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The Romans
first invaded Britain in 55 BC when approximately ten thousand men landed
close to Dover and successfully overturned the local Celts. This was not
surprising as the Celts were mainly agricultural people. However with
the expansion of the Roman Empire elsewhere, the Romans pulled back their
forces and were not heard of again for another one hundred years.
In AD 43
an army led by Plautius under order by Emperor Claudius invaded England.
By the end of the first century England was fully occupied by the Romans
although only the south and east of the country were fully developed.
The Romans were in residence influencing many aspects of life for nearly
four hundred years.
In the Cotswolds
a Celtic tribe named the Dubonni were prevalent and their capital lied
a couple of miles to the north of Cirencester. Some say Woodchester Villa
was built upon the site of the settlement of the Dobunni tribe. There
is certainly support for the theory that the Villa was actually the estate
of the descendants of the pre Roman King who had built a fort at Rodborough
and that the wealth and social standing implicit at Woodchester was of
pre Roman origin. There is evidence that the tribe did not always resist
the Romans but actually benefited from them and remained part of the hierarchy.
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