History of Cardiff - The Roman Settlement

The Roman Settlement

Main article: Cardiff Roman Fort See also: Roman conquest of Britain and Sub-Roman Britain

Excavations from inside Cardiff Castle walls suggest Roman legions arrived in the area as early as the 54–68 CE during the reign of the Emperor Nero. The Romans defeated the Silures and exiled Caratacus to Rome. They then established their first fort, built on this strategically important site where the River Taff and River Ely enter the Bristol Channel, on a 10 acres (4.0 ha) site on which were built timber barracks, stores and workshops.

The Silures were not finally conquered until c. 75 CE, when Sextus Julius Frontinus' long campaign against them began to succeed, and they gained control of the whole of Wales. The Roman fort at Cardiff was rebuilt smaller than before, in the 70s CE on the site of the extensive previous settlement dating from the 50s CE. Another fort was built on the site around the year 250, with stone walls 10 ft (3.0 m) thick along with an earth bank, to help defend against attacks from Hibernia. This was used until the Roman army withdrew from the fort, and from the whole of the province of Britannia, near the start of the 5th century.