43 CE
The year Rome launched its successful invasion of Britain under Emperor Claudius, beginning nearly four centuries of Roman rule over much of the island.
Conflict & Expansion
- Emperor Claudius ordered the invasion of Britain with a force of approximately 40,000 troops under the command of Aulus Plautius, crossing the English Channel and establishing a beachhead in southeastern England.
- Roman forces defeated the Catuvellauni and their allies at the Battle of the Medway, a two-day engagement that proved decisive in breaking organized British resistance in the southeast.
- Claudius personally traveled to Britain to lead the ceremonial capture of Camulodunum, the principal stronghold of the Catuvellauni, and received the surrender of several British kings.
- The invasion established the new Roman province of Britannia, which would remain under Roman control for over 360 years.
Climate & Environment
- Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration was approximately 278 parts per million, as later confirmed by ice core analysis.
Society & Population
- The global population is estimated to have been approximately 250 million.