This article is part of the series on: Image File history File links Rmn-military-header. ... Military of ancient Rome (portal) 800 BC–AD 476 For the military of the East Roman Empire after the fall of the Western Roman Empire, see Byzantine military. ...

Structural history

Roman army (unit types and ranks, legions, auxiliaries, generals)

Roman navy (fleets, admirals)

Campaign history

Lists of wars and battles

Decorations and punishments

Technological history

Military engineering (castra, siege engines, arches, roads)

Personal equipment

Political history

Strategy and tactics

Infantry tactics

Frontiers and fortifications (limes, Hadrian's Wall)

Hadrian's Wall is a stone and turf fortification built by the Roman Empire across the width of modern-day England. It was the second of three such fortifications built across Great Britain, the first being Gask Ridge and the last the Antonine Wall. All three were built to prevent military raids by the Pictish tribes (ancient inhabitants of Scotland) to the north, to improve economic stability and provide peaceful conditions in the Roman province of Britannia to the south, and to mark physically the frontier of the Empire. Hadrian's Wall is the best known of the three because its physical presence remains most evident today. The branches of the Roman military at the highest level were the Roman army and the Roman navy. ... The Roman army was a set of land-based military forces employed by the Roman Kingdom, Roman Republic and later Roman Empire as part of the Roman military. ... This is a list of both unit types and ranks of the Roman army from the Roman Republic to the fall of the Roman Empire. ... This is a list of Roman legions, including key facts about each legion. ... Auxiliaries (from Latin: auxilia = supports) formed the standing non-citizen corps of the Roman army of the Principate (30 BC - 284 AD), alongside the citizen legions. ... // Manius Acilius Glabrio -- Manius Acilius Glabrio (consul 191 BC) -- Manius Acilius Glabrio (consul 91) -- Titus Aebutius Helva -- Aegidius -- Lucius Aemilius Barbula -- Marcus Aemilius Lepidus (triumvir) -- Lucius Aemilius Paulus Macedonicus -- Marcus Aemilius Scaurus (praetor 56 BC) -- Flavius Aëtius -- Lucius Afranius (consul) -- Sextus Calpurnius Agricola -- Gnaeus Julius Agricola -- Flavius Antoninus -- Marcus... Roman trireme, a warship, 31 BC. Note the bank of oars (two on the hidden side), the square-rigged sails, the steering oars, the tower on deck, the ram at the prow, the ballistae and the Greek fire. ... Roman trireme, a warship, 31 BC. Note the bank of oars (two on the hidden side), the square-rigged sails, the steering oars, the tower on deck, the ram at the prow, the ballistae and the Greek fire. ... The history of ancient Rome—originally a city-state of Italy, and later an empire covering much of Eurasia and North Africa from the ninth century BC to the fifth century AD—was often closely entwined with its military history. ... The following is a List of Roman wars fought by the ancient Roman Kingdom, Roman Republic and Roman Empire, organized by date. ... The following is a List of Roman battles (fought by the Roman Kingdom, the Roman Republic, and the Roman Empire), organized by date. ... As with most other military forces the Roman military adopted a carrot and stick approach to military, with an extensive list of decorations for military gallantry and likewise a range of punishments for the punishment of military transgressions. ... The technology history of the Roman military covers the development of and application of technologies for use in the armies and navies of Rome from the Roman Republic to the fall of the Western Roman Empire. ... Roman military engineering is a type of Roman engineering carried out by the Roman Army - almost exclusively by the Roman legions for the furthering of military objectives. ... Basic ideal plan of a Roman castrum. ... Roman siege engines were, for the most part, adapted from Hellenistic siege technology. ... List of ancient Roman triumphal arches (By modern country) // France Orange Reims: Porte de Mars Saint Rémy de Provence: Roman site of Glanum Saintes: Arch of Germanicus Greece Arch of Galerius, Thessaloniki Hadrians Arch, Athens Italy It has been suggested that List of Roman arches in Rome be... Not to be confused with Romans road. ... Roman military personal equipment was produced in large numbers to established patterns and used in an established way. ... Root directory at Military history of ancient Rome Romes military was always tightly keyed to its political system. ... The strategy of the Roman Military encompasses its grand strategy (the arrangements made by the state to implement its political goals through a selection of military goals, a process of diplomacy backed by threat of military action, and a dedication to the military of part of its production and resources... Roman infantry tactics refers to the theoretical and historical deployment, formation and maneuvers of the Roman infantry from the start of the Roman Republic to the fall of the Western Roman Empire. ... Map of all the territories once occupied by the Roman Empire, along with locations of limes Roman military borders and fortifications were part of a grand strategy of territorial defense in the Roman Empire. ... The limes Germanicus, 2nd century. ... This article is about the geological substance. ... Rolled sod Sod is turf and the part of the soil beneath it held together by the roots, or a piece of this material. ... For the fortification of food, see Food fortification. ... For other uses, see Roman Empire (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... The Gask Ridge is the modern name given to an early series of fortifications, built by the Romans in mid-Scotland. ... The Antonine Wall, looking east, from Barr Hill between Twechar and Croy The Antonine Wall, remains of Roman fortlet, Barr Hill, near Twechar Location of Hadrians Wall and the Antonine Wall in Scotland and Northern England. ... A raid is a brief attack, normally performed by a small military force of commandos, or by irregulars. ... A replica of the Hilton of Cadboll Stone. ... http://www. ... This article is about the country. ... Map of the Roman Empire, with the provinces, after 120. ... Roman Britain refers to those parts of the island of Great Britain controlled by the Roman Empire between 43 and 410. ...

The wall marked the northern limes in Britain and also the most heavily fortified border in the Empire. In addition to its use as a military fortification, it is thought that the gates through the wall would also have served as customs posts to allow trade taxation. The limes Germanicus, 2nd century. ... Customs is an authority or agency in a country responsible for collecting customs duties and for controlling the flow of animals and goods (including personal effects and hazardous items) in and out of a country. ... A tax is an involuntary fee paid by individuals or businesses to a state, or to functional equivalents of a state, including tribes, secessionist movements or revolutionary movements. ...

A significant portion of the wall still exists, particularly the mid-section, and for much of its length the wall can be followed on foot. It is the most popular tourist attraction in Northern England, where it is often known simply as the Roman Wall. It was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. English Heritage, a government organization in charge of managing the historic environment of England, describes it as "the most important monument built by the Romans in Britain".^[1] Tourist redirects here. ... UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) is a specialized agency of the United Nations established in 1945. ... A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a specific site (such as a forest, mountain, lake, desert, monument, building, complex, or city) that has been nominated and confirmed for inclusion on the list maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 State... The standard of English Heritage English Heritage is a non-departmental public body of the United Kingdom government (Department for Culture, Media and Sport) with a broad remit of managing the historic environment of England. ...

Dimensions

Sections of Hadrian's Wall remain near Greenhead and along the route, though other large sections have been dismantled over the years to use the stones for various nearby construction projects.

Hadrian's Wall was 80 Roman miles (73.5 English miles or 117 kilometres) long^[2], its width and height dependent on the construction materials which were available nearby. East of River Irthing the wall was made from squared stone and measured 3 metres (9.7 ft) wide and five to six metres (16–20 ft) high, while west of the river the wall was made from turf and measured 6 metres (20 ft) wide and 3.5 metres (11.5 ft) high. This does not include the wall's ditches, berms, and forts. The central section measured eight Roman feet wide (7.8 ft or 2.4 m) on a 10-foot (3.0 m) base. Some parts of this section of the wall survive to a height of 10 feet (3.0 m). Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1296x972, 180 KB) Summary Hadrians wall just east of Greenhead Lough - October 2005 Author: User:Velela. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1296x972, 180 KB) Summary Hadrians wall just east of Greenhead Lough - October 2005 Author: User:Velela. ... A mile is any of several units of distance, or, in physics terminology, of length. ... “Miles” redirects here. ... “km” redirects here. ... The River Irthing is a river in Cumbria, England and a major tributary of the River Eden. ... This article is about a foot as a unit of length. ... Look up Berm in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Route

Map showing the location of Hadrian's Wall

Hadrian's Wall extended west from Segedunum at Wallsend on the River Tyne to the shore of the Solway Firth. The A69 and B6318 roads follow the course of the wall as it starts in Newcastle upon Tyne to Carlisle, then on round the northern coast of Cumbria. The wall is entirely in England and south of the border with Scotland by 15 kilometres (9 mi) in the west and 110 kilometres (68 mi) in the east. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (800x995, 287 KB) This map shows the location of Hadrians Wall and the Antonine Wall in Scotland and Northern England. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (800x995, 287 KB) This map shows the location of Hadrians Wall and the Antonine Wall in Scotland and Northern England. ... Segedunum was a Roman fort in modern-day Northumberland, UK. The fort lies at the eastern end of Hadrians Wall and on the banks of the River Tyne. ... , Wallsend is a town on the north bank of the River Tyne in north Tyneside, Tyne and Wear, England. ... The Tyne looking west and upstream from the Newcastle bank towards the Gateshead Millennium Bridge The Tyne Bridge across the River Tyne between Newcastle and Gateshead. ... Map of Solway Firth. ... Britain has a long history, and has many ancient roads and trackways dating back to the Roman occupation and before, including the worlds oldest engineered road yet discovered, the Sweet Track dating from the 3800s BC. With the advent of the car and the huge expansion in the numbers... This article is about a city in the United Kingdom. ... For other uses, see Carlisle (disambiguation). ... Cumbria (IPA: ), is a shire county in the extreme North West of England. ... The Anglo-Scottish border runs for 96 kilometres (60 miles) between the River Tweed on the east coast and the Solway Firth in the west. ... This article is about the country. ... “Miles” redirects here. ...

Hadrian

Hadrian's Wall was built following a visit by Roman Emperor Hadrian (AD 76–138) in AD 122. Hadrian was experiencing military difficulties in Roman Britain and from the peoples of various conquered lands across the Empire, including Egypt, Judea, Libya, Mauretania, and many of the peoples conquered by his predecessor Trajan, so he was keen to impose order. However the construction of such an impressive wall was probably also a symbol of Roman power, both in occupied Britain and in Rome. This is a list of the Roman Emperors with the dates they ruled the Roman Empire. ... Publius Aelius Traianus Hadrianus (January 24, 76 –– July 10, 138), known as Hadrian in English, was emperor of Rome from 117 A.D. to 138 A.D., as well as a Stoic and Epicurean philosopher. ... Roman Britain refers to those parts of the island of Great Britain controlled by the Roman Empire between 43 and 410. ... Map of the southern Levant, c. ... Bold text:For the modern country, see Mauritania. ... This article is about the Roman Emperor. ...

Frontiers in the early empire were largely based on natural features or fortified zones with a heavy military presence. Military roads often marked the border, with forts and signal towers spread along them, and it was not until the reign of Domitian that the first solid frontier was constructed, in Germania Superior, using a simple fence. Hadrian expanded this idea, redesigning the German border by ordering a continuous timber palisade supported by forts behind it. Although such defences would not have held back any concerted invasion effort, they did physically mark the edge of Roman territory and went some way to providing a degree of control over who crossed the border and where. Titus Flavius Domitianus (24 October 51 – 18 September 96), commonly known as Domitian, was a Roman Emperor of the gens Flavia. ... Categories: Historical stubs | Ancient Roman provinces | German history | Germany | History of the Germanic peoples ... Palisade and Moat A palisade is a Medieval wooden fence or wall of variable height, used as a defensive structure. ...

Hadrian reduced Roman military presence in the territory of the Brigantes, who lived between the rivers Tyne and Humber, and concentrated on building a more solid linear fortification to the north of them. This was intended to replace the Stanegate road which is generally thought to have served as the limes (the boundary of the Roman Empire) until then. The Brigantes were a British Celtic tribe which lived between Tyne and Humber. ... River Hull tidal barrier. ... The Stanegate, or stone road, was an important Roman road in ancient Britain. ...

Construction

Construction probably started in AD 122 and was largely completed within eight years. Construction started in the east and proceeded westwards, with soldiers from all three of the occupying Roman legions participating in the work. The route chosen largely paralleled the nearby Stanegate road from Luguvalium (Carlisle) to Coria (Corbridge), which was already defended by a system of forts, including Vindolanda. The wall in the east follows the outcrop of a hard, resistant igneous diabase rock escarpment, known as the Whin Sill. The wall incorporated Agricola's Ditch.^[3] The wall was constructed primarily to prevent entrance by small bands of raiders or unwanted immigration from the north, not as a fighting line for a major invasion according to Johnson.^[4] This article is about a military rank. ... Legion redirects here. ... Luguvalium (or, possibly, Luguvalium Carvetiorum) was a town in the Roman province of Britannia. ... For other uses, see Carlisle (disambiguation). ... Coria was a fort and town, located 2. ... Corbridge Corbridge is a town in Northumberland, England, situated 25 km (16 miles) west of Newcastle and 6 km (4 miles) east of Hexham. ... Vindolanda was a Roman auxiliary fort located at Chesterholm, just south of Hadrians Wall in northern England, near the border with Scotland, guarding the Roman road from the River Tyne, to the Solway Firth, now known as the Stanegate. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Dolerite. ... Whin Sill is a Sill in the northern-most county of Northumberland, England. ... An invasion is a military action consisting of armed forces of one geopolitical entity entering territory controlled by another such entity, generally with the objective of conquering territory, or altering the established government. ...

The initial plan called for a ditch and wall with eighty small gated milecastle fortlets, one placed every Roman mile, holding a few dozen troops each, and pairs of evenly spaced intermediate turrets used for observation and signalling. Local limestone was used in the construction, except for the section to the west of Irthing where turf was used instead, since there were no useful outcrops nearby. Milecastles in this area were also built from timber and earth rather than stone, but turrets were always made from stone. The Broad Wall was initially built with a clay-bonded rubble core and mortared dressed rubble facing stones, but this seems to have made it vulnerable to collapse, and repair with a mortared core was sometimes necessary. A milecastle was a fortified structure that stood along Hadrians Wall in Great Britain. ... For other uses, see Observation (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Limestone (disambiguation). ...

Roman fort at Corstopitum.

The milecastles and turrets were of three different designs, depending on which Roman legion built them — inscriptions of the Second, Sixth, and Twentieth Legions, tell us that all were involved in the construction. All were about 493 metres (539 yards) apart and measured 4.27 square metres (46.0 square feet) internally. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x766, 780 KB) Summary Scene of the Roman road known as the Stangate, located within the Corbridge Roman Site, Corbridge, UK. Taken by Dennis Moynihan, August, 2005. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x766, 780 KB) Summary Scene of the Roman road known as the Stangate, located within the Corbridge Roman Site, Corbridge, UK. Taken by Dennis Moynihan, August, 2005. ... Corbridge Corbridge is a town in Northumberland, England, situated 25 km (16 miles) west of Newcastle and 6 km (4 miles) east of Hexham. ... Legion redirects here. ... Legio II Augusta, or Second Augustan Legion, was a Roman legion, levied by Gaius Vibius Pansa Caetronianus in 43 BC, and still operative in Britannia in 4th century. ... Legio VI Victrix (Victorious) was a Roman legion founded by Octavian in 41 BC. It was the twin legion of VI Ferrata and perhaps held veterans of that legion, and some soldiers kept to the traditions of the Caesarian legion. ... Legio XX Valeria Victrix was a Roman legion, probably raised by Augustus sometime after 31 BC. It served in Spain, Illyricum, and Germany before participating in the invasion of Britain in 43 AD, where it remained and was active until at least the beginning of the 4th century. ... A yard (abbreviation: yd) is the name of a unit of length in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... A square foot is by definition the area enclosed by a square with sides each 1 foot long. ...

Construction was divided into lengths of about 5 miles (8 km). One group of each legion would excavate the foundations and build the milecastles and turrets and then other cohorts would follow with the wall construction. Cohort may mean: Cohort (military unit), a Roman legion. ...

Early in its construction, just after reaching the North Tyne, the width of the wall was narrowed to 2.5 metres (8.2 ft) or even less (sometimes 1.8 metres) (the "Narrow Wall"). However, Broad Wall foundations had already been laid as far as the River Irthing, where the Turf Wall began, demonstrating that construction worked from east to west. Many turrets and milecastles were optimistically provided with stub 'wing walls' in preparation for joining to the Broad Wall, offering a handy reference for archaeologists trying to piece together the construction chronology. The Tyne looking west and upstream from the Newcastle bank towards the Gateshead Millennium Bridge The Tyne Bridge across the River Tyne between Newcastle and Gateshead. ... The River Irthing is a river in Cumbria, England and a major tributary of the River Eden. ... Turret (highlighted) attached to a tower on a baronial building in Scotland In architecture, a turret is a small tower that projects from the wall of a building, such as a medieval castle or baronial house. ... A milecastle was a fortified structure that stood along Hadrians Wall in Great Britain. ...

Within a few years it was decided to add a total of 14 to 17 (sources disagree) full-sized forts along the length of the wall, including Vercovicium (Housesteads) and Banna (Birdoswald), each holding between 500 and 1,000 auxiliary troops (no legions were posted to the wall). The eastern end of the wall was extended further east from Pons Aelius (Newcastle) to Segedunum (Wallsend) on the Tyne estuary. Some of the larger forts along the wall, such as Cilurnum (Chesters) and Vercovicium (Housesteads), were built on top of the footings of milecastles or turrets, showing the change of plan. An inscription mentioning early governor Aulus Platorius Nepos indicates that the change of plans took place early on. Also some time still during Hadrian's reign (before AD 138) the wall west of the Irthing was rebuilt in sandstone to basically the same dimensions as the limestone section to the east. Vercovicium: Housesteads Roman Fort Vercovicium (or Housesteads Roman Fort) was an auxiliary fort on Hadrians Wall, in the Roman province of Britannia. ... Housesteads Housesteads was a Roman auxiliary fort on Hadrians Wall in Northumberland in northern England, near the border with Scotland. ... // Banna (or Birdoswald Roman Fort) was a fort, towards the western end of Hadrians Wall, in the Roman province of Britannia. ... // Birdoswald Fort is an ancient Roman fort towards the western end of Hadrians Wall. ... Ponte SantAngelo. ... This article is about a city in the United Kingdom. ... The Tyne looking west and upstream from the Newcastle bank towards the Gateshead Millennium Bridge The Tyne Bridge across the River Tyne between Newcastle and Gateshead. ... Remains of the bathhouse of at Chesters fort Cilurnum or Cilurvum was a fort on Hadrians Wall mentioned in the Notitia Dignitatum, now identified with the fort found at Chesters (also known as Walwick Chesters to distinguish it from other Chesters-es in the vicinity). ... This is a partial list of Roman Governors of Britain under the Roman Empire. ... Aulus Platorius Nepos was a Roman politician of the early 2nd century AD. He served as consul in 119 and then governed Germania Inferior. ...

Vallum at Hadrian's Wall near milecastle 42.

After the forts had been added (or possibly at the same time), the Vallum was built on the southern side. It consisted of a large, flat-bottomed ditch six metres (20 ft) wide at the top and three metres (10 ft) deep bounded by a berm on each side 10 metres (33 ft) wide. Beyond the berms were earth banks six metres (20 ft) wide and two metres (6.5 ft) high. Causeways crossed the ditch at regular intervals. Initially the berm appears to have been the main route for transportation along the wall. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2592 × 1944 pixel, file size: 2. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2592 × 1944 pixel, file size: 2. ... Vallum at Hadrians Wall near milecastle 42 The vallum was a component of Hadrians Wall, consisting of a large earthwork and ditch, built parallel with the Wall on the Walls southern side. ... Vallum at Hadrians Wall near milecastle 42 The vallum was a component of Hadrians Wall, consisting of a large earthwork and ditch, built parallel with the Wall on the Walls southern side. ... The Hindenburgdamm rail causeway across the Wadden Sea to the island of Sylt in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany In modern usage, a causeway is a road or railway elevated by a bank, usually across a broad body of water or wetland. ...

The wall was thus part of a defensive system which, from north to south included:

• a glacis and a deep ditch
• a berm with rows of pits holding entanglements
• the curtain wall
• a later military road (the "Military Way")
• a north mound, a ditch and a south mound to prevent or slow down any raids from a rebelling southern tribe.

A glacis, in military engineering (see Fortification and Siege) is an artificial slope of earth in the front of works, so constructed as to keep an assailant under the fire of the defenders to the last possible moment. ...

Garrison

The wall was garrisoned by auxiliary (non-legionary) units of the army (non-citizens). Their numbers fluctuated throughout the occupation but may have been around 9,000 strong in general, including infantry and cavalry. The new forts could hold garrisons of 500 men, while cavalry units of 1,000 troops were stationed at either end. The total number of soldiers manning the early wall was probably greater than 10,000. For people named Garrison, see Garrison (disambiguation) Garrison House, built by William Damm in 1675 at Dover, New Hampshire Garrison (from the French garnison, itself from the verb garnir, to equip) is the collective term for the body of troops stationed in a particular location, originally to guard it, but... The word citizen may refer to: A person with a citizenship Citizen Watch Co. ... Infantry of the Royal Irish Rifles during the Battle of the Somme in World War I Infantry or footmen are very highly disciplined and trained soldiers who fight primarily with small arms(rifles), but are trained to use everything from their bare hands to missle systems in order to neutralize... Not to be confused with Golgotha, which was called Calvary. ...

They suffered serious attacks in 180, and especially between 196 and 197 when the garrison had been seriously weakened, following which major reconstruction had to be carried out under Septimius Severus. The region near the wall remained peaceful for most of the rest of the third century. It is thought that some in the garrison may have married and integrated into the local community throughout the years. Lucius Septimius Severus (or rarely Severus I) (b. ... Matrimony redirects here. ...

Part of Hadrian's wall near Housesteads.

Housesteads Housesteads was a Roman auxiliary fort on Hadrians Wall in Northumberland in northern England, near the border with Scotland. ...

After Hadrian

In the years after Hadrian's death in 138, the new emperor, Antoninus Pius essentially abandoned the wall, leaving it occupied in a support role, and began building a new wall in Scotland proper, about 160 kilometres (100 mi) north, called the Antonine Wall. This turf wall ran 40 Roman miles (about 37.8 mi (60.8 km)) and had significantly more forts than Hadrian's Wall. Antoninus was unable to conquer the northern tribes, so when Marcus Aurelius became emperor he abandoned the Antonine Wall and reoccupied Hadrian's Wall as the main defensive barrier in 164. The wall remained occupied by Roman troops until their withdrawal from Britain. Titus Aurelius Fulvus Boionius Arrius Antoninus Pius (September 19, 86–March 7, 161) was Roman emperor from 138 to 161. ... The Antonine Wall, looking east, from Barr Hill between Twechar and Croy The Antonine Wall, remains of Roman fortlet, Barr Hill, near Twechar Location of Hadrians Wall and the Antonine Wall in Scotland and Northern England. ... Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus (called the Wise) (April 26, 121[2] – March 17, 180) was Roman Emperor from 161 to his death in 180. ... The Roman departure from Britain was nearly completed by 400. ...

In the late fourth century, barbarian invasions, economic decline, and military coups loosened the Empire's hold on Britain. By 410, the Roman administration and its legions were gone, and Britain was left to look to its own defences and government. The garrisons, by now probably made up mostly of local Britons who had nowhere else to go, probably lingered on in some form for generations. Archaeology is beginning to reveal that some parts of the wall remained occupied well into the fifth century. Enough also survived in the eighth century for spolia from it to find its way into the construction of Jarrow Priory, and for Bede to see and describe the wall thus in Historia Ecclesiastica 1.5, although he misidentified it as being built by Septimius Severus: Datation of the reliefs in the Arch of Constantine. ... // The chancel at St Pauls Jarrow – a direct survival from the 7th century when it was a free-standing chapel in the monastery. ... For other uses, see Bede (disambiguation). ... Lucius Septimius Severus (or rarely Severus I) (b. ...

But in time the wall was abandoned and fell into ruin. Over the centuries and even into the twentieth century a large proportion of the stone was reused in other local buildings.

It fascinated John Speed who published a set of maps of England and Wales by county at the turn of the sevententh century. He describes it as 'the Picts Wall' (or 'Pictes'; he uses both spellings). The maps for Cumberland and Northumberland not only show the wall as a major feature, but are ornamented with drawings of roman remains which had been found, together with, in the case of the Cumberland map, a cartouche in which he sets out a description of the wall itself.

John Clayton

Painting by William Bell Scott

Much of the wall has disappeared. The preservation of what remains can be credited to John Clayton. He trained as a lawyer and became town clerk of Newcastle in the 1830s. He became enthusiastic about preserving the wall after a visit to Chesters. To prevent farmers taking stones from the wall, he began buying some of the land on which the wall stood. In 1834 he started purchasing property around Steel Rigg. Eventually he had control of land from Brunton to Cawfields. This stretch included the sites of Chesters, Carrawburgh, Housesteads and Vindolanda. Clayton carried out excavation work at the fort at Cilurnum and at Housesteads, and he excavated some milecastles. Image File history File links Painting by William Bell Scott which shows a centurion supervising the building of Hadrians Wall. ... Image File history File links Painting by William Bell Scott which shows a centurion supervising the building of Hadrians Wall. ... William Bell Scott (September 12, 1811 - November 22, 1890), British poet and artist, son of Robert Scott (1777-1841), the engraver, and brother of David Scott, the painter, was born in Edinburgh. ... John Clayton (10 June 1792 - 14 July 1890) was an antiquarian and town clerk of Newcastle upon Tyne, England during the nineteenth century. ... Remains of the bathhouse of at Chesters fort Cilurnum or Cilurvum was a fort on Hadrians Wall mentioned in the Notitia Dignitatum, now identified with the fort found at Chesters (also known as Walwick Chesters to distinguish it from other Chesters-es in the vicinity). ... Brunton is a village in Northumberland, in England. ... The mithraeum Carrawburgh is a village in Northumberland. ... Housesteads Housesteads was a Roman auxiliary fort on Hadrians Wall in Northumberland in northern England, near the border with Scotland. ... Vindolanda was a Roman auxiliary fort located at Chesterholm, just south of Hadrians Wall in northern England, near the border with Scotland, guarding the Roman road from the River Tyne, to the Solway Firth, now known as the Stanegate. ... Remains of the bathhouse of at Chesters fort Cilurnum or Cilurvum was a fort on Hadrians Wall mentioned in the Notitia Dignitatum, now identified with the fort found at Chesters (also known as Walwick Chesters to distinguish it from other Chesters-es in the vicinity). ...

Clayton managed the farms he had acquired and succeeded in improving both the land and the livestock. His successful management produced a cash flow which could be invested in future restoration work.

Workmen were employed to restore sections of the wall, generally up to a height of seven courses. The best example of the Clayton Wall is at Housesteads. After Clayton’s death, the estate passed to relatives and was soon lost at gambling. Eventually the National Trust began the process of acquiring the land on which the wall stands. The standard of the National Trust The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as The National Trust, is a British preservation organization. ...

At Wallington Hall, near Morpeth, there is a painting by William Bell Scott, which shows a centurion supervising the building of the wall. The centurion has been given the face of John Clayton. Wallington Hall is a country house and gardens located 18. ... William Bell Scott (September 12, 1811 - November 22, 1890), British poet and artist, son of Robert Scott (1777-1841), the engraver, and brother of David Scott, the painter, was born in Edinburgh. ... Look up Centurion in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

World Heritage Site

Hadrian's Wall was declared a World Heritage Site in 1987, and in 2005 it became part of the larger "Frontiers of the Roman Empire" World Heritage Site which also includes sites in Germany. ^[5] A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a specific site (such as a forest, mountain, lake, desert, monument, building, complex, or city) that has been nominated and confirmed for inclusion on the list maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 State... A limes is a Roman wall marking the boundaries of the Roman Empire. ...

Hadrian's Wall Path

Main article: Hadrian's Wall Path

In 2003, a National Trail footpath was opened which follows the line of the wall from Wallsend to Bowness-on-Solway.^[6] Because of the fragile landscape, walkers are asked only to follow the path in summer months.^[7] The Hadrian’s Wall Path is a national long distance footpath in the north of England. ... National Trails is an umbrella agency of the UK government which has a mandate to promote, maintain and develop the network of long distance footpaths in England and Wales. ... , Wallsend is a town on the north bank of the River Tyne in north Tyneside, Tyne and Wear, England. ... The estuary of the River Nith, opening into Solway Firth. ...

Roman-period names

The remains of milecastle 39, near Steel Rigg, between Housesteads and Once Brewed National Park.

The remains of a fort near Housesteads.

No sources survive to confirm what the wall was called in antiquity, and no historical literary source gives it a name. However, the discovery of a small enamelled bronze Roman cup in Staffordshire in 2003 has provided a clue. The cup is inscribed with a series of names of Roman forts along the western sector of the wall, together with a personal name and a phrase: Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 533 pixelsFull resolution (2304 × 1536 pixel, file size: 920 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 533 pixelsFull resolution (2304 × 1536 pixel, file size: 920 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... A milecastle was a fortified structure that stood along Hadrians Wall in Great Britain. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2592 × 1944 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2592 × 1944 pixel, file size: 1. ...

MAIS COGGABATA VXELODVNVM CAMBOGLANNA RIGORE VALI AELI DRACONIS

Bowness (MAIS) is followed by Drumburgh-by-Sands (COGGABATA) until now known only as CONGAVATA from the late Roman document, the Notitia Dignitatum. Next comes Stanwix (VXELODVNVM), then Castlesteads (CAMBOGLANNA). The Notitia Dignitatum is a unique document of the Roman imperial chanceries. ...

RIGORE is the ablative form of the Latin word rigor. This can mean several things, but one of its less-known meanings is ‘straight line’, ‘course’ or ‘direction’. This sense was used by Roman surveyors and appears on several inscriptions to indicate a line between places. So the meaning could be ‘from the course’, or better in English 'according to the course'. In linguistics, the ablative case is a noun case found in several languages, including Latin, Sanskrit and in the Finno_Ugric languages. ... For other uses, see Latins and Latin (disambiguation). ...

The Staffordshire Moorlands cup, which provides the ancient name of Hadrian's Wall.

There is no known word as vali, but vallum was the Latin word for a frontier; today vallum is applied to the ditch and berm dug by the Roman army just south of the wall. The genitive form of vallum is valli, so one of the most likely meanings is VAL[L]I, ‘of the frontier’. Omitting one of a pair of double consonants is common on Roman inscriptions; moreover, an error in the transcription of a written note could be the reason: another similar bronze vessel, known as the Rudge Cup (found in Wiltshire in the 18th century) has VN missing from the name VXELODVNVM, for example, although the letters appear on the Staffordshire Moorlands cup. The Rudge Cup only bears fort names. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 497 pixelsFull resolution (1588 × 987 pixel, file size: 334 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) The Staffordshire Moorlands cup, an enamelled Roman bronze vessel (diameter 89. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 497 pixelsFull resolution (1588 × 987 pixel, file size: 334 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) The Staffordshire Moorlands cup, an enamelled Roman bronze vessel (diameter 89. ... Look up Berm in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

The name AELI was Hadrian's nomen, his main family name, the gens Aelia. The Roman bridge at Newcastle-upon-Tyne was called Pons Aelius. In the Roman naming convention used in ancient Rome, male names typically contain three proper nouns which are classified as praenomen (or given name), nomen gentile (or Gens name) and cognomen. ... Aelius was the nomen of the ancient Roman gens Aelia. ... , Newcastle upon Tyne (usually shortened to Newcastle) is a large city in Tyne and Wear, England. ...

DRACONIS can be translated as ‘[by the hand – or property] of Draco’. It was normal for Roman manufacturers to give their names in the genitive (‘of’), and ‘by the hand’ would be understood. The form is common, for example, on Samian ware. Image:Samian. ...

The translation, therefore, could be:

‘Mais, Coggabata, Uxelodunum, Camboglanna, according to the line of the Aelian frontier. [By the hand or The property] of Draco’.

This would mean the Romans knew Hadrian's Wall as the line demarcating Vallum Aelium, 'the Aelian frontier'.

Forts

The Latin and Romano-Celtic names of some of the Hadrian's Wall forts are known, from the Notitia Dignitatum and other evidence: The Notitia Dignitatum is a unique document of the Roman imperial chanceries. ...

• Segedunum (Wallsend)
• Pons Aelius (Newcastle upon Tyne)
• Condercum (Benwell Hill)
• Vindobala (Halton Chesters)^[8]
• Hunnum (Rudchester)^[8]
• Cilurnum (Chesters aka Walwick Chesters)^[8]
• Procolita (Carrowburgh)
• Vercovicium (Housesteads)
• Aesica (Great Chesters)^[8]
• Magnis (Carvoran)
• Banna (Birdoswald)
• Camboglanna (Castlesteads)
• Uxelodunum (Stanwix. Also known as Petriana)
• Aballava (Burgh-by-Sands)
• Coggabata (Drumburgh)
• Mais (Bowness-on-Solway)

Outpost forts beyond the wall include: Segedunum was a Roman fort in modern-day Northumberland, UK. The fort lies at the eastern end of Hadrians Wall and on the banks of the River Tyne. ... , Wallsend is a town on the north bank of the River Tyne in north Tyneside, Tyne and Wear, England. ... Ponte SantAngelo. ... This article is about a city in the United Kingdom. ... Remains of the bathhouse of at Chesters fort Cilurnum or Cilurvum was a fort on Hadrians Wall mentioned in the Notitia Dignitatum, now identified with the fort found at Chesters (also known as Walwick Chesters to distinguish it from other Chesters-es in the vicinity). ... Remains of the bathhouse of at Chesters fort Cilurnum or Cilurvum was a fort on Hadrians Wall mentioned in the Notitia Dignitatum, now identified with the fort found at Chesters (also known as Walwick Chesters to distinguish it from other Chesters-es in the vicinity). ... Remains of the bathhouse of at Chesters fort Cilurnum or Cilurvum was a fort on Hadrians Wall mentioned in the Notitia Dignitatum, now identified with the fort found at Chesters (also known as Walwick Chesters to distinguish it from other Chesters-es in the vicinity). ... The mithraeum Carrawburgh is a village in Northumberland. ... The mithraeum Carrawburgh is a village in Northumberland. ... Vercovicium: Housesteads Roman Fort Vercovicium (or Housesteads Roman Fort) was an auxiliary fort on Hadrians Wall, in the Roman province of Britannia. ... Housesteads Housesteads was a Roman auxiliary fort on Hadrians Wall in Northumberland in northern England, near the border with Scotland. ... Magnis (or Carvoran Roman Fort) was a fort on Hadrians Wall, in the Roman province of Britannia. ... // Banna (or Birdoswald Roman Fort) was a fort, towards the western end of Hadrians Wall, in the Roman province of Britannia. ... // Birdoswald Fort is an ancient Roman fort towards the western end of Hadrians Wall. ... Stanwix is the district of Carlisle immediately over the River Eden from the city centre. ... Burgh by Sands is a village and civil parish in the City of Carlisle district of Cumbria, England, situated near the Solway Firth. ... The estuary of the River Nith, opening into Solway Firth. ...

• Habitancum (Risingham)
• Bremenium (Rochester)^[8]
• Ad Fines (Chew Green) [1]

Supply forts behind the wall include: Bremenium was an ancient Roman fort located at High Rochester, Northumberland, UK. The fort was one of the defensive structures built along Dere Street, a Roman road running from Corbridge to Melrose. ...

• Alauna (Maryport)
• Arbeia (South Shields)
• Coria (Corbridge)
• Vindolanda (Little Chesters)^[8]
• Vindomora (Ebchester)^[8]

Alauna was a fort in the Roman province of Britannia. ... , Maryport is a town within the Allerdale borough of Cumbria, England. ... Arbeia is the site of a Roman fort in South Shields, South Tyneside, which has been partially reconstructed (viz the gatehouse). ... , South Shields is a coastal town in Tyne and Wear, England, on the south bank of the mouth of the River Tyne, with a population of about 90,000. ... Coria was a fort and town, located 2. ... Corbridge Corbridge is a town in Northumberland, England, situated 25 km (16 miles) west of Newcastle and 6 km (4 miles) east of Hexham. ... Vindolanda was a Roman auxiliary fort located at Chesterholm, just south of Hadrians Wall in northern England, near the border with Scotland, guarding the Roman road from the River Tyne, to the Solway Firth, now known as the Stanegate. ... Ebchester is a village in County Durham, in England. ...

See also

Sycamore Gap (the "Robin Hood Tree")^[9]

Military of ancient Rome Portal

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Hadrian's Wall

• Anglo-Scottish border
• Antonine Wall
• English Heritage Properties in England
• Gask Ridge
• Hadrian's Wall long-distance footpath
• History of Northumberland
• History of Scotland
• List of walls
• Roman Britain
• Separation barrier
• Scots' Dike
• Silesia Walls

Image File history File links CRW_2684. ... Image File history File links CRW_2684. ... Download high resolution version (1932x1288, 436 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... The Anglo-Scottish border runs for 96 kilometres (60 miles) between the River Tweed on the east coast and the Solway Firth in the west. ... The Antonine Wall, looking east, from Barr Hill between Twechar and Croy The Antonine Wall, remains of Roman fortlet, Barr Hill, near Twechar Location of Hadrians Wall and the Antonine Wall in Scotland and Northern England. ... English Heritage Properties in England is a link page for any stately home, historic house, castle, abbey, museum or other property in the care of English Heritage. ... The Gask Ridge is the modern name given to an early series of fortifications, built by the Romans in mid-Scotland. ... The Hadrian’s Wall Path is a national long distance footpath in the north of England. ... // Northumberland, Englands most northerly county, is a land of historical extremes. ... Stirling Castle has stood for centuries atop a volcanic crag defending the lowest ford of the River Forth. ... tubgirl. ... Roman Britain refers to those parts of the island of Great Britain controlled by the Roman Empire between 43 and 410. ... Separation barriers (separation walls, security fences) are constructed to limit the movement of people across a certain line or border or to separate two populations. ... The Scots Dike or dyke is a three and a half mile / 5. ...

Notes

Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 330th day of the year (331st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 330th day of the year (331st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 330th day of the year (331st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Basic ideal plan of a Roman castrum. ... Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves was a 1991 film directed by Kevin Reynolds. ...

References

• Forde-Johnston, James L. Hadrian's Wall. London: Michael Joseph, 1978. ISBN 0-7181-1652-6.
• de la Bédoyère, Guy. Hadrian's Wall. A History and Guide. Stroud: Tempus, 1998. ISBN 0-7524-1407-0.
• Burton, Anthony Hadrian's Wall Path. 2004 Aurum Press Ltd. ISBN 1-85410-893-X
• Hadrian's Wall Path (map). Harvey, 12-22 Main Street, Doune, Perthshire FK16 6BJ. harveymaps.co.uk
• Tomlin, R.S.O., 'Inscriptions' in Britannia (2004), vol. xxxv, pp.344-5 (the Staffordshire Moorlands cup naming the Wall).
• A set of Speed's maps were issued bound in a single volume in 1988 in association with the British Library and with an introduction by Nigel Nicolson as 'The Counties of Britain A Tudor Atlas by John Speed'.

External links

• General information, pictures and travels by bike in the area
• Hadrian's Wall.org
• Hadrian's Wall National Trail Path
• UNESCO Frontiers of the Roman Empire
• Hadrian's Wall & Housesteads Fort information at the National Trust
• News on the Wall path
• Hadrian's Wall Photographs
• Guy de la Bédoyère's page on the Wall
• Roman Glory Satellite pictures of Hadrian's Wall
• Jack Whyte's Camulod-Eagles Series

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Coordinates: 55°01′27″N, 2°17′33″W Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ...