In 55 BC, Julius Caesar decided to make an expedition to Britain. He gathered a fleet consisting of eighty transport ships, sufficient to carry two legions, that he initially tried to land at Dubris (Dover), a natural harbour identified as a suitable landing place. However, when he came in sight of shore, the massed forces of the Britons gathered on the overlooking hills and cliffs dissuaded him from landing and the fleet sailed along the coast to an open beach. Having been tracked all the way along the coast by the British cavalry and chariots, the landing was opposed. To make matters worse,
In 55 BC, Julius Caesar decided to make an expedition to Britain. He gathered a fleet consisting of eighty transport ships, sufficient to carry two legions, that he initially tried to land at Dubris (Dover), a natural harbour identified as a suitable landing place. However, when he came in sight of shore, the massed forces of the Britons gathered on the overlooking hills and cliffs dissuaded him from landing and the fleet sailed along the coast to an open beach. Having been tracked all the way along the coast by the British cavalry and chariots, the landing was opposed. To make matters worse, the loaded Roman ships were too low in the water to go close inshore and the troops had to disembark in deep water, all the while attacked by the enemy from the shallows. The British were eventually driven back with catapultae and slings fired from the warships into the exposed flank of their formation and the Romans managed to land and drive them off.
Size: 4577px × 3135px
Location: Kent, England
Photo credit: © De Luan / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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