Britannia Superior
Encyclopedia
Britannia Superior was one of the provinces
of Roman Britain
created around 197 AD by Emperor Septimus Severus immediately after winning a civil war against Clodius Albinus
, a war fought to determine who would be the next emperor. Albinus was the governor of Britannia during that civil war. Severus divided the pre-existing province of Britannia into two parts, the other being Britannia Inferior
to the north with its capital at Eboracum
, or modern York
. Britannia Superior was the southern province of the two, with its capital at Londinium
, or what is today London
. Epigraphic
evidence has shed some light on the extent of Upper Britain and it encompassed all of what is now southern England
as well as Wales
and East Anglia
. However, an official boundary between Britannia Superior and Inferior is still unclear. Most information that is gathered for this region during this time period from about the 2nd century AD to the 3rd century AD is from inscriptions left upon pots, walls, and letters written by the citizens and soldiers.
Approximately a century later, around 293 AD, the province was divided into Britannia Prima
(with a capital at Cirencester
) in the west and Maxima Caesariensis
(with a capital at London
) in the east. This was done by Emperor Diocletian
to make administrative responsibilities over the region more efficient.
. These walls were approximately 20 feet (6.1 m) high. Though the whole of the time that Britannia Superior existed Londinium was its centre for commerce and government, with the governor residing within the city.
ar rank, including the following:
However, not a lot is known about each governor as individuals, or if even this is the entire list of governors for the province from the time of its creation to its dissolution.
Map of both Britannia Superior and Inferior compared to what they became as the Four Provinces of Britannia
Roman province
In Ancient Rome, a province was the basic, and, until the Tetrarchy , largest territorial and administrative unit of the empire's territorial possessions outside of Italy...
of Roman Britain
Roman Britain
Roman Britain was the part of the island of Great Britain controlled by the Roman Empire from AD 43 until ca. AD 410.The Romans referred to the imperial province as Britannia, which eventually comprised all of the island of Great Britain south of the fluid frontier with Caledonia...
created around 197 AD by Emperor Septimus Severus immediately after winning a civil war against Clodius Albinus
Clodius Albinus
Clodius Albinus was a Roman usurper proclaimed emperor by the legions in Britain and Hispania upon the murder of Pertinax in 193.-Life:...
, a war fought to determine who would be the next emperor. Albinus was the governor of Britannia during that civil war. Severus divided the pre-existing province of Britannia into two parts, the other being Britannia Inferior
Britannia Inferior
Britannia Inferior was a subdivision of the Roman province of Britannia established c. 214 by the emperor Caracalla, son of Septimius Severus. Located in modern northern England, the region was governed from the city of Eboracum by a praetorian legate in command of a single legion stationed in...
to the north with its capital at Eboracum
Eboracum
Eboracum was a fort and city in Roman Britain. The settlement evolved into York, located in North Yorkshire, England.-Etymology:The first known recorded mention of Eboracum by name is dated circa 95-104 AD and is an address containing the Latin form of the settlement's name, "Eburaci", on a wooden...
, or modern York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
. Britannia Superior was the southern province of the two, with its capital at Londinium
Londinium
The city of London was established by the Romans around AD 43. It served as a major imperial commercial centre until its abandonment during the 5th century.-Origins and language:...
, or what is today London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Epigraphic
Epigraphy
Epigraphy Epigraphy Epigraphy (from the , literally "on-writing", is the study of inscriptions or epigraphs as writing; that is, the science of identifying the graphemes and of classifying their use as to cultural context and date, elucidating their meaning and assessing what conclusions can be...
evidence has shed some light on the extent of Upper Britain and it encompassed all of what is now southern England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
as well as Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
and East Anglia
East Anglia
East Anglia is a traditional name for a region of eastern England, named after an ancient Anglo-Saxon kingdom, the Kingdom of the East Angles. The Angles took their name from their homeland Angeln, in northern Germany. East Anglia initially consisted of Norfolk and Suffolk, but upon the marriage of...
. However, an official boundary between Britannia Superior and Inferior is still unclear. Most information that is gathered for this region during this time period from about the 2nd century AD to the 3rd century AD is from inscriptions left upon pots, walls, and letters written by the citizens and soldiers.
- See External Links for a map of the region.
Approximately a century later, around 293 AD, the province was divided into Britannia Prima
Britannia Prima
Britannia Prima was one of the provinces of Roman Britain in existence by c. 312 AD. It was probably created as part of the administrative reforms of the Roman Emperor Diocletian after the defeat of the usurper Allectus by Constantius Chlorus in 296 AD. In the 3rd century, the Romans created...
(with a capital at Cirencester
Cirencester
Cirencester is a market town in east Gloucestershire, England, 93 miles west northwest of London. Cirencester lies on the River Churn, a tributary of the River Thames, and is the largest town in the Cotswold District. It is the home of the Royal Agricultural College, the oldest agricultural...
) in the west and Maxima Caesariensis
Maxima Caesariensis
Maxima Caesariensis was the name of one of the four provinces of later Roman Britain . Its capital was Londinium and probably encompassed what is now south east England. Originally, its governors were of equestrian rank but by the mid fourth century they had to be of consular rank...
(with a capital at London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
) in the east. This was done by Emperor Diocletian
Diocletian
Diocletian |latinized]] upon his accession to Diocletian . c. 22 December 244 – 3 December 311), was a Roman Emperor from 284 to 305....
to make administrative responsibilities over the region more efficient.
Londinium
During the civil war between Severus and Albinus, Albinus ordered the construction of a defending wall around LondiniumLondinium
The city of London was established by the Romans around AD 43. It served as a major imperial commercial centre until its abandonment during the 5th century.-Origins and language:...
. These walls were approximately 20 feet (6.1 m) high. Though the whole of the time that Britannia Superior existed Londinium was its centre for commerce and government, with the governor residing within the city.
The Governors
The Governors of Upper Britain were generally of consulConsul
Consul was the highest elected office of the Roman Republic and an appointive office under the Empire. The title was also used in other city states and also revived in modern states, notably in the First French Republic...
ar rank, including the following:
- Tiberius Julius Pollienus AuspexTiberius Julius Pollienus AuspexTiberius Julius Pollienus Auspex was a governor of Britannia Superior, a province of Roman Britain possibly between AD 223 and 226.He may also have been the same man who was governor of Numidia c. 217 to 220....
, 223-226 - Caius Junius Faustinus PostumianusCaius Junius Faustinus PostumianusGaius Junius Faustinus Postumianus was a governor of Britannia Superior, a province of Roman Britain probably some time between 222 and 235.He served as a staff officer under Septimius Severus during the emperor's campaigns in Britain c. 210 although little else is known of him.-See also:* Junia...
, sometime between 227-235 - RufinusRufinus (Roman governor)... Rufinus is the fragment of the name of a governor of Britannia Superior, a province of Roman Britain probably some time during the early third century AD. He may have been the same man as Aulus Triarius Rufinus who held the consulship in 210 although Quintus Aradius Rufinus who was consul ten...
(not his complete name), ?. Could have been one of a few men. - Marcus Martiannius PulcherMarcus Martiannius PulcherMarcus Martiannius Pulcher was a governor of Britannia Superior, a province of Roman Britain probably some time during the third century AD.The only evidence of his work is an inscription which was found in 1975, re-used as part of the fourth century riverside defences in London. It states that he...
, ?. He is believed to have undertook restoration projects around the city in peacetimes. - Titus Desticius JubaTitus Desticius JubaTitus Desticius Juba was a Roman governor of Britain during the 250s.He had served in Rome as consul and some time later was posted to Britannia Superior. The barracks at Caerleon were refurbished under his governorship between the years 253 and 255....
, 250s
However, not a lot is known about each governor as individuals, or if even this is the entire list of governors for the province from the time of its creation to its dissolution.
External links
- http://www.vanderbilt.edu/AnS/Classics/roman_provinces/britain/image21.htm
Map of both Britannia Superior and Inferior compared to what they became as the Four Provinces of Britannia