Editing Roman client kingdoms in Britain

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[[File:Britain.south.peoples.Ptolemy.jpg|thumb|351x351px|Map of Roman Britain and the client kingdom territories in 150 AD.]]
The '''Roman client kingdoms in Britain''' were native tribes <!--kingdoms are not tribes--> which chose to align themselves with the [[Roman Empire]] because they saw it as the best option for self-preservation or for protection from other hostile tribes.{{citation needed|date=March 2022}} <!--It must be a sort if definition, not contested statements, it must not contain 'because', 'chose to', 'align themselves', 'hostile', 'best option' etc. -->Alternatively, the Romans created (or enlisted) some [[client kingdom]]s when they felt influence without direct rule was desirable. Client kingdoms were ruled by client kings. In Latin these kings were referred to as ''rex sociusque et amicus'', which translates to "king, ally, and friend".<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Braund|first=David C.|date=2015-12-22|title=client kings|url=https://oxfordre.com/classics/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780199381135.001.0001/acrefore-9780199381135-e-1677|access-date=2021-02-28|website=Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Classics|language=en|doi=10.1093/acrefore/9780199381135.013.1677|isbn=978-0-19-938113-5 }}</ref> The type of relationships between client kingdoms and Rome was reliant on the individual circumstances in each kingdom.<ref name=":0" />

The beginnings of the system are to be found in [[Julius Caesar|Caesar]]'s re-enthroning of [[Mandubracius]] as king of the [[Trinovantes]], who had been dethroned by [[Cassivellaunus]] and then aided Caesar's [[Caesar's invasions of Britain|second invasion of Britain]] in 54 BC.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Internet Classics Archive {{!}} The Gallic Wars by Julius Caesar|url=http://classics.mit.edu/Caesar/gallic.5.5.html|access-date=2021-04-03|website=classics.mit.edu}}</ref> The system further developed in the following hundred years, particularly under [[Augustus]]'s influence, so that by the time of the [[Roman conquest of Britain|Roman invasion]] in 43 AD several Roman client kingdoms had become established in the south of Britain.{{citation needed|date=August 2021}} Client kingdoms were annexed when Rome needed to reaffirm their power in Britain or when the client kings could not manage the kingdoms and surrounding areas any more.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|last=Everatt|first=J. D.|date=1972|title=A study of the client kings in the early Roman period.|journal=Masters Thesis, Durham University.}}</ref>

These were also partially due to the expansion of the [[Catuvellauni]] under [[Cunobelinus]] in the southeast, and partly as a result of the invasion itself, and included [[Cogidubnus]] of the [[Regni]], [[Prasutagus]] of the [[Iceni]] and [[Cartimandua]] of the [[Brigantes]] and, probably, [[Boduocus]] of the [[Dobunni]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Cassius Dio — Book 60|url=https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Cassius_Dio/60*.html|access-date=2021-04-03|website=penelope.uchicago.edu}}</ref> The antecedents of the Regni, the [[Atrebates]], had (in their Gallic and British forms)  been client kingdoms of Rome since Caesar's first invasion in 55 BC.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book|last=Christopher A. Snyder|url=https://archive.org/details/britons00snyd|title=The Britons|date=2003|publisher=Blackwell Pub.|others=Internet Archive|isbn=978-0-631-22260-6}}</ref> In the north of Britain, ongoing border struggles across the defensive walls led to the establishment of [[buffer state]]s, including the [[Votadini]] in [[Northumberland]].<ref name=":3" />

== Invasions of Britain and establishment of client kingdoms ==
[[Julius Caesar]] invaded Britain in 55 BC. and 54 BC. His [[Julius Caesar's invasions of Britain|initial invasion]] was unsuccessful, and the [[Iron Age tribes in Britain|Celtic tribes of Britain]] fought with more strength than expected.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|title=Tacitus, Publius Cornelius (c.56–c.120) - The Agricola|url=https://www.poetryintranslation.com/PITBR/Latin/TacitusAgricola.php#anchor_Toc406591755|access-date=2021-03-01|website=www.poetryintranslation.com}}</ref> In 54 BC the invasion was considered a success but in Caesar's eyes the island yielded little reward and he left without leaving a garrison to watch over his latest conquest.<ref>{{Citation|title=Britain and the Romans|date=2002-09-11|url=https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/9781134682478/chapters/10.4324/9780203450468-13|work=From Roman Britain to Norman England|pages=68–87|edition=0|publisher=Routledge|language=en|doi=10.4324/9780203450468-13|doi-broken-date=15 April 2025 |isbn=978-0-203-45046-8|access-date=2021-03-01|url-access=subscription}}{{Dead link|date=April 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

Client kingdoms were initially established as auxiliary support for the Roman army under [[Claudius]] in the expanding empire, but were reimagined as the way for Rome to achieve the power status of a unified empire.<ref name=":1" /> Each kingdom had their own systems in place to operate within the Roman model, most notably in relation to trading and defence; and they created a national identity aligned with Roman values.<ref name=":1" />

Evidence exists of rebellion against the empire among client kingdoms like the Catuvellauni and the Iceni tribes.<ref name=":3" /> The relationships between the different client kingdoms and Celtic tribes of the area were always changing as loyalties shifted between the indigenous populations and Roman invaders. The changing political relations with the Roman Empire and their conquest of Britain led to conflicts between tribes like the Atrebates and the Catuvellauni in 40 AD.<ref name=":3" /> There was also recorded conflicts between the Brigantes tribe and the Catuvellauni in 50 AD.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|title=North East England : The Roman Conquest AD43-AD71|url=https://englandsnortheast.co.uk/north-east-roman-conquest/|access-date=2021-03-01|website=England's North East|language=en-GB}}</ref>

==Client kingdoms==
{{stack|[[File:England Celtic tribes - South.png|thumb|352x352px|Map of the territory of Client Kingdoms in the South of Roman Britain.]]}}

=== Client kingdoms of Southern Britain ===

====Trinovantes and Catuvellauni====
{{main|Trinovantes|Catuvellauni}}
'''Client status:''' ''54 BC -c.39 AD''<br />
'''Location:''' lands in south-East England

In 54 BC, [[Julius Caesar]] set up  [[Mandubracius]] of the [[Trinovantes]] as a client king and established the [[Catuvellauni]] as a tributary state of Rome.<ref name=":3" /> The centralization of the client kingdoms in southern Britain led to some resemblance of one British society ruled by the Catuvellauni.<ref name=":3" /> Coin evidence suggests that since 10 AD, both areas were ruled by [[Cunobeline|Cunobelinus]] until around 39-40 AD when after his death anti-Roman factions led by his son [[Caratacus]] had the most power.'''<ref>{{Cite book|last=Creighton|first=John|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/cbo9780511489587|title=Coins and Power in Late Iron Age Britain|date=2000-07-06|publisher=Cambridge University Press|doi=10.1017/cbo9780511489587|isbn=978-0-521-77207-5}}</ref>'''<ref name=":3" /> In 40 AD, Caratacus overthrew Verica of the Atrebates client kingdom, who was a known ally to the emperor, Claudius.<ref name=":3" /> Caratacus led anti-Roman forces against the Roman invasion in 43 AD.<ref name=":3" /> The next that was recorded of them was in 50 AD when Caratacus led forces against governor [[Publius Ostorius Scapula]] with tribes from Wales.'''<ref>{{Citation|last=Tacitus]|first=Tacitus [Cornelius|editor1-first=John C|editor1-last=Yardley|editor2-first=Anthony|editor2-last=Barrett|title=60|date=2008-06-12|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/oseo/instance.00127799|work=Oxford World's Classics: Tacitus: The Annals|pages=38|publisher=Oxford University Press|doi=10.1093/oseo/instance.00127799|isbn=978-0-19-282421-9|access-date=2021-04-05|url-access=subscription}}</ref>''' This led to his defeat in 50 AD and search of refuge with the Brigantes, and ultimately a betrayal by Cartimandua in 51 AD.<ref name=":4" /> Following Caratacus' defeat, the lands belonging to the Catuvellauni were annexed, the settlement of [[Verulamium]] was given ''municipum'' status in 50 AD, and its settlers were given a level of citizenship with certain rights.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Wacher|first=John|editor1-first=John|editor1-last=Wacher|date=2020-08-18|title=The Towns of Roman Britain|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9781003062462|doi=10.4324/9781003062462|isbn=9781003062462}}</ref>

====Atrebates, later Regni or Regnenses====
{{main|Atrebates|Regni}}
'''Client status:''' ''55 BC-70s AD''<br />
'''Location:''' ''Roughly modern-day [[Hampshire]] and [[West Sussex]] (capitals now [[Silchester]] and [[Chichester]])''

The Belgic Atrebates were led by a semi independent client king, Commius, in Gaul when Caesar left Britain after his first invasion. When Commius began to conspire against Rome, he was forced to flee to Britain in 54 BC. He named himself king of his people and ruled until approximately 20 BC.'''<ref name=":6">{{Cite book|last=Webster|first=Graham|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/52731136|title=The Roman invasion of Britain|date=1999|publisher=Routledge|isbn=0-203-25135-0|location=London|oclc=52731136}}</ref>''' Commius was succeeded by three of his sons. First, [[Tincomarus]], from 25/20 BC to 7/8 AD. He was more sympathetic to Rome than his father had been, and based on numismatic evidence styled himself ''rex'', implying client kingship status under the Empire. He was expelled in 7/8 AD, seeking refuge with the Romans.<ref name=":6" />

After Tincomarus, [[Augustus]] chose to recognize his brother, [[Eppillus]], as the next client king.<ref name=":3" /> After ruling jointly with Tincomarus, he apparently became sole ruler c.7 AD, and may have been the one who drove out Tincomarus.<ref name=":3" />

Eppillus was succeeded by another of Commius' sons, [[Verica]], who reigned from Silchester.<ref name=":3" /> During his rule, the Atrebates were under pressure from the [[Catuvellauni]] to the east.<ref name=":3" /> Around 10 AD, Verica was dethroned by the brother of [[Cunobeline|Cunobelinus]],  [[Epaticcus]]. Verica did not regain control until 37 AD.<ref name=":3" /> [[Caratacus]], of the Catuvellauni, conquered the kingdom and Verica was driven out of Britain in roughly 40 AD.<ref name=":3" /> As a Roman ally, it has been argued that when Verica sought refuge in Rome, he helped convince Claudius to invade Britain.<ref name=":3" />

Following the Roman conquest, [[Cogidubnus]], who was at some point given the Roman names ''Tiberius Claudius.''<ref name=":3" /> Cogidubnus ruled the lands of the Atrebates and the Regni, taking the latter as the new name for all people who lived in the regions.<ref name=":6" />

====Iceni====
'''Client status:''' ''c.47-60 AD''<br />
'''Location:''' ''Roughly modern-day [[Norfolk]]''

The Iceni tribe were located in the south east region of Britain. The Iceni had a coin system in place before the Roman invasion, and these coins show evidence that a king named [[Antedios]] was in power through the Roman Invasion by Claudius in 43 AD.<ref name=":3" /> When the kingdom rebelled in 47 AD after an attempt to disarmour the Iceni, it is suggested he was removed from power by Rome and that [[Prasutagus]] was installed as king.<ref name=":3" />

Upon Parsutagus' death in 60 AD, he wanted to give half of the power to his daughters and the other half to the emperor.<ref name=":3" /> This went against Roman law which dictated the land of the Iceni would be annexed to the emperor, [[Nero]].<ref name=":3" /> The Romans seized control and committed assault against Prasutagus' wife [[Boudica]], and her daughters.<ref name=":3" /> These actions of the Romans ignited a long lasting [[Boudican revolt|revolt]] throughout multiple British client kingdoms, including the Iceni and Trinovantes kingdoms.<ref name=":3" /> This revolt led to the destruction of the ''[[Municipium|municipums]]'' of Colchester, Londinium and Verulamium, which were all promptly rebuilt following the suppression of this revolt.<ref name=":3" /> The story of Boudica ends with mystery as there are conflicting stories of her death.<ref name=":3" /> The territory once ruled by Boudica and Prasutagus was considered part of the Roman province after Boudica's defeat.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Cassius Dio — Epitome of Book 62|url=https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Cassius_Dio/62*.html|access-date=2021-04-05|website=penelope.uchicago.edu}}</ref>

=== Client kingdoms of Northern Britain ===
{{stack|[[File:Map of the Territory of the Brigantes.svg|thumb|361x361px|Map of the territories of the Brigantes.]]}}

==== Brigantes ====
Main Articles: [[Brigantes]]

'''Client status:''' c. 46 AD-

'''Location:''' Pennines of South Yorkshire to north of the Tyne.

The Brigantes were given client status but were not considered a conquered Celtic tribe, despite accepting the Romans as the governing power.<ref name=":4" /> Notable rulers include Client king [[Venutius]] and Queen [[Cartimandua]],<ref name=":4" /> who joined the ranks of power female leaders, a concept foreign to the Roman invaders. Cartimandua is known for her betrayal of [[Caratacus]] after his rebellion in 51 AD, by handing him over to the Roman army.<ref name=":4" /> This action caused unrest in the Brigantia areas of Britain, where the people were split between supporting Cartimandua and the Romans by extension, or supporting her husband Venutius and the British rebellion.<ref name=":4" />

Venutius went on to take control of the Brigantes tribe and lead his own rebellion against the Romans and his wife Cartimandua, his supporters eventually forcing Cartimandua out of her land in response to her betrayal of rebel Caratacus.<ref name=":4" /> This rebellion was defeated at an unknown date.{{citation needed|date=June 2022}}

Over the next century, relationships with the Brigantes tribe shifted and changed. Tensions and war broke out during the conquest of [[Gnaeus Julius Agricola]], who was the governor of Roman Britain from 78 AD- 85 AD.<ref name=":5" /> Turmoil with the Brigantes tribe continued into the second century with the construction of [[Hadrian's Wall]] and [[Antonine Wall]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Pausanias, Description of Greece, Arcadia, chapter 43, section 1|url=http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Paus.+8.43.1&redirect=true|access-date=2021-03-21|website=www.perseus.tufts.edu}}</ref>

====Votadini====
'''Client status:''' ''c.140s-c.410 AD''<br />
'''Location:''' ''Southeast [[Scotland]] and northeast England, including modern-day [[Northumberland]]''

The [[Votadini]] were a [[Britons (historical)|Brythonic]] people who lived under the direct rule of Rome between [[Hadrian's Wall]] and the [[Antonine Wall]] from 138 to 162 AD.<ref>{{Citation|last=Martin.|first=Gilbert|title=The Routledge Atlas of British History.|date=2012|url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/811505614|publisher=Taylor and Francis|isbn=978-1-135-10873-1|oclc=811505614|access-date=2021-04-06}}</ref><ref name=":7">{{Cite web|title=Kingdoms of British Celts - Votadini / Guotodin|url=https://www.historyfiles.co.uk/KingListsBritain/BritainGoutodin.htm|access-date=2021-04-06|website=www.historyfiles.co.uk}}</ref> When the Romans withdrew behind Hadrian's Wall in 164 AD, they left the Votadini as a client kingdom, a buffer zone against the [[Picts]] in the north.<ref name=":7" /> They maintained client status until the Romans pulled out of Britain in 410 AD.<ref name=":7" /> Through a series of linguistic changes, the Votadini became known as the [[Gododdin]], and maintained a kingdom until their defeat by the [[Angles (tribe)|Angles]] c.600 AD.<ref name=":7" />

== See also ==
* [[Iron Age tribes in Britain]]
* [[Client kingdoms in ancient Rome]]

==References==
{{Reflist|1}}

==External links==
* The History Files [http://www.historyfiles.co.uk/MainListsBritain.htm Kingdoms of Britain]

[[Category:Roman client kingdoms in Britain| ]]
[[Category:Celtic Britons|*]]
[[Category:Scotland in the Roman era]]