The Catuvellauni: Kings before the Conquest

The Catuvellauni were the mightiest Celtic kingdom of southern Britain in the 1st century. Their centre lay around today's St Albans (Verlamion) and Colchester.

King Cunobelinus

Under Cunobelinus (Shakespeare's "Cymbeline") the Catuvellauni extended their power widely and struck their own coins with Latin inscriptions. Rome even called him "king of the Britons".

Caratacus and the fall

His sons, above all Caratacus, led the resistance to the Roman conquest from AD 43. After defeat Caratacus fought on from Wales. The heartland of the Catuvellauni became Roman – Colchester the first colonia of Britain.

"Cunobelinus, king of the Britons."after Suetonius, Caligula 44 (public domain, own translation)

The Catuvellauni stand at the start of British resistance. Continue with the Iceni and Silures.

Read more with us

The Britons · The Iceni · The Atrebates · The Brigantes · The Silures.

Sources & literature

Suetonius, Caligula; Cassius Dio; Tacitus; British coin finds; quote public domain (own translation).

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