Julius Caesar's Invasions of Britain

In 55 & 54BC, Julius Caesar led two military expeditions to Britain.

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You will probably know that Britain (or at least a large part of it) was part of the Roman Empire, but the mighty Caesar’s invasions were nearly 100 years before that happened.

Having conquered Gaul, modern-day France, the Roman leader turned his attention to the island of Britain, or Britannia.

In the summer of 55BC Caesar’s invasion fleet appeared beneath the white cliffs of Dover.
On top of the cliffs, waiting to meet him were hundreds, maybe thousands of warriors.
Their long hair billowing in the wind. Their upper bodies bare, shaved and dyed blue from woad.Chariots arrayed.
The sight must have weakened even the hardest Roman legionnaire.

In a fierce battle in the waves, Caesar’s army stormed ashore but having established a beachhead disaster struck.
A storm wrecked his fleet and he was nearly stranded on this island on the edge of the known world.
Salvaging most of his ships he beat a retreat back across the channel.

The following year he returned with an army of 5 legions plus cavalry.

Marching inland, he crossed the Thames and inflicted a series of defeats on the Britons under their leader Cassivellaunus.

But rather than adding Britannia to the Roman Empire, he once more withdrew and Britain was to remain free from Roman rule for another century.

This is the story of Julias Caesar’s two invasions of Britain in 55BC and 54BC.

Chapters
0:00 Introduction
1:24 Iron Age Britain
3:56 reasons for Invasion
7:27 Caesar prepares
9:29 Invasion 55 BC
11:08 Battle on the Beach
13:35 Near Disasters
15:39 Caesar Withdraws
17:05 Invasion 54 BC
18:35 Britons Resist
23:35 Caesar Leaves Britain Again
25:45 Britain Is Free

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