Britannia in the Third CenturyEconomic Decline

Trouble North of the Wall

• Virius Lupus – appeasement through bribes

• Reinforcement of Hadrian’s Wall

• 207 Governor Senecio requests troops

• 208-211 Severan campaign

Praetorian Guard

• Originally from central Italy• Expanded to Gaul and Hispania• Severus recreates guard• Participates in campaigns in Scotland

Severan Campaign

York

British Archaeology, no 6, July 1995: Colin Martin

To Scotland then they came, burning

Reuse of Gask Ridge Forts

Other Developments

• Round huts at Vindolanda– Refugee camp?– Prisoners?– North African troops?

• Arbeia – South Shields– Change from cavalry base to supply fort

Round Buildings at Vindolanda

South Shields and Hadrian’s Wall

South Shields - Arbeia

South Shields

Barracks

Commander’s House - Plan

South Shields-Reconstruction

South Shields-Interior

Severan Camps

Division of Britannia

Division of Britannia

Caracalla

• Legionary pay raised about 50% on top of Severan raise of same amount.

• Soldiers permitted to marry.• Gives Roman citizenship to all free residents of

the Empire in 212 CE • Army becomes a hereditary occupation.

Damnatio Geta

Debasement of Denarius

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

120%

-50 0 50 100 150 200 250

Year

Pu

rity

of

Den

ariu

s (%

silv

er)

A. Severus

Antoninianus

The Roman Empires

• 235-284 Barracks emperors• 260-274 Gallic Empire at Trier• 274 Restoration by Aurelian• 282 Campaign by Carinus(283-285) in

Britain• 286 Diocletian

Monetary Problems

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

215 243 255 260 270

Year

Wei

gh

t (g

)

Caracalla

Gordion)

GallienusSalonin

Aurelian

Reunification of the Empire

Gallic Empire Forms

Gold

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

30BC-6

4AD

65-6

6AD

72-7

3AD

98-1

17AD

98-1

17AD

159-

160A

D

193-

211A

D

226A

D

238-

244

261-

268

261-

269

270-

275

Period

Wei

gh

t (

g)

Gallic Empire

• Campaigns in east remove troops from the Rhine

• Franks invade• Order restored by governor of Germania

Inferior• Governor Postumus declared emperor by his

troops (260-269)

Split in the Empire

Continued Economic Problems

Economics in Britain

• Under Postumus – little trade with ‘Roman’ Empire

• Later Gallic Empire – increased trade as coinage becomes debased

• Expanded hoarding• Forged coins

Changing urban scene

Late 1st-early 2nd century– Public buildings– Leisure facilities– Small to middling homes

3rd century– Declining construction– Defenses– Larger homes