Some Insight on the Trinovantes

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The Trinovantes
The present paper aims to provide insight into the southeastern British tribe known as the Trinovantes. The essay begins with the Trinovantes first interaction with Rome and concludes at the height of the tribe’s power, under the ruler Cunobelin. Research has been conducted through an investigation of important historical figures in southeastern Britain during the aforementioned time period and their relation to the Trinovantes. This research has been done primarily, through the consultation of scholarly sources. Additionally, an archaeologically based analysis of coinage has been conducted to provide further information on these figures and the culture of the tribe, both prior to and after interaction with Rome.
Julius Caesar and The Trinovantes
The Trinovantes’ earliest interaction with Rome occurred during Julius Caesar’s campaign of southeast Britain in 54 B.C. During this campaign, Mandubracius, the young son of the murdered Trinovantian king, Imanuentius, requested Caesar’s protection. In his account, Caesar agreed to bring Mandubracius under his protection, in return for Trinovantian support (Caesar 5.20, Gallic War). It is important to highlight this interaction because it is the earliest mention of the Trinovantian tribe in the historical record. Furthermore, Mandubracius was the first southeastern Britannic leader that sought Caesar’s protection. William Ferguson Tamblyn, notes, “the son of the ex-king of Trinovantes…[took] refuge with Caesar…eager to be revenged on Cassivellaunus with Roman help” (Tamblyn 23, The establishment of Roman power in Britain). In the above passage, Mandubracius is described as seeking out Caesar with the intent of having revenge against Cassivellaunus. Further knowledge of Ca...

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...of Cunobelin, the Trinovantes entered a period of political stability for nearly forty years. Dunnett notes that “Under Cunobelin the Catuvellauni and the Trinovantes were merged and the great oppidum at Camulodunum [flourished]” (Dunnett 30). One key reason for Cunobelin’s success that is seldom discussed was his ability to merge the Trinovantes and their long-time enemies, the Catuvellauni, under a single banner. Cunobelin, unlike his predecessors, realized that in order to have stability in southeastern Britain, these two tribes could not co-exist as separate entities. Thus by uniting the tribes, strengthening Camulodunum, creating a more sophisticated culture that drew on Roman influence and by conquering other territories such as Kent, Cunobelin was able to create an expansive and powerful kingdom that was unrivaled by any of the rulers that came before him.

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