign, Claudius personally oversaw command of the Roman army.

[@rowangliveathleticsblog6186]

Biggus Dickus did it first. But actually it was Julius Caeser followed by Claudius.

[@paulbennett4415]

I CLAVDIVS brilliantly portrayed by Derek Jacobi🎭

[@ThePyramidone]

The question "Who was the first Roman to conquer Britain?" is complicated" The answer is that Septimius Severus completed the conquest of what they considered Britain. Britain was "conquered" or occupied in stages. Julius Caesar's incursions put Britannia on the Roman map. Gaius Caligula only imagined that he did. Claudius established the province and completed the first phase of the conquest, with subsequent province governors expanding the conquests north and westward. Hadrian was in Britain in 122 AD. He initiated the famous wall but most of his "conquering" was done on the European mainland. Septimius Severus traveled to Britain in 208 AD and completed the invasion of Scotland occupying Hadrian's and the lesser-known Antonine Walls, dying in York in 211 AD. I might remind those who cite "I, Claudius" and "Claudius, the God" that these were very well-written historical novels by Robert Graves in 1934 & 1935 respectively. According to Wikipedia, Graves wrote the novels after completing a translation of Suetonius' and Tacitus' work from that era and after experiencing a dream from Claudius asking that his story be told.

[@OptimusPrinceps_Augustus]

Caligula would have blushed

[@cynicaldodgyknees6248]

Amongst the serious academic discourse here, Monty Python just had to feature. So funny.😂

[@KarlaWagnerEU]

First name that came to mind for the first Roman to conquer Britain was Rory Williams. But we learned about the lot in History class when we were about 10. It wasn't black & white. Fascinating... thank you for presenting this !

[@kaspiller89]

I love these videos.

[@Pyjamaslug]

The guy with the giants and calling britain after brutus is just one epic mega-troll! Completely dead pan too, absolute classic.

[@terryhunt2659]

Yes. He was completely off the ball, since of course Brutus was a Trojan who lived well before Rome arose (though his [great?] grandfather Aeneas of Troy had settled in Italy and his descendents would eventually create Rome). Brutus landed in Albion, at Totnes (where today a stone in Fore Street marks the spot), and defeated the giant Gogmagog (descendant of Alebion, son of Poseidon), as anyone in Totnes will tell you.

[@jaggy-snake]

He’s not a troll he’s a flat earther crypto bro

[@TheSgtsMess]

Sir Derek Jacobi

[@peterburgess5974]

The Roman period in the history of these islands is fascinating. I can't remember which comic annual my parent's bought me one Christmas, but a 'history' cartoon strip within it illustrated Caesar's incursion and pictured Caesar near the beach having a picnic (The Picnic Incursion). Ever since I remember that image and I chuckled again when I watched your presentation. Thanks. Ad altiora!

[@andylongmore6697]

The comic annual you referred to come from sections of the commando comic series.

[@peterburgess5974]

@@andylongmore6697 I actually thought it was the 'Sparky'.

[@andylongmore6697]

@peterburgess5974 the commando comic books did series issues every now an then. They put these historic storyline into sections bronze,silver,gold.

[@gullsrus]

Brilliant,I really enjoyed this, things from school ( long ago) are Refresh in my head thank you

[@Segalmed]

My first thought would be Claudius as the official claimant, unless we get technical in that it was not him personally but his generals and that the Romans never controlled the entirety. If we go for maximum extension one could go with Nero or *Domitian* since iirc under these two expeditions were sent into Scotland. So, without having yet watched the video my bets are on a) Claudius (province established) and b) Domitian (formally greatest extension of said province).

[@-NovaRoma.]

I think that it was undeniably Claudius he enstablished the province ( as you said ) and he conquered most of the most of the province and it's not dometian because there is no good reasons supporting him he had the province at it's greatest extent and?

[@davidsullivan7743]

Surely, Septimius Severus' campaigns of 208-2011 AD in what is now Scotland extended the provinces of Britannia to their furthest extent?

[@-NovaRoma.]

@@davidsullivan7743 you're right but they didn't last that long

[@winstonelston5743]

Does nobody else remember _CARRY ON, CLEO_ ? "My Da was Ethelred! "Ethered the Unready" "Oh! He was always ready, So me Mum said."

[@olavl8827]

More about Boudicca please.

[@MsMary957]

It was Claudius, but I really want to hear about these indigenous giants that came before. I haven’t heard about them.

[@ElSasser2007]

No Roman ever conquered the whole of Britain… That’s why Hadrian’s and later the Antonine Walls were built. Julius Caesar first won a war of conquest IN (Southern) Britain; but he just wanted to pacify the British Celts to stop them helping the continental ones. Later, Claudius sent his legions to conquer and occupy the island; they never penetrated the far North, but we generally speak of the Claudian campaigns as the Roman conquest of Britain.

[@Dainichi_Nyorai]

Antonine wall was built after Hadrian's wall

[@ElSasser2007]

@@Dainichi_Nyorai Thanks, I’ll correct my comment!

[@Ifoldforweed]

you are wrong, they didnt conquer scotland. it would be same, when a French citizen says, the germanic tribes never got fully conquered. True, but the French/ gaulish got wasted. If we are truely honest the celts didnt get the land back, the danes took over in South GB.

[@Grendel650]

It was proposed that they held the whole of Britain for around six months. A moot point, perhaps? 😉

[@ElSasser2007]

@@Grendel650 The Romans NEVER held the whole of Britain; they never penetrated what we now call Scotland far enough.

[@gregorysiegl543]

Loved the expert. Very knowledgable and entertaining!

[@jimparlett4099]

I think the honour belongs to the Leader of the 9th Legion, as that's the only Legion that went into Scotland and didn't later leave!

[@fotograf736]

They must have liked it better there.

[@themanwithinflatableknees8770]

Aaaah the Rosemary Sutcliffe book rises its head again. All we know about the 9th is that they stopped being written about. There is no actual fact they went to Scotland and were wiped out.

[@siramar6127]

There's evidence that the 9th was in the Netherlands 50yrs after the conquest of Britain

[@tonitemperance9960]

Some left. I'm an Italian , family from the south and my Surname is derived from Greeley and a DNA test showed Scottish origin!

[@v23452]

Educational and entertaining. Good job!

[@andreascovano7742]

That Brutus guy was actually referencing an old story on the origin of the name of Britain actually. He is OMEGA level history geek!

[@AceMoonshot]

Brutus was a mythical Trojan King. Gogmagog was the last big boi to fall. I wanted more from that guy's point of view.

[@ethancoster1324]

Sounds like he hinted at the Femorians as well.

[@AceMoonshot]

@@ethancoster1324 They would be Irish, though.

[@ethancoster1324]

@@AceMoonshot Indeed. Not sure if there's evidence to suggest they crossover though?

[@lightdrizzle]

A load of Syrian sisters came to Britain and met the giants I thought?

[@sureshot8399]

Wait 'til Biggus Dickus hears of this!

[@LupusSolitus]

Hmm. Per your definition, nobody conquered Britain, at least not all of it.

[@FlatDerrick]

Aye, but you try telling the southerners in the vid that!

[@jaffaman99]

Don’t think you guys watched the video, that’s directly addressed.

[@LupusSolitus]

I stand corrected. I was about 2/3 through the vid still expecting an answer when I commented. It was quite a good analysis.

[@FlatDerrick]

@@jaffaman99 What, HHs blatant bias towards posh southern English was directly addressed?

[@jaffaman99]

@@FlatDerrick bizarre take

[@peteregan3862]

Slavery was everywhere till the Brits set about ending it

[@melissakhalar1842]

Thanks!

[@stephenedwards1751]

As the romans landed on the beach, a Briton ran up to them and threw a handful of woad at the centurion. He was a bit miffed, and shouted at the Britons, "who threw that?". To which the Britons replied, "cul de sac", which as we all know means, no threw woad.

[@AceMoonshot]

I'm on Team Giant, myself.

[@BravoManUK]

I will have whatever that guy was smoking!

[@tdog5035]

Love a fruit loop.

[@jeremiahpattillo2932]

Agricola was a General and Governor, but usually the Emperor gets credit for whatever happens in his reign. Agricola always got permission from the Emperor before undertaking a campaign. Vespasian appointed Agricola Governor of Britain and he served under all of the Flavian emperors--Vespasian, Titus, and Domitian. So who gets credit for the first conqueror of Britain? Under Dr, Elliot's definition, which seems a bit arbitrary, Claudius seems the most likely first invader, but the Flavian Emperors the first conquerors.

[@shaggycan]

I often point this out when people winge about English colonialism. The Romans did it to us first, they left and we we never complained about it again. Move on people.

[@dulcilass]

My first thought was Claudius. Julius Caesar stomped around a bit first but didn't really conquer Britain.

[@mairiconnell6282]

No he didn’t conquer Britain. He didn’t conquer Scotland.

[@Maryland_Kulak]

Damn straight!

[@davidsullivan7743]

But Septimius Severus did, in 208-2011 AD. He wiped out the tribes there in a genocidal campaign. It was only his death in York that prevented it from becoming permanent. On his death, his sons Caracella & Geta returned to Rome to cement their positions on the throne. Simon Elliott has written an excellent history of Severus' campaigns if you want to know more

[@harrisonbergeron9746]

there wasn't any 'Scotland' back then for him to conquer.

[@davejlh4988]

I agree, they built Hadrians wall so they didn’t have to bother conquering the ‘Picts’ and some historians say that it was the wall which created a border and therefore created Scotland. Technically speaking that means they never truly conquered the whole of Britain.

[@Maryland_Kulak]

True, there wasn’t a Scotland, since there was no functioning government or nation called Scotland. I bring this up when Europeans try to pretend their countries are older than the USA. Britain is the exception with your monarchy going back to 1066 or whenever. They’re all buried in Westminster Abbey and it’s impressive. Italy, Germany, and the rest date back to World War II, or 1989 or 1861 if I’m being generous.

[@NubiBuiltKatchr]

I appreciate the Professor’s precision with language. Let’s say Claudius the first Roman emperor to fund a conquest in Britain and Agricola the first emperor to fund conquering the whole of Britain.

[@kathrynburton7167]

I love this professor!

[@TravisBrady-wn8fr]

That guy with the... with the knife😂

[@belindawilson1350]

Oh do you mean Brutus ,that chap?😂

[@TravisBrady-wn8fr]

@@belindawilson1350 he had a knife. I just know he did.....

[@JackSmith-t2y]

Why do people feel compelled to answer when they don’t know? Just say that you don’t know instead of making shit up ?! Agricula? Really?

[@0ldb1ll]

NONE OF THEM. They only got just past the Firth of Forth on the East coast. They did not reach the mid Highlands or the West Highlands. Caesar arrived first, but he did not like the quality of the beach and left. The troops of Antoninus Pius built his wall in AD142. It was north of Hadrians Wall and built of turf. The Romans subsequently retreated south to Hadrian's Wall having forgotten to bring their umbrellas. Incidentally, the first road in Britain was built BEFORE THE ROMANS and was made of felled tree trunks during the Iron Age. It was used for driving cattle.

[@RichardMathews-gv7lb]

It was the midges

[@kathrynburton7167]

Love the humor: umbrellas.

[@Swivel360]

The Roman navy reached all the way to the Pentland Firth, and the Roman Legions did reach the Highlands a marching camp has been uncovered at Cawdor 15 miles from Inverness, but they didn't subjugate the population as there were no big centres to control like there was further south and realised it would take too many legions to control the scattered population so found it easier to build walls to control them

[@prollymunna]

I watched 2+ hours of “Rome’s Brutal Conquest of Germany and Britannia” but didn’t take notes. So many different Romans tried conquering parts of Britain but were outsmarted and beaten by the locals.

[@domenicozagari2443]

Britain means savage people, some regions of Italy are called the same way like Abruzzi and Calabria, they got the bri from brutis and tania like Lusitania that means people.

[@saphy45-uu8rd]

Ringus Starrus. "I came, I saw, I gave them a good drumming."

[@alundavies1016]

My limited Roman History had Julius coming over with some troops, didn’t fancy it and then had to depart due to domestic troubles.

[@P-Nutclarity]

Plautius

[@nuclearmedicineman6270]

That's what I would have said. Actual command on the ground counts more than some politician giving orders back home.

[@P-Nutclarity]

@@nuclearmedicineman6270 I read the Simon Scarrow 'under the eagle' novels 😅the first few are set during the invasion

[@iansanderson4664]

Both Julius Caesar and Agricola had their achievements well written up. Twentieth century British school pupils, studying Latin,, still read extracts from Caesar's Gallic Wars and Tacitus' book on Agricola. (Tacitus was Agricola's son-in-law.)

[@Philusteen]

Dammit! I was sure it was Super Mario....

[@aspenrebel]

I was there in Richmond, w the first Roman fort and Roman Road To London. The channel Shoreline used to be right there but now it's far far away.

[@bujin1977]

That guy going on about giants... 😐

[@McShave]

I really want to believe that guy was just having fun, but deep down I have a sad feeling he was for real.

[@aaronlaing2726]

Brutus of troy did find giants though like the guy said.

[@bujin1977]

​@@aaronlaing2726 Perhaps, but this is "History Hit", not "Mythology Hit".

[@tdog5035]

Agricola was looking at what condition his permission from Domitian was in😊

[@richx9035]

I don’t think Britain was ever really fully conquered by Rome.

[@ImCarolB]

As a retired American history teacher, I shake my head at the complaints that Americans don't know history. "What do these teachers do???" You can lead a horse to water, as they say. If children don't come to school instilled with curiosity and a drive to learn, they will be dolts all their lives. What they learn in school is a springboard for lifelong learning; that means reading and listening, traveling and discussing. Sorry, parents, but it's true. By the way, I knew who the Roman was, because I want to know these things.

[@kathrynburton7167]

I love the professor's distinction between invasion--intent to stay versus incursion--only to check it out. Sort like I want to move there and I only want to take a vacation there.

[@lotophagi711]

Brutus landed in Totnes.

[@kenmay1572]

The statistic that surprised me was that the Roman Empire in terms of size comes in as a mere 28th. The largest by a huge margin was the British Empire

[@-NovaRoma.]

Without watching the video I think that its Claudius the first

[@dennisjones9044]

Time for the BBC to re run or remake "I Claudius"

[@carolemoores2480]

re run please, Derek Jacobi is so good

[@mrgreen1888]

AD 43 Claudius TIberius drusus nero Germanicus Caesar. Conquered some of Britain but not all.

[@slothythebadger7726]

Britain had cobbled roads before the Roman's. Amazing how little the British actually know about their own country.

[@paulkirkland3263]

Great video.

[@dungeonsanddobbers2683]

"Who was the first Roman to conquer Britain" People will say Cladius, because his rule was when the campaign to conquer Britain began, but he died before it could be completed Some might say Agricola, because of Tacitus' account of the Battle of Mons Graupius. But Tacitus isn't exactly the most reliable of sources, and Agricola didn't actually secure Scotland, merely marched to Inverness, sailed some ships around the northern coast and head back south before the tribes could rally and start harassing him again. So, the real answer to the question is that _no_ Roman conquered Britain as _we_ know it, and the question I guess this documentary is really asking (I've just started watching) is "Who was the first Roman to conquer England"

[@CompleteClassics.]

So you basically just need to rely on "i dont believe that source" and yet you still use some of that source and just decide to downplay it.

[@petergibson2318]

The Bards were the local poets and storytellers in Britain and Ireland. The Romans didn't bring them in.

[@reglay95]

I believe Britain comprises England, Wales and Scotland, plus a few islands. I’m unaware that any Romans conquered Scotland, please correct me if I am wrong. I therefore believe that no Romans conquered Britain. Parts of Britain maybe, and the lion’s share for sure but not the whole of Britain, so you should ask who was the first Roman to conquer what is now described as England & Wales.

[@happyslappy5203]

What Have the Romans Ever Done for Us?

[@Caesar.Nutter]

2:05 failed is a strong term for the great Caesar

[@AKSnowbat907]

The answer is: no one. Not a single Roman conquered all of Britain.

[@KD400_]

True lol

[@Cameramancan]

Fascinating stuff!🇨🇦

[@andywarrington4738]

actually the Romans never did conquer Britain , they conquered England yes but not Scotland

[@guillaumeessertel9743]

I'm a little proud of hearing about Claudius who was born in Lyon like me. In fact Claudius is very bad know (in comparison with his successor Nero), I'm not surprised that only a few britanic common people know that he was the first to conquer the island.

[@SongYang-v2s]

Rather you should ask WHO defended England against the invading Romans. Clue: What's her name?

[@rray1953]

Her name is irrelevant since England didn't exist yet... BTW... She didn't even defend Britain... She "defended" only her immediate tribal area...

[@claudiag8097]

tell me more about the giants ..

[@anonnymousperson]

Agricola 'tidies things up'. Nice euphemism for burning villages, slaughtering their inhabitants and enslaving any survivors :D

[@mbeurg]

They create desolation and call it peace.

[@alex-1314]

Circumnavigating the coastline does NOT give credence to any suggestion that Britain was conquered. Very few Roman towns were established in Caledonia. Britannia was essentially England. While there were military garrisons on the east coast to the far north of Scotland Antoninus Pius came closest to briefly consolidating Roman influence in southern Scotland with the building of the Antonine wall.

[@nicholasbethell2921]

Trick question; no Roman ever conquered Britain. Sailing a fleet around Scotland isn't conquest.

[@DieFlabbergast]

Trick answer, you mean. In normal parlance, "conquering country X" means conquering MOST of it, NOT 100-percent of it. The Romans not only conquered most of Britain, they held onto it for about 350 years. The original question was also nonsense. Hardly ever in history has one single king/emperor/general conquered a country: it usually takes quite a few years to fully conquer any nation.

[@nicholasbethell2921]

@@DieFlabbergast Innumerable countries have been fully conquered by one king/emperor/general historically. England was fully conquered but Scotland wasn't; therefore England was conquered but Britain wasn't.

[@agnesmichel1286]

I know this one, it was Biggus Dickus !

[@adrianandrews2254]

The Romans never conquered Britain. There was no concept of "Britain" at that time. It is entirely improper to introduce concepts in historical analysis that did not exist at the time being discussed. . The Romans conquered various tribes and controlled many habitations (cities, towns etc) . Britain as we now know it would surely have failed the UN criteria for a functioning "state".

[@q.e.d.9112]

I think you’re being pedantic. Regardless of what it was called, the island now known as Great Britain was a distinct entity that required a seaborne invasion to bring a large proportion of it within the Roman Empire. This was primarily achieved under the Emperor Claudius who has generally been regarded as the man who led the “Roman conquest of Britain”.

[@DonaldjohnMacInnes]

He conquered part of Britain, as far as t Central Scotland, plus a couple of expeditions further north

[@phildoodler2199]

No-one likes a smarty pants.

[@DonaldjohnMacInnes]

@@phildoodler2199 Can’t help it. I am descended from an ancient race of smartypantses (smartyspants?). That’s WHY they. didn’t get very far north.

[@phildoodler2199]

@@DonaldjohnMacInnes maybe the video should have said the ancient lands now known as Britain would have satisfied you.

[@deepredson]

In 212 B.T. the lost scrolls of Caen state that The former gardener and inventor, Johnny Onions came saw and conquered Britain with a small force of men in smocks and a large number of his secret planet which made those who opposed him cry many tears. These 'Onions' as he called them were used to great effect. Once the Britons got his secret, he became outnumbered and was sent back, but with one gift, which later became known as the 'Beret'. Barty (philostopher and Historicalon).

[@seanbumstead1250]

Jullius Caesar

[@boxsterman77]

I remember learning that the famous emperor Constantine was proclaimed emperor in the city of Eboracum, the Latin name for York, when his father, with whom he was campaigning, died. And yes that means New York City would be Urbs Novum Eboracum in Latin.