Julius Caesar's Invasions of Britain 55 & 54 BC

In 55 & 54BC, Julius Caesar led two military expeditions to Britain.

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You will probably know that Britain (or at least a large part of it) was part of the Roman Empire, but the mighty Caesar's invasions were nearly 100 years before that happened.

Having conquered Gaul, modern-day France, the Roman leader turned his attention to the island of Britain, or Britannia.

In the summer of 55BC Caesar's invasion fleet appeared beneath the white cliffs of Dover.
On top of the cliffs, waiting to meet him were hundreds, maybe thousands of warriors.
Their long hair billowing in the wind. Their upper bodies bare, shaved and dyed blue from woad.Chariots arrayed.
The sight must have weakened even the hardest Roman legionnaire.

In a fierce battle in the waves, Caesar's army stormed ashore but having established a beachhead disaster struck.
A storm wrecked his fleet and he was nearly stranded on this island on the edge of the known world.
Salvaging most of his ships he beat a retreat back across the channel.

The following year he returned with an army of 5 legions plus cavalry.

Marching inland, he crossed the Thames and inflicted a series of defeats on the Britons under their leader Cassivellaunus.

But rather than adding Britannia to the Roman Empire, he once more withdrew and Britain was to remain free from Roman rule for another century.

This is the story of Julias Caesar's two invasions of Britain in 55BC and 54BC.

Chapters
0:00 Introduction
1:24 Iron Age Britain
3:56 reasons for Invasion
7:27 Caesar prepares
9:29 Invasion 55 BC
11:08 Battle on the Beach
13:35 Near Disasters
15:39 Caesar Withdraws
17:05 Invasion 54 BC
18:35 Britons Resist
23:35 Caesar Leaves Britain Again
25:45 Britain Is Free

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My name is Chris Green and I love to share stories from British history. Not just because they are interesting but because, good or bad, they have shaped the world we live in today.

History should not be stuffy or a long list of dates or kings & queens.
So rather than lectures or Youtube animations, I tell stories that bring the past to life.

My aim is to be chat as if I were having a coffee or meal with you. Jean in Maryland, USA recently wrote: "Chris, is the history teacher I wish I had at school!"

Just for the record, I do have a history degree in Medieval & Modern history from the University of Birmingham.

Disclaimer: All opinions and comments expressed in the 'Comments' section do not reflect the opinions of Chris Green Communication Ltd t/a The History Chap. All opinions and comments should contribute to the dialogue. Chris Green Communication Ltd does not condone written attacks, insults, racism, sexism, extremism, violence or otherwise questionable comments or material in the 'Comments' section, and reserves the right to delete any comment violating this rule or to block any poster from the channel.

[kennydalglish]

My grandad was a freedom fighter in the Yugoslavian resistance in the war and a liaison with SOE only because he somewhat knew english. For that reason or another he was a true Anglophile with deep love for anything British. Now he's gone and my passion for english culture and tradition is a part of his legacy. I am happy to have found History chap, well done sir! Your content is simply amazing.

[bob_the_bomb]

I thought Caesar landed at Pegwell Bay near Ramsgate. No cliffs there…and he lost his ships through being unaware of the effects of tides as there isn’t much tidal effect in the Mediterranean…

… but then again my school history classes were so long ago my teacher could have been an eye witness!

[BoerChris]

Great presentation! You know, with every video you present, I learn something new. And YES, I would love to hear more about pre-Roman Britain. This is a subject that is under-covered on YouTube, and certainly has not had the kind of exciting delivery that you specialise in.

[rolandskilton]

Very good Chris, I’m 61 years old and learning something new in the incredible history of our Beautiful Island.love your posts keep them coming.THANKYOU

[josephnardone]

Thanks! Another excellent and informative video. I read about Caesar's exploits in Britain but not in as much detail. Yes, I would like to learn about Britain at the time of Caesar as you indicated. The movies, TV and books give a different picture than what you described.

[Katmando]

Great video chris. Years ago I used to go to devils Dyke outside wheahampstead.This was the sight where caesar defeated cassievalaunus in 54 BC
Magnus Magnussonn did a documentary interviewing the late Sir Mortimer Wheeler. The great archaeologist who did some excavations there in the 1930's.

[ModernPracticalStonemason]

Yes.

But also, as a fellow admirer of Rome who’s heard this story and read this story a thousand times.

I have to give you this compliment, you have honestly given me such a different look on invasions into Britain you have absolutely blown my mind. Thank you.

[brianivey]

Excellence in any Era, what a channel!!

[davidwoods]

I am amazed with the quality of the colour pictures from so long ago, must have been Kodak film

[umvhu]

During my deployment I read 'The Belgic Wars' as part of my "hurry up and wait" training. I though it's main function was an ego polishing exercise with tenuous ties to reality. The underlying evidence strongly suggests (to my mind) the Briton's mobile warfare tactics knocked the stuffing out of the Roman forces. Six footers were common among the Celtic forces and rare among the Roman forces, they were fighting giants.
Also read "Catch 22" (3 times) far better reading 😉

[christopherwarren]

Hi Chris loved your video on Julius caesar when you going to do another one about the romans invading Britain. Also Chris i wonder if you could do a story about a VC winner from ww2 L/sgt basketfield of the south Staffordshire regiment. He got in Arnhem knocking out 3 to 4 german tanks with a anti tank gun after all the gun crew was killed. There is a monument of him at the site called festivial park near Hanley.

[Kit-vbrm]

YES ! PLEASE DO. ITS SO WONDERFUL TO LEARN ABOUT THIS ERA. THANK YOU.

[jamesabernethy]

Yes.
I came across your channel with your Dad's Army stuff. I've always had this background interest in all eras of history, the Roman period is particularly fascinating. Even though I've watched some good material on TV and YouTube about the Romans I really love how you present things, Although we still have names and dates you have a real talent for the really personal stories. Many things can be factual and interesting, but I feel you show such respect for those individuals.

[BootsontheTable]

Great video as usual Chris, very entertaining and informative. Yes to more!

[mike_oxlong]

You are truly a British hero for the work you do to preserve and present our history on our screens. Your work is criminally underrated and I feel ashamed that I haven't payed as much attention to your channel as I used too over the last 5 months.🇬🇧

[davidwestwood]

At Devil's Dyke there is still an original concrete Roman wall. Within listening area of the modern motorway. Quite amazing. Great video 😊

[andrewsteele]

Thanks again, Chris, another brilliant telling. I was totally ignorant to this part of English history. Cheers

[colinwinterman]

You are a Good One mate, interesting and enjoyable, I wish you all the best

[seandobson]

Hi, Chris, I enjoyed that and, as usual, you mentioned some things that I did not know in a great video, now, how about a video of King Caractacus, who held out againt the Roman invasion of Claudius for some nine years and even when he was handed over to the Romans by Queen Cartimandua, he made such an impresive speach to the Roman Senate, that, instead of being killed after a triumph, as the Romans normally did, he was allowed to live in Rome as a free man.
OK, I know a bit about him from my history leasons in school but given that that was well over 50 plus years ago, I am sure that you will come up with new facts, it's a great story and your Welsh fans, as well as everybody else will simply love it.
keep the great stories coming.
Sean.

[kevwhufc]

Wheathampstead seems to have been the main, earliest settlement of the catuvellauni, although verulam has evidence of some occupation which seems to have started around a decade or so later.
The Belgic pottery found at wheathampstead predates anything found at verulam.
Sadly due to the lack of excavation work, compared to verulam we know very little about wheathampstead and almost everything about verulam.
We know verulam became the cheiftans seat of power from 20 bc, excavations discovered a 'royal palace ' in the centre of the oppidum, a large building surrounded by ditches and a gate house.
Several gate houses are also known for the main settlement.
Wheras at wheathampstead we have no idea where any entrance to the city is.

When i first started working for the museum archaeology team, inbetween rescue digs ( removing archaeology before developers can build)
I was involved in a lot of digs, to discover, to identify to date, purely for archaeological reasons.
But the past 20 years have all been rescue digs,
The museum stopped funding archaeology, its council owned and they don't have enough money .. :/