Construction of Hadrian's Wall
Hadrian visited Britain in 122 CE as part of his comprehensive tour of the empire's frontiers. The province was experiencing trouble from northern tribes. Hadrian's solution was characteristic of his imperial philosophy: not expansion but fixed, defensible consolidation. The wall was built by three legions: II Augusta, VI Victrix, and XX Valeria Victrix. Original plans called for a turf-and-timber wall 3 metres wide; revised plans specified a stone wall 3 metres wide and perhaps 5-6 metres tall. The full plan was never quite executed as designed — sections differ in construction and date. The system included a fort every 8 Roman miles (with 500-1,000 soldiers), a milecastle every mile, and two turrets between each milecastle. The Vallum — a massive earthwork ditch system — ran parallel to the south, defining the military zone. Forward outpost forts extended north into what is now Scotland. The wall was not simply a barrier but a customs and administrative boundary: goods, people, and taxes were controlled at the gates in the milecastles. It required perhaps 15,000 soldiers to garrison in its peak years.
- Year: 122 CE
- Category: Political
