The Roman Creation, Destruction, and Rebirth of London
Before the arrival of the Romans, the area that would become London was not a significant settlement. It was a landscape of marshy terrain, low gravel hills, and scattered streams feeding into the wide, tidal River Thames. The history of London as a city begins abruptly and deliberately with the Roman conquest of Britain.
1. A Strategic Creation (c. 47-50 AD)
Unlike older British cities such as Colchester or St Albans, London was an entirely Roman invention. Following their invasion in 43 AD, the Romans identified a strategic point on the north bank of the River Thames that was ideal for two key reasons:
- It was the first point upstream from the sea that was narrow enough to construct a bridge, yet the river was still deep enough to allow sea-going ships to sail inland.
- This location provided a perfect central hub for the new network of Roman roads being built to connect their military garrisons and other major towns across the province of Britannia.
Around 47 AD, Roman merchants, administrators, and engineers established a planned settlement here named Londinium. It was not initially a military fortress but a vibrant commercial town, designed from the outset for trade and administration. The first London Bridge, built from wood, was the key to its immediate success, turning the city into the most important transport and supply nexus in the new province.
2. Total Destruction: The Boudican Revolt (60-61 AD)
The fledgling city’s prosperity was brutally short-lived. In 60 AD, Boudica, queen of the Iceni tribe, led a catastrophic rebellion against Roman rule. The wealthy, largely undefended settlement of Londinium was a prime target.
The Roman historian Tacitus recorded that the city’s inhabitants fled as Boudica’s army approached. Those who remained were massacred without mercy, and the entire city was systematically looted and burned to the ground. The destruction was so absolute that archaeologists today can identify a thick red layer of burnt clay, ash, and debris beneath the modern City of London—a stark physical scar of this devastating event.
3. Rebirth and Golden Age (c. 70 AD – 2nd Century)
After crushing the revolt, the Romans rebuilt Londinium on a grander and more organised scale. Over the next century, it grew to become the most important city in Britannia. By around 100 AD, it had replaced Colchester as the provincial capital.
This was Londinium’s golden age, marked by the construction of monumental public buildings befitting its status:
- The Forum and Basilica: At the heart of Roman London was its forum (a vast marketplace and public square) and basilica (a magnificent hall for law courts and administration). At its peak, this complex was the largest north of the Alps, a clear symbol of Londinium’s immense commercial and political power.
- The Amphitheatre: Located near the modern-day Guildhall, a stone amphitheatre was built for public entertainment, which would have included gladiatorial contests, animal hunts, and public executions.
- Temples and the Mithraeum: Citizens worshipped a mix of Roman and local deities. The most famous discovery from this period is the Temple of Mithras, a temple dedicated to a mysterious cult popular with Roman soldiers, which was unearthed in 1954 and is now a fascinating underground museum.
4. The London Wall and Late Roman Decline (c. 190 AD – 5th Century)
Around 200 AD, a massive defensive stone wall was constructed around the landward side of the city. The London Wall was a major feat of engineering, stretching for nearly two miles, standing about 20 feet high, and enclosing an area of approximately 330 acres. It was likely built in response to political instability and the threat of raids. This wall would define the physical boundaries of the City of London for over a thousand years, and impressive sections of it can still be seen today.
From the 3rd century onwards, Londinium began a slow decline. Economic instability across the Roman Empire, raids by Saxon pirates, and internal conflicts led to a shrinking population. Grand buildings fell into disrepair, and the city’s influence waned.
5. Abandonment and the “Saxon Hiatus”
When the Roman legions officially withdrew from Britain in 410 AD, Londinium was a shadow of its former self. The remaining Romano-British population eventually abandoned the walled city, and for several centuries, it became a largely empty ruin. The early Anglo-Saxons who settled in the region preferred not to live within the decaying Roman walls, establishing their own settlement, Lundenwic, about a mile to the west in the area of modern-day Aldwych and Covent Garden. The ancient Roman city became a ghost town, its mighty forum and basilica crumbling into the earth, awaiting rediscovery centuries later.
