Roman administration of Britain

Roman administration of Britain

1. Context

   • Pre Roman Organisation
     • tribes
       • System of chiefdoms
       • No central administrative system
       • Often warring
     • Not based on a single province
       • Regional
   • Purpose of administration
     • Control
       • Barbaric province
       • New
     • Fit Britain into the Roman Empire
     • Resources
   • Type of administration
     • Military
       • Barbaric
       • Size of garrison
       • Governors were all military
         • Agricola

2. Early administration

   • Client Kings
     • Allowed to keep laws and traditions
       • Carry weapons
         • Remain loyal to Rome
           • Some autonomy
           • Gain favour
     • Brigantes, Iceni, Regni/ Atrebates
       • Cogidubnus
         • Fishbourne
   • Transition
   • Successful?
     • Yes
       • Regni/Atrebates
       • Tribes did follow the system
         • Relative peace
       • Establishes a system of Roman Rule
     • No
       • Iceni
         • Boudicca
           • Revolt - against Roman Rule
             • Colchester
         • Trinovantes
       • Brigantes

3. Roman Administration

   • Governor
     • Picked for military Prowess
       • Nature of British Province
       • Agricola
       • Senatorial Class
     • Emperor's representative in Britain
       • Ultimate power in Britain
         • Finance not within his remit
       • In charge of the legions
     • Military
       • Princeps Praetori
         • Commentariensis
           • Speculatores
     • Administration
       • Cornicularii
         • adjudants
         • Beneficiari
           • Stratores
             • Staff of Clerks
       • Law
         • Legatus Juridicus
           • Praetor
         • Governor final court of appeal
     • Cohors Amicourum
       • Unofficial advisors
     • Infrastructure
       • Roads and engineering
   • Procurator
     • Financial control
     • Inferior to governor but not subject to him with direct access to the Emperor
       • Limiting governor's power
     • Junior procurators
       • Mines not under military control and imperial estates
     • Equestrian - lower
     • Census and taxes - anona
     • Economic development
   • Local Administration
     • Colonies
       • 5: Colchester, Gloucester, Lincoln, York, London
         • Legionary Veteran settlements
         • Mini Romes
           • senate
           • Ordo
           • Consuls
       • Model Roman LIfe
     • Civitates
       • converted tribal areas into admin units
       • Grouping tribes into manageable sizes
       • Autonomy
         • Ordo
           • No quaestors or Augustalis
       • Cirencester, Silchester, Winchester
     • Municipium
       • Lower status colony
         • Verulamium
     • Vicus and Pagus
       • Vicus - smallest unit of admin
         • Usually on the forts
       • Pagus
         • Small sub-division
           • Rural area of admin
     • Wales, Cornwall & North
       • remain outside system of admin
         • regional success

4. Changes over time

   • Divided into 2: 193-197
     • Britannia Inferior
     • Superior
   • Divided into 4: 296
     • Maxima Caesarensis
     • Britannia Prima
     • Britannia Secunda
     • Flavia Caesarensis
   • Changes indicate the Roman desire to keep Britain as a province
   • Administration is split
     • Civil
       • Vicar
     • Military
       • Duke
       • Count of the Saxon Shore

5. The Romans were extremely successful in their administration of the Roman Province, in that Britain remains a province for over 400 years. Despite challenges to their power and authority, they were able to adapt and reassert their power. Their only failing being that the province cost more to administer than it gave back to the Empire