Caesar's Invasions of Britain
Caesar's expeditions to Britain were motivated by several factors: Britain reportedly supplied aid and warriors to Gallic rebels; a conquest of the mysterious island would add to his glory; and the island's tin and pearls were rumoured to be extraordinarily valuable. The 55 BCE expedition nearly ended catastrophically. Caesar's cavalry transports were dispersed by a storm before crossing. When the first landing was resisted on the beach and the fleet was subsequently damaged by a storm, Caesar managed to repair his ships and withdraw. He claimed a victory in his dispatches to Rome, which awarded him twenty days of thanksgiving — unprecedented. In 54 BCE Caesar returned with five legions and 2,000 cavalry, a much larger fleet. He crossed the Thames under fire and penetrated deep into the territory of the Catuvellauni tribe under Cassivellaunus. Cassivellaunus submitted and gave hostages and tribute. Caesar then withdrew permanently. He never returned. Britain remained outside the empire for nearly a century. His accounts in the Gallic War are the first literate descriptions of the island and its people — often ethnographic and sometimes bizarre.
- Year: 55 BCE
- Category: Military
