Cassivellaunus

Cassivellaunus led the British resistance to Julius Caesar's second invasion and is the earliest named inhabitant of Britain. Everything known about him comes from Caesar's own account in the Gallic War, which is the earliest written record of the island's inhabitants. He ruled a people north of the Thames, generally identified with the Catuvellauni, and had recently made himself dominant over neighbouring tribes — he had killed the king of the Trinovantes, whose son Mandubracius had fled to Caesar in Gaul, and that grievance is what gave Caesar his local allies. The British tribes gave Cassivellaunus overall command when Caesar landed in 54 BC with five legions and two thousand cavalry. He fought a campaign of avoidance. After losing engagements in the open he disbanded most of his infantry and kept about four thousand chariots, using them to harass the column, cut off foraging parties, and attack marching troops before withdrawing into woodland. Caesar's account describes the chariot tactics in detail with evident professional interest — driving along the line throwing javelins, then dismounting to fight on foot with the driver waiting nearby. He also drove cattle and people out of the line of advance. Caesar forced the Thames at a ford defended with stakes, and the Trinovantes and five other tribes submitted and revealed the location of his stronghold, which was taken. Cassivellaunus sued for peace, gave hostages and agreed tribute that was probably never paid, and Caesar left. He disappears from the record. Caesar did not return, and Britain was not invaded again for ninety-seven years.

• Lived: 90 BCE – 40 BCE
• Nationality: British
• Roles: ruler, general