Before the Romans it was the site of the capital of the Catuvellauni[?] tribe, the settlement was established by their leader Tasciovanus[?].
The Roman settlement was granted the rank of municipium in c. AD 50. It grew to a significant town, despite the attentions of Boudicca of the Iceni[?] in AD 61. It had municipium status and grew steadily - by the early 200s it covered an area of about 125 acres, behind a deep ditch and wall. It had a forum, basilica and a theatre, most of which were destroyed during two fires, one in AD 155 and the other around AD 250. The town was rebuilt in stone rather than timber at least twice over the next 150 years. Occupation by the Romans ended between 450 and 500.
There are a few remains of the city, such as parts of the city walls and a hypocaust[?] and theatre. The city was ransacked for building material when St Albans was founded. More remains are believed to exist under agricultural land near St Albans, which has apparently never been investigated by archaeologists.
Search Encyclopedia
|
Featured Article
|