55 Aug 26 | CAESAR's 1st invasion of Britain, tries to land at Dubris (Dover), but the Britons gather on the overlooking cliffs, close enough to throw javelins down on them. After waiting at anchor until the 9th hour (@3pm) waiting for supply ships from the 2nd port to come, he orders his subordinates to act on their own, then sails the fleet northeast @11km to an open beach. The first level beach area after Dover is at Deal (Walmer) Kent. They are opposed by British cavalry and chariots. The loaded Roman ships are too low in the water to go close inshore, so troops have to debark in deep water. The cavalry, delayed by adverse winds, has not arrived | 55 wikCiB |
55 Aug 26 | CAESAR's 1st invasion force, 2 legions (VII & X), consists of 12,000 infantry. He repels Britons, makes camp, and takes a few notes, but is us unable to progress further inland. The Brits return Commius to him | 55 B76 3-577, CAH 9, CEB 7, DGRBM 1-546, Dur 3-176, GHH, MCAW 252, TToH, atl1, bk, sjsu, ttjc, wikCiB, wikGW, wikJC, wikMCJC 55/4 B76 3-194 54 vrm |
c.55 | Led by Cassivellaunus, several British tribes attack Caesar, and are defeated | 55 atl1 55/4 hifiKB |
The average tidal range in the Mediterranean is only 28cm, while on the coast of Gaul it reaches up to 4 meters | 55 hwGW |
c.55 | High tides and a storm fill Caesar's beached warships with water. His transports, riding at anchor, are driven against each other. Some ships are wrecked, and others rendered unseaworthy. | 55 wikCiB |
South Britain in 1st cen. BCE map: Notuncurious |
c.55 | The MORINI in north Gaul rebel while Caesar is in Britain | 55 DGRBM 1-546 |
c.55 | TASGETIUS, Roman puppet king of the Carnutes from 57, murdered | 55 hifiCrnt |
55 | CAESAR takes hostages in Britain, and returns to Gaul | 55 DGRBM 1-546, MCAW 252, atl1, wikJC |
c.55 | The Veneti of Brittany introduce iron chain cables | 55 GHH |
55 | CAESAR, proconsul of Gaul 58-50, punishes the Morini and Menapii, stations troops in winter quarters among the Belgae | 55 DGRBM 1-546, MCAW 252, atl1, wikJC |
c.55 | Gallo-Belgic F coins are found in coastal areas of Britain, introducing the triple-tailed horse design on the reverse that becomes widespread over the next few decades. The existence of so many coins that are linked to the Suessiones, or which ape their design, suggests that the Suessiones form a considerable portion of the Belgae who migrate to Britain from the second century BC. Caesar says the Belgae entered Britain looking for booty | 60-50 hifiKB |
55 | Greek cities on coast of Black Sea start falling to Burebista, king of Dacia 60-45/4 | 55 wikBrb |
55 fall | CAESAR returns to Cisalpine Gaul until 54 | 55 DGRBM 1-546 |
c.54 | Q. Tullius CICERO, bro of Marcus, serves as legate on Caesar's staff until 51 | 54 OCD 239 |
c.54 | CAESAR, proconsul of Gaul 58-50, visits Illyria again to put down incursions by the Pirustae. | 56 DGRBM 1-547, hifiAnd 54 hifiCT |
c.54 | Anti-Roman Treveri chief Indutiomarus opposes pro-Roman Cingetorix. Indutiomarus persuades his people to join the revolt led by Ambiorix of the Eburones, and declares Cingetorix an enemy of the tribe. The Treveri and their allies defeat a legion during the revolt, but Cingetorix presents himself to Caesar's legate, T. Labienus, who defeats and kills Indutiomarus in a cavalry battle | 54 hifiCT |
c.54 | After detouring to Illyria, CAESAR goes with 4 legions to Treveri land in lower Moselle valley, makes pro-Roman Treveri chief Cingetorix ruler of the Treveri | 54 DGRBM 1-547, 2-573, atl1, hifiCT |
c.54 | Treveri opposed to Cingetorix cross the Rhine and settle among Germanic tribes there | 54 hifiCT |
c.54 | Q. PILIUS CELER joins Caesar, in Gaul | 54 DGRBM 3-366 |
c.54 | CAESAR uses Venetic ship-building technology, builds many ships in Gaul, for 2nd invasion of Britain, but he has to get materials for fitting them out from Spain | 55/4 DGRG 2-319 54 DGRG 1-958 |
c.54 | DUMNORIX, bro of Divitiacus chief of the Aedui, is ordered to accompany Caesar to Britain, refuses, flees, killed | 54 MCAW 254, OCD 367, atl1, hifiAd, hifiCT |
54 | Q. Titurius Sabinus and L. Aurunculeius Cotta are given 1 legion and 5 cohorts in Eburone territory between the Meuse and Rhine to hold it thru winter until Caesar returns from Britain | 54 DGRBM 1-139, 869, 3-691, DGRG 1-799 |
54 spring | CAESAR's arrives at Port Itius on north coast of Gaul. He finds all expected ships except 40-60 built in "Meldi" (up the coast on a small river), which were driven by bad weather back to Meldia | 54 DGRG 2-319, hifiCT |
54 spring | T. LABIENUS is put in charge of Gaul with just 3 legions and 2,000 cavalry. | 54 hifiAd |
54 Jul | CAESAR's 2nd invasion of Britain embarks from Port Itius in Morini country on north coast of Gaul. 5 legions including 30,000 or 30,500 inf, 2,000 cav; Carried across the channel in 628 ships (Caesar says 800, probably including trader ships). Lands near Deal unopposed. Q. Cicero is with them. They leave Q. Atrius in charge of the ships and marches 19km inland | 54 B76 3-577, CAH 9, CEB 7, DGRBM 1-408, 547, DGRG 1-958, 2-99, 372, Dur 3-110, 176, GHH, MCAW 254, OCD 213, 239, atl1, sjsu, ttjc, wikCiB, wikGW, wikMCJC |
54 Jul | CAESAR encounters Brit forces at a river crossing. Britons attack and are repulsed. They regroup at a fortified place in the forests, possibly the hillfort at Bigbury Wood, west of Durovernum (Canterbury), but are defeated and scattered. Next morning Caesar learns from Atrius that, again, his ships at anchor had been dashed against each other in a storm. About 40 ships are lost. He returns to the coast, recalling the legions that had gone ahead, and works day and night for @10 days, repairing ships, and building a fortified camp around them. Word is sent to T. Labienus to send more ships. | 54 wikCiB |
c.54 | 15 days after Sabinus and Cotta are stationed, the EBURONES between the Meuse and Rhine under Ambiorix and Cativolcus rebel and attack them. Rebellion continues until 51, | 54 CDCC 375, DGRBM 1-139, 869, 3-691, DGRG 1-799, OCD 51, wikCn, wikMCJC 54/3 wikGW 53 B76 I-944 |
54 | CASSIVELLAUNUS, king of the Catuvellauni north of the Tamesis (Thames) is appointed by Brits to lead their forces. Several indecisive skirmishes ensue. | 54 wikCiB |
c.54 | Military tribune Q. Laberius DURUS killed in Britain | 54 DGRBM 2-696, wikCiB |
54 | CASSIVELLAUNUS crosses south across Tamesis (Thames), attacks 3 legions under C. Trebonius in Canti (Kent). Trebonius routes Cass and pursues him. Brits revert to guerilla warfare | 54 B76 II-617, GHH, MCAW 254, OCD 213, atl1, lvR, wikCiB, wikTrb |
54 | CASSIVELLAUNUS, king of the Catuvellauni, (supposedly with 4,000 chariots) commands confederated British forces. British tribes who resist the expedition include the Atrebates, Belgae, Cantii, Catuvellauni, and Trinovantes, while others surrender, namely the Ancalites, Bibroci, Cassi, Cenimagni, and Segontiaci | map Nwbeeson 54 B76 X-126, DGRBM 1-625, GHH, atl1 |
54 | CAESAR, proconsul of Gaul 58-50, reaches the Thames sends Commius king of the Atrebates to negotiate with Cassivelaunus | 54 CAH 9, Dur 3-110, 176 |
54 Jul | CAESAR crosses Thames 20km west of Londinium at Sunbury, defeats Cassivellaunus | 54 MCAW 254, atl1 |
54 | CASSIVELLAUNUS, king of the Catuvellauni, is besieged by Caesar in his capital, possibly the hill fort at Wheathampstead north of Verulamium. He notifies his allies in Kent, Cingetorix, Carvilius, Taximagulus and Segovax, (the "4 kings of Cantium"), to attack the Roman beach-head to draw Caesar off, but this fails | 54 wikCiB |
54 | CASSIVELLAUNUS, king of the Catuvellauni, driven from his capital. [supposedly Verulamium] | 54 GHH |
c.54 | Disunity among British tribes. Voluntary submission of several tribes | 54 GHH |
54 | Mandubracius, king of the Trinovantes, submits to Caesar | 54 atl1, wikMCJC |
54 | CASSIVELLAUNUS, king of the Catuvellauni, makes treaty with Commius, agent of Caesar Cass agrees to deliver hostages, pay annual tribute and allow independence of the Trinovantes of Essex. Treaty lasts until 9 CE. | 54 CAH 9, Dur 3-110, 176, GHH, OCD 213, TToH, atl1, wikCiB, wikGW |
c.54 | L. Plancus takes a legion to winter among the Carnutes, but his investigations into the murder of Tasgetius are interrupted. About 15 days after the legions enter winter quarters, Ambiorix and Cativolcus of the Eburones instigate a revolt | 54 hifiCrnt |
54 | Q. Titurius Sabinus tricked by Ambiorix of the Eburones and wiped out. His camp at Aduatuca is destroyed | 54 CAH 9, DGRBM 1-139, 3-219, OCD 51, MCAW 254, hifiCT, lvR, thtc, wik1Tr |
54 | L. Aurunculeius COTTA is defeated and killed by Ambiorix of the Eburones | 54 CAH 9, DGRBM 1-139, 3-219, MCAW 254, wik1Tr, wikLAC |
54 | Death of Cotta and Sabinus reaches M. Crassus among the Bellovaci, 25 miles away. C. Fabius also marches from the lands of the Morini. Both forces must negotiate their way thru the lands of the Continental Atrebates | 54 hifiCT |
c.54 | Ambiorix chief of the Eburones approaches the Atuatuci and Nervii, convinces them to a joint attack on the camp of Q. Cicero in Nervii land | 54 DGRBM 1-139 |
c.54 | ACAVARINUS, Caesar's appointed king of the Senones from 57, expelled by Senones, runs to Caesar | 54 DGRBM 1-656 |
c.54 | T. LABIENUS with 1 legion is stationed among the Remi. He defeats the Treveri, who had come under command of Indutiomarus | 54 DGRBM 2-696 53 hifiAul |
54 | M.(5) ANTONIUS (Mark Antony), cav officer under Gabinius from 57, is assigned to Caesar's staff goes from Italy to Gaul until 50 | 54 DGRBM 1-214, MCAW 254, OCD 77, atl1 |
54 | NERVII, under Caesar from ?, inspired by Ambiorix, rebel until 53 | 54 OCD 51, wikVrc |
54 | Q. Tullius CICERO, camp commander in Eburone territory between the Meuse and Rhine, besieged by the Eburones and Nervii until Caesar arrives 53 | 54 DGRBM 1-139, DGRG 2-420, OCD 51, atl1 |
c.54 | CAESAR, in Britain from July 54, departs. Dissensions and wars between British tribes from Caesar's departure till next invasion 43 CE | 54 CAH 9, DGRBM 1-547, Dur 3-110, 176, GHH, atl1, ttjc 53 wikGW |
Droysens Allgemeiner historischer Handatlas, 1886 |
Gallic Wars 54-50 V |