The Claudian Invasion of Britain and the Cult of Victoria Britannica

Abstract

The Claudian Invasion of Britain and the Cult of Victoria Britannica. Giles Standing writes: It seems appropriate at the present time, when academic interest in the Claudian invasion is so strong, to bring together a number of inscriptions from across the Empire which relate to cult dedications associated with the conquest of Britain in A.D. 43. The first six inscriptions constitute vows made to a deity (or deities) for the emperor Claudius' success in Britain. They follow, in chronological order: 58 I. NARBONNE [pro s]alute \ [-] victoria \ [Ti(berii) Claudi(i) Ca]esaris Aug(usti) | [Germ(anici), p(ontificis)] m(aximi), tr(ibunicia) p(otestate) III, imp(eratoris) V, p(atris) p(atriae), \ [ex voto sus]cepto \ Cascellia Secunda 59 For the welfare ... (and) victory of Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, pontifex maximus, with tribunician power for the 3rd time, (acclaimed) Imperator for the 5th time, Father of his Country, in accordance with a vow undertaken, Cascellia Secunda (set this up). The date of this inscription can be calculated from Claudius' holding of tribunician power for the third time. This title was granted annually on 25 January, thus the inscription was set up between 25 January A.D. 43 and 24 January A.D. 44. This date can be fixed with even greater accuracy from the number of salutations Claudius received as Imperator, leader of the army, between those dates. The inscription records Claudius as Imperator for the fifth time, resulting from his success in Britain in A.D. 43. Cassius Dio comments 'he won over numerous tribes, in some cases by capitulation, in others by force, and was saluted as Imperator several times, contrary to precedent; for no man may receive this title more than once for one and the same war'. 60 The Narbonne inscription, then, dates to A.D. 43, the year of Claudius" victory in Britain. The inscription constituted the front face of an altar, set up in fulfilment of a vow made for Claudius" 'welfare and victory" prior to his involvement in the invasion, thus presumably early A.D. 43. The name of the deity (or deities) to which the vow was made, and, thus, the altar dedicated, however, was not recorded on the inscription. II. PISIDIAN ANTIOCH Ti(berio) Claudio \ Caisari Aug(usto) \ Germanico, \ pont(ifici) max(imo), co(n)sfuli) III, trib(unicia) por(estate) V, p(atri) p(atriae), | pro incolumitate \ eius et victoria \ Britannica ex voto quod susce\perat cum liberis | suis statuam, ludos iuvenales, hostias, \ venationem dedit G(aius) Caristajtjni\us Fronto \ Caisianus lullus \ duumviralis III, \ pontifex, trib(unus) leg(ionis) III Fuhnin(atae), | praiflectus) cohort(is) \ Bospor(anorum), praiflectus) \ fabrum VI 61 To Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, pontifex maximus, consul for the 3rd time, with tribunician power for the 5th time. Father of his Country, for his safety and victory in Britain, in accordance with a vow which he had undertaken with his children, presented a statue, games for the youth, sacrifices, a beast hunt, Gaius Caristanius Fronto Caesi...

Honor and The Performance of Roman State Identity

“…As such, the annexation of Britain was crucial to Claudius' political career and posterity. We can see the importance attributed to his conquest in various places (Standing, 2003). For instance, ''Claudius' son was generally known by the honorific title of Britannicus.…”

Roman Inscriptions 2001–2005

“…152 Christol et al (2001), 1-6, no. 1= AE 2001, 1918 Standing (2003, 1014 Kajava (2002) = AE 2002, 1357. 155 Friggeri (2001 AE 1996, 246-68; cf.…”