The Roman Emperors of Britain

In 55 BC, the Romans faced a fierce defense from the Britons near Deal in East Kent, putting Julius Caesar's first invasion in jeopardy. However, Roman authority expanded rapidly, with Titus serving as a tribune and Pertinax holding various posts. The book will explore the roles of Emperors in Britain before their ascent to the throne, including the civil war between Clodius Albinus and Septimius Severus and the later campaigns into Scotland. The fourth century saw the rise of usurpers and tyrants, but Constantine I managed to unite the empire. Constantine III was the last emperor to lead troops from Britain to Gaul, leaving the province to fend for itself in the fifth century.

Format: Hardback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 27 February 2024
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd

In 55 BC, on a stretch of beach near Deal in East Kent, the Romans faced a dire threat as a host of Britons fiercely defended the shore. The eagle bearer of the Tenth Legion, a pivotal figure in Julius Caesar's initial invasion, took a courageous leap into the surf, urging his comrades to follow suit. This moment marked a turning point in the Roman conquest. It would be another ninety years before Claudius finally subdued part of the island and triumphantly entered the stronghold at Camulodunum. Roman authority swiftly expanded, encompassing Vespasian's dramatic campaign against the hillforts of southern Britain and Hadrian's renowned Wall in the north. This book shall focus not on the reigns of Emperors but on the positions they held in Britain before ascending to the throne. Titus assumed the role of a tribune directly following the Boudiccan revolt. Pertinax held three significant posts: equestrian tribune of the Sixth Legion, praefectus of an auxiliary unit, and ultimately as the governor of Britannia. It shall delve into the civil war between Clodius Albinus and Septimius Severus, as well as the subsequent campaigns into Scotland. The upheavals of the third century and the breakaway regimes of Postumus and Carauius, known as "the pirate king," added complexity to the political landscape.

In the fourth century, Britain continued to produce usurpers and tyrants, but only one managed to unite the empire: Constantine I. His namesake, Constantine III, was the last emperor to lead troops from Britain to Gaul, leaving the province to fend for itself into the fifth century.

Weight: 664g
Dimension: 216 x 392 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781399064415