13. F2011 Roman Britian in the 4th Century -Unrest in britain
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Transcript of 13. F2011 Roman Britian in the 4th Century -Unrest in britain
• Restoration of the Empire• Attempting to cope with the
economy– The rich get richer
• Usurpers – British Emperors• Invaders
– The rich flee?
Fourth centurySunset Approaches Unrest at Home and Abroad
1
Ties of Britain and the Empire
• Political– Military and political leaders under central command– Movement of people
• Economic– Trade– Taxes – Money
• Religious– State religion– Hierarchal church
2
Other Ties(for some)
• Commonality of language• “ “ religious beliefs and practices• “ “ culture
3
Restoration of the Empire
• Postumus successors in the Gallic Empire were generally short-lived
• Tetricus was defeated by Aurelian with his own connivance
• Reformation of currency– Increased silver (still only 5%)– Increased weight
4
Tetrarchy
D ioc le tianA u g u s tu s
M axim ian u sA u g u s tu s
C on s tan tiu sC aesar
G au l an d B rita in
G a le riu sC aesarB a lkan s
5
Carausius – Usurper
• Humble origin• Naval commander• Charged with fighting Frankish and Saxon
pirates• Technique is to gain their booty• Sentenced in absentia for embezzlement• Allies with Picts and Scots to defeat British
governor and then captures London.
6
Carausius-Rebuilding the empire
Romano RenovaRoman Renewal
RSRRedeunt saturnia regna
Iam nova progenies caelo demittir alto.(I N P C D A) Virgil, Ecologues IV
The golden age returns.Now a new generation is sent down from heaven above.
7
Carausius
• Hoped to be named third Augustus with Diocletian and Maximian
• Constantius I defeats his Frankish allies.• Assassinated by his minister, Allectus.
8
Taking Control of the Legions
I Minerva
Carausius – the third ruler with Diocletian and Maximian
9
Arrival in Britain
EXPECTATE VENI 10
Allectus-Usurper
• Supported by landowners• Used Frankish and/or Frisian mercenaries• Defeated by Constantius
11
Frome Hoard
• Found 2010• 52,500 coins (160kg)• Largest find of coins
of Carausius
12
Tetrarchy
Diocletian Maximianus
GaleriusConstantius13
Constantius-Rescue Of London
14
Inflation
1
10
100
1000
10000
100000
-100 0 100 200 300 400
Date (CE)
Am
ou
nt
(d)
Wages
Wheat Cost/Yr.
Inflation
Diocletian
15
Diocletian Reforms
• Tetrarchy– Provision for succession; term limits
• Wage and price controls• Reorganization of provinces
– Separation of civil and military• Compulsory service
– Soldiers, bakers, decurions of town councils, and tenant farmers
• State religion
16
Reorganization of provincesH ie ra rchy
P ro v ince (5 0)G o vern or
D io ce se (1 2)V ica r
P ra e to ria n P re fe c t(4 )
17
Reorganization of Britain
18
Governance of Late Roman Britain
C ivita tes
Brittania Prim a
C ivita tes
Brittan ia Secunda
C ivita tes
F lavia Caesa riens is
C ivita tes
M axim a C aesa rensis
C ivita tes
Va len tia?
D iocese-London
Prefect-G aul-T rier
Em peror
Cirencester York Lincoln London ?
19
Military
• Generals-Dux• Comitatenses-field forces
– Auxilia-recruited from Germans
• Limitanei-Garrison troops• German commanders occupy many high
positions; learn Roman tactics• Mercenaries?
20
Economic Reforms
• Maximum Price Edict – Set maximum prices for goods– Set price for labor
• Impact– Black market– In-kind payments– Decline of money economy
21
Fourth Century InflationInflation
1
10
100
1000
10000
100000
280 290 300 310 320 330
Date (CE)
Am
ou
nt
(d)
Wages
Wheat Cost/Yr.
22
Constantine
• 305 Diocletian abdicates• 306 Constantius dies at York fighting Picts
and Scots• 306 Constantine proclaimed by his troops
23
One Unhappy FamilyCrispus
Constantine II
Constantius II
FaustaCon
stan
tine
Helena
Minervina
Constans
24
Christian Emperors
Constantine 327 Vetranio 350 Decentius 353
25
Constantine: Companion of Sol
SOLI INVICTO COMITI
26
Constantine: Mars the Savior
MARTI CONSERVATORI
27
Distribution of Christian
Artifacts
28
Religion and Constantine
• Constantius was less diligent in enforcing Diocletian’s edicts against Christians
• Toleration and restoration of Christianity under Constantine
• Strip some temples of wealth• Julian revival of paganism
29
Church Organization
• Nicaea – primacy of Rome and Alexandria• Metropolitan bishops – capital cities
– Bishops in each city; some market towns, military areas
• Tituli –financed by bishop• Parochiae, dioceses – financed by wealthy and
offerings
30
Corbridge Lanx (Tray)31
Constans Galley CoinsWhich one is forged?
32
Barbarian or Great Conspiracy 367 CE
• Rising sea level in Saxony• Simultaneous raids of Picts, Scots, Attacotti,
Frankish and Saxon pirates• Deaths of leaders Nectaridus, Fullofaudes• Corruption of frontier troops• Put down by Theodosius
33
Theodosian Restoration
• Official Christianity• Rebuild forts along Hadrian’s wall with
reduced garrisons• Saxon shore forts• Addition of circular or polygonal towers to
forts and city walls
34
Notitia Dignatum
35
Northern Defenses• Route along the line of the Wall
– Includes line along west coast– Supporting forts south of Wall – Lanchester, Elslack,
Ribchester, Bainbridge
• Other– HQ – legio VI, York– Arbeia, supply fort; Ribchester, Malton– Signal towers on North Sea
36
Defenses
37
Invasions
• Picts
• Scotti
• Attacotti
• Saxons
38
Picts
Meigle Aberlemno 39
O G H A MGorse Ivy Hawthorn Fir Vine
40
Saxon Shore
41
Comes litoris Saxonici
• Portchester –scouts• Lympne - units from Tournai?• Dover-Tungrians• Richborough – II Augusta• Reculver - infantry from
Weslafen, Germany• Bradwell - remnant from legio
II Traiana Fortis?• Brancaster – Dalmatian
cavalry
42
Saxon Shore Fort
Portchester
43
Alderney
44
Evidence of Decline
• Abandonment of towns• Abandonment of villas• Decline in construction• Less innovation in manufacturing (pottery)
45
Construction
46
47
Occupancy - Villas
Pottery Industry
48
Fortified Cities
Caerwent49
Changing Role of Cities• Basilicas sometimes turned to other uses.• Continue to maintain baths, amphitheaters,
roads and water systems.• Administer taxes. Tax rate from 25% to
33% of gross.• Revenue used to support army and buy
produce.• Decline of long-distance trade – London.
50
Changes in Cities
• In most cases buildings (baths, basilicas, theatres) remained, were partially demolished and were not repaired; some deliberate demolition
• Gates blocked at Silchester, Caerwent, Canterbury
51
New Construction
• Possible agricultural buildings– No verification
• Canterbury, Gloucester – paved courtyard in temple area– Gathering areas for military?
52
Reuse
• Industrial activity– Iron, bronze, lead, pewter and silver working– Glass working, bone working– Found in forum/basilica and temple/’church’
structures
• Recycling• Metal working may have had ritual
significance53
Timber rather than stone
• Structures take advantage of supporting walls
• Previously interpreted as squatters
54
Wroxeter in its last years
55
A Leader in Wroxeter?
Date: 460-475
Inscription:
CVNORIX | MACVSM/A | QVICO[L]I[N]ETranslation:Cunorix son of Maqui Coline .
56
More Usurpers and Barbarians
• Magnus Maximus 383-8– Use of barbarians to
maintain power– Withdraws troops to fight on Continent
• Stilicho, of Vandal birth, commander of field army in the west. – Fights Picts in 398; takes control of sea to
defeat Saxons and Scots
57
Magnus Maximus
58
Foederati - Federates
• Non-Roman troops with non-Roman commanders– Attacotti – Irish federates?– Saxons or Alemanni?
• Declining literacy of the military• Garrison troops (limitanei) -local
59
More Evidence of Decline
• Decrease in money supply– Coin clipping– Hoards– Counterfeits
• Abandonment of shops
Clipped Coins
Mildenhall Treasure
Mildenhall Treasure
Hoxne Hoard
Good luck, Lady Juliana
Hoxne Hoard
Hoards67
Empire under Siege
• Invasions threaten heart of Empire• Troops needed• Britain considered less vital• Is the end near?• Stay tuned
68