54 BC
Julius Caesar lands in Kent with five legions and 2,000 cavalry. Defeats a British coalition under Cassivellaunus, king of the Catuvellauni. Crosses the Thames and takes Cassivellaunus's oppidum (earthwork settlement, probably at Wheathampstead, Herts).

After hostages are taken and a tribute is fixed, the Romans return to Gaul.

43 AD
Aulus Plautius invades Britain with four legions (II Augusta, IX, XIV, XX) and about 20,000 auxiliary troops.

Emperor Claudius arrives with reinforcements, including elephants. Personally supervises capture of Colchester and accepts surrender of the Catuvellauni and other tribes. Appoints Aulus Plautius first governor, then returns to Rome.

43-7
Vespasian, commanding Legion II Augusta from a base at Fishbourne, Sussex, conquers south-west Britain as far as Exeter, including the Isle of Wight and Maiden Castle, Dorset. Legion IX advances north-east up to Lincoln. Legion XIV advances through Midlands. Legion XX establishes its base at Colchester.

Client kingdoms are recognised outside the Roman province: Iceni (East Anglia), Regni Atrebates (Sussex), Brigantes (northern England).

London founded, with first bridge across the Thames (see site report in The Time Team Reports, 1995). Military roads constructed: Watling Street (Richborough-London-Towcester-Wroxeter); Ermine Street (London-Lincoln-York); Stane Street (London-Chichester) and the London-Colchester road. The Fosse Way (Exeter-Lincoln) marks the frontier of the Roman province.

49
Colchester is made a colonia (settlement of veteran soldiers) and becomes the centre of the imperial cult, with a temple of Claudius.

51
Caratacus, son of Cunobelin (Shakespeare's Cymbeline) and leader of the British rebels, leads the Ordovices of north Wales (to which he had escaped after defeat during the Roman invasion) against the Romans on the upper Severn. After defeat, he flees to the Brigantes, but is betrayed, captured and exhibited in chains in Rome.

Foundation of St Albans as a municipium (self-governing town).

60-1
Governor Suetonius Paulinus captures Anglesey, the last stronghold of the Druid priesthood, and destroys sacred groves.

61
Rebellion of the Iceni. Romans attempt to seize the kingdom after the death of the king. When his widow Boudicca (Boadicea) resists, she is flogged and her daughters are raped. She leads the Iceni and the Trinovantes of Essex against the Romans, destroying Colchester and massacring Roman settlers (see site report in Time Team 96).

The Romans abandon London, which is sacked by the Britons. St Albans receives the same treatment, before the Britons are defeated by the Romans in a battle in the Midlands. Boudicca kills herself. The governor Paulinus punishes both rebels and neutral tribes until he is removed from office.

75-80
Governor Agricola encourages Romanisation in architecture, education and dress. Town centres are developed in Cirencester, Exeter, Lincoln and St Albans. A governor's palace and basilica are built in London, and the main palace at Fishbourne is constructed. Villas begin to appear in the south-east.

Agricola subdues north Wales and completes conquest of north-west Britain.

81-85
Agricola establishes Forth-Clyde frontier with forts, and subdues south-west Scotland by sea from Cumbria. At the battle of Mons Graupius (84 AD; possibly at Mount Bennachie, Aberdeenshire), the Scottish Caledonii (later known as the Picts) are defeated.

New roads are built to the north: Carlisle-Scotland; Dere Street (York-Corbridge-Scotland); Stanegate (Carlisle-Corbridge). Wales and northern Britain are defended by a system of forts and roads.

85
Agricola is recalled to Rome. His time in Britain is later described in a biography of him written by the historian Tacitus, his son-in-law.

90-100
Lincoln and Gloucester become coloniae. The first public baths in London and Bath are built, as well as temples and theatres, including one of the latter in Canterbury.

105
The Romans leave Scotland.

122-139
On a visit to Britain, Emperor Hadrian decides to build a wall as a frontier against the Scots. When completed, it extends 75 miles from Wallsend on the east coast to Barrow-on-Solness on the west.

139
Emperor Antoninus decides to retake the Scottish lowlands.

142-4
A turf wall – the Antonine Wall – is built from Bridgness on the River Forth to Old Kilpatrick on the River Clyde. This is finally abandoned in 163.

180-5
Scottish tribes cross Hadrian's Wall, ravaging the country and defeating Roman troops. After punitive campaigns beyond the Antonine Wall, Governor Ulpius Marcellus establishes treaties and guarantees with Scottish tribes.

185-7
A deputation of 1,500 soldiers goes to Rome to complain of the appointment of non-senatorial commanders. Governor Helvius Pertinax puts down several mutinies, then resigns due to his unpopularity with the troops.

c 200
A pottery industry is established, especially in Oxfordshire. Earthwork defences are built around towns, and stone walls begin to rise around London. Temples to Mithras are built: four on Hadrian's Wall and one in London (although possibly not until 240).

206
Governor Alfenus Senecio begins to repair Hadrian's Wall and appeals to the emperor for help against the Scottish tribes.

208-10
Emperor Septimius Severus comes to Britain with his wife and sons Caracalla and Geta and takes command. He builds roads and clears forests from York – the imperial headquarters, which is raised to the status of colonia – to beyond modern Aberdeen. The Scottish tribes conduct skilful guerilla warfare against him.

c 209
Christianity reaches Britain.

211
Emperor Severus dies at York. His sons end the war with the Scottish tribes and return to Rome.

c 220
Small Romano-British towns (vici) develop around forts and along Hadrian's Wall. Large private town houses are built – for example, in St Albans – as well as stone theatres (eg Canterbury).

250-9
Christians are persecuted in Britain. St Alban becomes first British martyr (however, this could have happened as early as 208-9).

c 270
Saxons raids increase, and forts are built along the east and south-east coasts, especially the 'Saxon Shore' from Brancaster to Portchester. Fishbourne palace is burned down.

284
The Roman empire is divided into east and west, each part with its own emperor who each appoint a 'caesar' as an heir.

286-7
A Belgian soldier, Mausaeus Carausius, in charge of dealing with raiding Franks and Saxons, escapes to Britain when he faces execution for embezzling captured pirate treasure. There, he proclaims himself western emperor.

293
Carausius is murdered by his finance minister Allectus, who seizes power in Britain, with the help of Frankish mercenaries.

296-7
Western emperor Julius Constantius takes charge of the bid to recover Britain. His fleet lands near Southampton, after passing a rebel British one in the fog. The Roman army defeats the Britons near Silchester and Allectus is killed. Constantius returns to Gaul.

300-340
A period of prosperity with much villa building and the finest mosaic art.

306
Constantius returns to Britain with his son Constantine. They campaign in northern Scotland and defeat the Picts. Constantius then dies at York and the army proclaims Constantine emperor (dies 337).

313
With the Edict of Milan, religious toleration becomes Roman law.

314-60
The first appearance of Christian church hierarchy in Britain. Three British bishops (York, London and possibly Lincoln), plus one priest and one deacon, attend the Council of Arles. Christianity spreads to the countryside, with private chapels being built in villas (Lullingstone, Kent and Hinton St Mary, Dorset) and a church at Silchester. Burials of treasure include vessels for use in Christian ceremonies.

343
The Picts and Scots join together for the first time against the Romans. Western emperor Constans, during an unexpected visit, makes peace with them.

349-50
The pagan Magnus Magnentius usurps the imperial western throne with British support.

353
Constantius II, the eastern emperor, defeats Magnentius and proceeds to rule both east and west. He sends the imperial notary Paulus to punish Magnentius's British supporters, especially his disciple Martinus, and to put down paganism. The result: many arrests and confiscations. Martinus kills Paulus and then kills himself; savage vengeance is carried out against Martinus's followers.

355
Julian is appointed caesar in charge of Britain and Gaul.

359
Julian reopens the lower Rhine to the export of British corn and builds a fleet of 600 ships. Britain becomes the granary of the Roman army in western Europe.

360
When the Picts, aided by Scots from Ireland, attack the Romans' northern frontier, Julian sends reinforcements to Britain - the first time that an invasion has necessitated such drastic action.

361-80
With the assumption of the imperial Roman throne by Julian, a self-proclaimed pagan, there is a pagan revival in Britain, including a new shrine to the Celtic god Nodens at Lydney, Gloucestershire.

367
A concerted land and sea invasion of Britain by Picts, Irish Scots, Attacotti (probably a cannibalistic island tribe) and some Saxons. Hadrian's Wall is overrun. Army commander-in-chief Fullofaudes is captured, and Nectaridus, count of the Saxon Shore, is killed. Army deserters and runaway slaves roam the countryside.

368-9
Count Theodosius arrives in Britain with a task force. Setting up his headquarters in London, he announces an amnesty for deserters, routs the invaders and begins to refortify the frontier.

382-3
Magnus Maximus, a Spanish general who served under Theodosius, defeats the Picts and Scots. He then usurps the western empire, taking troops from Britain. Forts are abandoned at Chester, Brecon, Cardiff and Forden Gaer and in the Pennines. Hadrian's Wall is overrun and comes to its end.

388
Maximus is defeated and killed in Italy. In this year, the last Roman coinage is minted in Britain.

389-90
A task force is sent by Theodosius, emperor of the east (and son of the count), against the Picts.

396-8
Stilicho, son of a Vandal captain in the Roman army and chief minister of the western emperor Honorius, sends - and possibly leads - a sea-going expedition to defeat the Picts and Scots.

c 400
Irish Scots raid and settle in Wales, Devon and Cornwall. Three British kingdoms are established north of Hadrian's Wall: Strathclyde, Gododdin and Galloway. This is a period of prosperity in south-east Britain, but the towns remain garrisoned, mainly by auxiliary troops. Christianity extends to kingdoms north of Hadrian's Wall and to southern Ireland.

401
Stilicho withdraws troops from Britain for defence against the Goths. Forts at Caernarfon and on the Yorkshire coasts are abandoned.

405
Niall of the Nine Hostages, the high king of Ireland, leads raids on Britain's south coast.

406
German tribes, crossing the ice-bound Rhine, overrun Gaul and threaten Britain. The Romano-British, in despair at being deserted, elect their own emperors. Neither of them survive.

407
Constantine III, the last of three successive usurping emperors proclaimed by the army in Britain, crosses the Channel and drives the Germans from Gaul.

408-9
After the army rebels against Constantine, the Germans reinvade Gaul and the Saxons raid Britain. The Britons expel the Roman administration.

410
Rome falls to the Goths under Alaric. Emperor Honorius tells British towns to defend themselves without the help of Rome.