The Catuvellaunii (meaning probably good in battle) were one of the Celtic tribes living in the British Isles, before the Roman invasion of Britain. The tribe lived in southern England, in modern Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and southern Cambridgeshire. Their capital was Verulamio or Verulamion (meaning settlement above the marshes), close to modern St Albans. The Romans Latinised this name as Verulamium, for the town it built nearby.

The first record of the Catuvellaunii dates from 54 BC, during Julius Caesar's second exploratory landing in Britain. Despite the fact that they are not mentioned as a tribe, in his reports on the Gallic Wars (De bello gallico), Caesar names one Cassivellaunus as the leader of the combined force opposing the Roman invasion, . This king was the warlord of the lands ascribed to the tribes, permitting the inference. The Catuvellaunii are probably the otherwise unknown Cassi tribe described by Caesar.

In the following years, the Catuvellaunii become a powerful tribe and their first king known by numismatic evidence is Tasciovanus, who was the probable founder Verulamion. In the 20s, evidence suggests a state of war with the neighbour tribe of the Atrebates, during the rule of Cunobelin. It was this conflict that provided the excuse for the Roman invasion led by emperor Claudius. Following the Roman conquest of 43, they become quickly Romanised. Nevertheless, the adoption of a Roman lifestyle did not prevent the birth of a rebel in the tribe: Caratacus.

Notable Catuvellaunii

Kings

Note: Different sets of issued coins suggest the existence of several sub-kings of the Catuvellauni, organised in a federation, which are not listed here.

• Cassivelaunus (?)
• Tasciovanus, ruled ca.20 BC-ca.10 AD, pursued war against the Trinovantes
• Cunobelinus, son of the above, ruled ca.10_ca.42 AD, also king of the Trinovantes, pursued war with the Atrebates. His life is portrayed in William Shakespeare's tragedy Cymbeline
• Togodumnus, son of the above, ruled ca.42_ca.43 AD, died in the battle of Medway against the Romans

Others

• Adminius, son of Cunobelin, struggled for power with Togodummus
• Caratacus, son of Cunobelin, leader of Welsh resistance against Rome
• Epaticcus (died ca. 35 AD), brother of Cunobelin, issued his own coinage and fought actively against the Atrebantes

See also: List of Celtic tribes

External link

• Comprehensive information on Roman Britain (http://www.roman-britain.org)