Guernsey Celts & Guernsey Romans – A Timeline

Up until the mid 1980’s it was thought that the Roman Empire had completely passed the Channel Islands by as no real record of Roman settlement had ever been found. It was concluded therfore that the Channel Islands had remained largely Celtic for the duration of the Roman occupation of Gaul. However since then there has been a veritable explosion of Archaeological evidence to suggest quite the opposite – that Guernsey was very much a part of the Roman World.

The archaeology seems to be saying that Caesars Gallic Wars in the 50s BC drove many of the mainland Celts ‘offshore’ to Jersey where a large number of buried Celtic coin hoards dating to this periosd have been found. Curiously though no hoards have ever been found in Guernsey. This plus the fact that there is much more evidence of a Romanised occupation in Guernsey than Jersey has lead to the untruguing hypothesis that Guernsey was more Romaised at this time than Jersey deterring fleeing Celts from seeking refuge there. If this is true then it points to Guernsey being a part of the Roman world long before Caesar’s Legions conquered Gaul.

In this article we look at the interface between these two worlds – The Guernsey Celts that became Guernsey Romans.


GUERNSEY CELTS


Before the Romanisation of Guernsey began in the first century BC the people living in Guernsey were Celtic both in culture, technology and language.

There is much evidence for the Celtic society in Guernsey most notably from grave goods, warrior burials and the ‘jewel’ in the Celtic crown … The King’s Road Warrior Burials.

King’s Road Settlement & Cemetary

The largest area of Celtic settlement we know of on Guernsey lies to the east of King’s Road, on the outskirts of St Peter Port. It was first recognised in 1980 when a new school boarding house was built. Since then, archaeological excavations have taken place in several different areas along the road, revealing evidence of settlement and burials spanning several centuries.

KingsRoadRoundHouseIn 2005 a large Celtic roundhouse, about 8m in diameter, was excavated here with postholes marking the outline of the structure clearly visible, cut into the gravelly natural rock. The pottery found within the roundhouse suggests that it dates from the early or middle Iron Age, perhaps the 6th-5th centuries BC.

Roman maps suggest the name they attrubuted to the island at this time was ‘Lisia’

It is highly likely that the Guernsey Celts would already have been friendly to the Romans before they conquered the nearby coasts of Gaul in 56BC. It’s known for example that ships were stopping here carrying Roman pottery and wine possibly as early as 120BC. The island was on the route taken by merchant ships sailing up the Atlantic Coast of Gaul and into the Channel. Roman objects found in the islands came from modern France, Germany, Britain, Spain, Italy, North Africa and even Palestine and included olive goods such oil and fish sauce carried in amphorae. Roman maps suggest the name they attrubuted to the island at this time was ‘Lisia’.


GUERNSEY ROMANS


The Romanisation of Guernsey

Whilst the Romanisation of Guernsey and her people was undoubtedly well under way by the mid first century BC it was Julius Caesar’s conquest of nearby Gaul between 58 and 50 BC that would propel Guernsey firmly into teh Roman world.

In 56 BC Armorica, the region in north-western Gaul which included the Channel Islands, was subdued following the defeat of Viridovix, the ruler of the tribe known as the Unelli. Although these islands technically came under Roman rule from that date, the reality must have been much more complicated. It is likely that there was continued resistance to Roman rule in some quarters, while other areas adapted much more readily to the new political system.

Although as already mentioned it is likely that Guernsey adopted a pro-Roman position from an early stage, perhaps as far back as the late second century BC. when the island began to receive amphorae and the first luxury items traded from Rome. The local population was taking advantage of the location of what is now St Peter Port – the best natural harbour in the Channel Islands – which served as a useful ‘refuelling’ point for fresh water, and perhaps for salt for preserving foodstuffs.

Jersey, in contrast, remained more ‘Celtic’. The population were less willing to engage in trade with Rome. Access to the island was hampered by the lack of an equivalent to St Peter Port, and even more difficult rocks, tides and currents to negotiate. The contrast between the two islands is demonstrated very clearly by the presence of more than a dozen Celtic coin hoards on Jersey, containing more than 90,000 coins compared to five Celtic coins found on Guernsey!

Changing St Peter Port

Roman St Peter PortRoman-style Buildings were constructed on the site of modern St Peter Port from the first century AD, although islanders had already been living there for at least 2,000 years. Most of the people living there would have been locals rather than Italians, but they soon had tastes for Roman food and luxuries.

Remains of Roman buildings have been found at La Plaiderie and in the Bonded Store, beneath the Markets. With the best natural harbour in the Channel Islands it became an important port-of-call for Roman shipping. Some Roman sites have also been found in Jersey, but it does not seem to have been as important to the Romans. In all Guernsey would be a part of the Roman Empire for over 400 years.

‘Asterix’

Testament to St Peter Ports role as a centre of commerce was confirmed with the discovery of a Celtic/Roman ship in 1981, later nicknamed ‘Asterix’.

It’s estimated that Asterix had caught fire and sunk around 280 A.D. whilst in the Roman harbour. The ship had been carrying pine tar in blocks in its aft hold. These melted in the fire, trapping over a thousand objects from the burning ship. When the ship sank, the fire was put out and the tar set in a solid mass. This stroke of luck meant that timbers at the stern were preserved in such detail that the marks of saws, axes and other tools could still be seen on them. Trapped objects included roof tile and pottery from Algeria, Spain, France and Britain. Even leftover food was stuck in the bilge at the bottom of the ship.

Decline and Fall

‘Asterix’ sank at a time of growing trouble for the Romans.

The Western Roman Empire suffered increasing crises during the third and fourth centuries. ‘Barbarians’ such as the Saxons raided the eastern borders and coasts and there were frequent rebellions by generals. Forts were built to guard the coasts of Britain and Gaul (France).

A small Roman fort was built in Alderney, probably as a base for naval patrols against pirates and raiders. At some time between AD400 and AD500, Guernsey ceased to be controlled by Rome.



Guernsey Celts and Guernsey Romans
CHANNEL ISLANDS
WORLD

Guernsey Celts

Celtic round houseCeltic roundhouses of the style found at King’s Road were in use at this time on the island.

500 B.C.

Celts Sack Rome

Celtic Gauls Sack RomeCelts led by Brennus of the Senones (a Gaulish tribe originating from northern France) sack Rome.

390 B.C.

The Greeks Circumnavigate Britain

Pytheus RouteThe great Greek geographer Pytheas of Massalia (modern-day Marseille) makes a voyage of exploration to northwestern Europe and is the first recorded mariner to circumnavigate Britain.

325 B.C.

King's Road

Guernsey Iron Age WarriorCeltic burials at King’s Road

The site included a least one round house and a small cemetery. Excavations have found three men buried with long iron swords at their sides and a woman with fine bronze circlets around her neck and arm.

280 B.C.

Second Punic War

Map of Rome and Carthage at the start of the Second Punic WarRome defeats Carthage in the Second Punic War – also referred to as The Hannibalic War by the Romans.

Carthage lost Hispania forever, and Rome firmly established her power there over large areas. Rome had taken a key step towards what ultimately became her domination of the Mediterranean world.

221-218 B.C.

Roman Empire Expands into Iberia

Rome conquers Iberia and Lusitania (modern day Spain and Portugal).

154-146 B.C.

Roman Empire Expands into Southern France

Rome takes Transalpine Gaul (Southern France) to secure the land route into the new colonies of Iberia and Lusitania.

121 B.C.

Celtic Burials

A Warrior class of Chieftans continues on in Guernsey with further Celtic Warrior burials dating to 75 B.C.

75 B.C.

Spartacus Leads a Major Slave Revolt

Roman collared slavesSpartacus (111–71 BC), a Thracian gladiator, along with the Gauls Crixus, Oenomaus, Castus and Gannicus, lead a major slave uprising against the Roman Republic.

73-71 B.C.

Caesars Gallic Wars

The Roman Empire Around 50BCBetween 50-58 B.C. Julius Caesar leads his legions in the conquest of Gaul. Although by this time Roman influence in the island will have already been felt the Roman Empire is now literally on Guernsey’s doorstep.

58-50 B.C.

Guernsey Comes Under Roman Rule

The Gauls Surrender to CaesarIn 56 B.C. Julius Caesar conquered Amorica, modern day Brittany.

With the surrender of the last Amorican tribes in mainland France Guernsey can be considered to have formally come under Roman rule.

56 B.C.

Caesar Assassinated

Julius Caesar's AssassinationJulius Caesar is assassinated. There then follows a period of civil war until Caesar’s adopted son Augustus becomes the first Emperor. (see our article Beware the Ides of March : The Great Caesar is Assasinated)

Read More...44 B.C.

Unrest in the Channel Islands

Grouville Hoard CoinThe period of unrest in the Roman world extends to the Channel Islands as evidenced by the burying of coin hoards in Sark and Jersey. (see our article Ancient Celtic offshore Banking)

Read More...56-20 B.C.

The First Emperor of Rome

Caesar AugustusAugustus Caesar becomes the first Emporer of Rome

27 B.C.

Jesus Christ is Born

In 525 an Italian monk, Dionysius Exiguus, was commissioned by the pope to produce what we now know as the Anno Domini dating system. However an error made in the original calculations means that Jesus was actually born in 6 B.C. rather than 0 A.D. You can read more about this rather curious fact in our article Anno Domini – Origin of the Western Calendar

Read More...6 B.C.

Invasion of Britain

Rome invades Britain. (see our article Invasion – Rome’s Assault on Brittania)

Read More...43 A.D.

La Plaiderie Roman Site is Build

Roman Warehouses at La Plaiderie in GuernseyRoman-style buildings are built in St Peter Port at the modern day site of La Plaiderie (see our article Roman Guernsey)

Read More...50 A.D.

Londinium is Founded

LondiniumLondinium (London) is Founded.

50 A.D.

Roman Province of Britannia Expands

Roman Province of Britannia Expands to cover modern England and Wales.

61-84 A.D.

Pompeii is Destoyed

Pompeii and VesuviusPompeii and Herculaneum are destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.

79 A.D.

Hadrians Wall is Built

Hadrian's WallHadrians Wall is built in northern Britannia.

122 A.D.

Barbarian Invasions

Wars, rebellions and barbarian invasions occur creating a time of ever increasing instability. On average each Emperor rules for just 4 years before being assasinated.

200-300 A.D.

Gaul and Britain break away from Rome as the 'Galic Empire'

Gaul and Britain break away from Rome as the ‘Galic Empire’

260-274 A.D.

Roman ship 'Asterix' Sinks in St Peter Port Harbour

Asterix approaching St Peter PortA Roman ship, later nicknamed ‘Asterix’ catches fire and sinks in St Peter Port Harbour.

280 A.D.

Greek Coin Hoard is buried at Jerbourg

A Greek Coin Hoard is buried at Jerbourg.

295 A.D.

Rome Embraces Christianity as a Religion

Emperor Constantine attributes his Victory over Maxentius to the Christian God. A year later in 313 he issued the Edict of Milan, which, for the first time, made Christianity legal.

Read More...313 A.D.

A Roman Fort is Built in Longis Bay, Alderney

Roman Fort in AlderneyA Roman fort at the Nunnery, Alderney, approximately 40 metres square, is built.

It has rounded corners with semicircular bastions that may have been designed to carry bolt-shooting engines (ballistae). Onginally it had a massive square tower in the centre, with walls 2.8 metres thick. It is believed that it was constructed to protect Roman naval patrol ships based in Longis Bay. (See our article Roman Alderney – Ruin Found to be Roman Fort)

Read More...368 A.D.

Rome Abandons Britain

The Romans abandon Britain and Rome is sacked by the Visigoths.

410 A.D.

Gaul is lost to the Franks

Rome loses control of Gaul to the Franks

486 A.D.

Guernsey and the Frankish Kingdom

Guernsey probably becomes part of the new Frankish kingdom.

486 A.D.


Author: Robert

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