Roman Era to the Sixth Century Timeline (54 BCE to 599)
Britain Unlimited “Timelines” show the birth and deaths of the 250 famous British people covered in this site, together with the works they were associated with as well as other significant historical events of the time.
55-54BCE: Attacks on Britain by Julius Caesar.
Era of Roman Dominance
52 BCE: Commius ruler of the Atrebates from Gaul arrives and founds his capital at Silchester.
44 BCE: Julius Caesar is assassinated in Rome.
27 BCE: Augustus becomes Emperor of the Romans.
9 AD: Cymbeline becomes ruler of South East England and a Tribune of Rome.
40 AD: Death of Cymbeline who is succeeded by sons Togodumnus and Caractacus.
43 AD: Battle of Medway, defeat of Caratacus by Romans.
44 AD: The Romans under Vespasian capture forts all over southern England.
49 AD: Colchester founded by the Romans.
50 AD: Caractacus defeated and flees to North East England.
51 AD: Caractacus handed over to Romans by Queen Cartimandua of the Brigantes and he is taken to Rome. Quintus Veranius arrives to capture the whole island.
61 AD: Boadicea leads an uprising and sacks Colchester, St Albans and London but is defeated at the Battle of Watling Street.
Death of Boadicea. Roman soldiers massacre Druids at Anglessey and destroy their religious artefacts.
63 AD: Joseph of Aramathea makes first Christian mission to Britain and goes to Glastonbury.
77 AD: Gnaius Julius Agricola becomes Roman Governor and devises a plan to reconcile Britons to Roman rule by building the trappings available in other parts of the Empire such as water supply, theatres and public baths.
84 AD: The British led by the Caledononian Calgacus are beaten at the Battle of Mons Graupius and the Roman conquest is compete. Foundation of the City of Bath.
100: As troops are needed further South a Roman border is established called the “Stansgate Line” between the River Tyne and the Solway Firth.
122-126: Building of Hadrian’s Wall to prevent raids by the Picts.
140-142: Building of the Antonine Wall between the River Clyde and the Forth under the Roman Governor Quintus Lollius Urbus.
184: First appearance of the name Artorius in Britain.
193: Clodius Albinus becomes Governor
of Britain.
196: Clodius withdraws troops from Britain in an attempt to become emperor.
197: Clodius is killed.
208: Emperor Septimus Severus arrives to personally oversea the re-conquest of northern Britain.
304: St Alban becomes the first Christian martyr in Britain.
306: Constantine the Great is hailed as Emperor by his troops at Eboracum (York).
311: Christianity is made legal throughout the Roman Empire.
313: Constantine becomes a Christian.
383: Magnus Maximus declared Roman Emperor in Britain.
388: Magnus is killed by the eastern emperor Theodosius.
391: Pagan rituals were outlawed in Britain.
397: St Ninian is the first Bishop to visit Scotland and founds a church at Whithorn.
407: Flavius Claudius Constantinus, (known as Constantine 111), a Roman general establishes himself as Western Roman Emperor in Britain and withdraws Roman troops to fight against the barbarians in Gaul.
408: The country is now free to be attacked by the Scots, the Saxons and the Picts.
409: Outright civil war as Britons begin expelling all Roman officials and fighting against the invaders themselves.
410: Britain becomes independent of Rome for the first time as Emperor Honorius recalls his legions to Rome.
Era of the Early Saxon Kings
445: Vortigern comes to power in Britain.
450: Vortigern asks the Jutes Hengest (aka Hengist) and Horsa to fight against the Picts and is also responsible for inviting the Saxons to Britain around this time.
457: Probable death of Vortigern although many of the chronicles differ.
458: Hengest conquers Kent.
465: Probable birth of King Arthur.
466: The Britons led by Hengest defeat the Saxons at the Battle of Wippedesfleot.
470: Ambrosius becomes High King of Britain.
486: The Saxon Aelle fights the British at the Battle of Mercredesburne.
495: Cerdic lands on the South coast of Britain and establishes what is to become the Kingdom of Wessex.
496: A force led by King Arthur defeats the Saxons at the Siege of Mount Badon.
516: King Arthur was supposedly the victor at the Battle of Mons Badonicus.
534: Cerdic is succeeded by Cynric as King of Wessex.
537: Death of King Arthur at the Battle of Camlann.
550: St David introduces Christianity to Wales.
565: St Columba founds a monastery on the Island of Iona and begins to convert the Picts to Christianity.
577: Battle of Dyrham.
585: Foundation of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Mercia under Creoda.
597: The Pope sends Augustine to bring the Roman version of Christianity to the Saxons and he founds a church at Canterbury and becomes its first Archbishop.
600 to 1399 I 1400 to 1499 I 1500 to 1599 I 1600 to 1699 I 1700 to 1799 I 1800 to 1899 I 1900 onwards