In 55 BC, Julius Caesar led two Roman legions across the channel in the first Roman attempt to conqueror Britain.
In 55 BC, Julius Caesar led a Roman campaign against the Celtic tribes of Gaul (modern France). Using the superior discipline of the standard Roman Legionary, he was often able to overcome much larger Celtic (Gallic) armies. After several years of mostly successful campaigns, Caesar turned his attention to the island of Britain. Although the Romans knew very little of Britain, they were aware that it was populated by tribes that were connected to the Gallic Celts by a similar culture and often by family ties. Julius Caesar was convinced that the British Celts were supporting the uprisings he was facing in Gaul.
To open his campaign, he sent a single warship under the command of Volusenus to scout the British coast. Volusenus spent four days sailing up and down the coast gathering information before he returned.
Meanwhile, Caesar had been busy assembling his fleet. He gathered together eighty transports, enough to carry two legions (approx. 10,000 men) across the channel, supported by a small escort of warships. Another 18 transport assembled 8 miles away in order to carry the auxiliary cavalry force.
Caesar launched his fleet at midnight and by nine in the morning on the next day his flag ship had reached the coast of Britain. From his ship, Caesar could see the Celtic sentries posted on the hilltops. Knowing that he faced an opposed landing, Caesar waited until all of the fleet could be brought together. At 3pm he launched his assault.
The Roman legionaries faced a very difficult fight. The transports they rode were too deep in the water to run up to the beach. The soldiers were forced to jump from the ships and wade ashore carrying all of their fighting equipment. Meanwhile the Celts rained missiles down upon them, and the Celtic cavalry raced down the beach to attack isolated groups.
Caesar, seeing his forces in trouble, ordered his warships to move around to the right flank of the invasion and provide cover fire with artillery and missile weapons. He also ordered the warships smaller launches to be loaded with soldiers and rowed ashore.
Eventually, enough legionaries made it ashore that they were able to form together for defence. The Celts had no answer to the tight, well armoured, Roman formations and were eventually forced to retreat.
The Romans took possession of the beach and spent the rest of the day consolidating their position. That night, a vicious storm tore through the channel, destroying many of Caesar’s transports. Also, bad weather had prevented the auxiliary cavalry from making the crossing. The storms continued for days, stopping the Romans from making any kind of offensive moves. Meanwhile, the foraging parties that went out to gather food for the army were under constant threat from Celtic ambushes.
Without his cavalry, and with his ships badly damaged, Caesar made the decision to abandon the campaign. After only a couple of weeks, he brought his army back to the continent. Although the campaign had proved a military failure, Julius Caesar had not abandoned hope of conquering Britain.
