A TIMELINE FOR ROMAN BRITAIN

55/54 BC Julius Caesar's abortive exploratory invasion attempts are stopped south of the Thames.
40 AD Emperor Caligula plans an invasion of Britain but is thwarted by the rebellion of his Legions on the coast of Northern France.
43 AD Invasion of Britain on the orders of Claudius. General Aulus Plautius and four legions (2 Augusta, 9 Hispania, 14 Gemina and 20 Valeria Victrix) land at Richborough in Kent and set up a base of operations. Future Emperor Vespasian leads the 2nd Legion into the west country, while Plautius continues the push to the north and west.
51 AD Caractacus, one of the major anti-Roman British leaders and a centre of resistance is finally captured and delivered to Rome.
60 AD Suetonius Paulinus campaigns in North Wales and defeats the Druids in Anglesey.
61 AD Boudicca (Boadicea) leads a rebellion of the previously peaceful Iceni against Roman invaders, laying waste to Colchester, London and St Albans before being brought to battle by Suetonius Paulines and defeated.
77 AD The subjugation of Wales is completed by the governor Gnaeus Julius Agricola, famous general, governor and uncle of the writer Tacitus.
83 AD Agricola defeats the Scottish tribes resoundingly at the battle of Mons Graupius before being pulled out of Britain.
87 AD The Scottish territory gained by Agricola is abandoned, with the frontier being moved back to the Clyde-Forth line.
105 AD Under the Emperor Trajan, a new defensive line is drawn between the Solway Firth and the Tyne. A road (the Stanegate) lined with forts is constructed.
122 AD The Emperor Hadrian tours Britain and gives the orders for the construction of a wall between the Tyne and the Solway Firth. Construction begins under the work of the 2nd Augusta, 6th Victrix and 20th Valeria Victrix Legions.
128 AD The wall is finally completed, providing both a defensive and trade barrier with the unruly tribes to the north and a concrete delineation of the edge of Empire.
139 AD Emperor Antoninus Pius begins the construction of a wall between the Clyde and the Forth. The Antonine Wall is built by the same legions who finished Hadrian's wall a decade earlier.
163 AD Troops are withdrawn from the Antonine Wall and Hadrian's Wall is reoccupied as the northernmost defensive barrier.
180 AD An insurrection by northern tribes results in damage to Hadrian's Wall.
193 AD Clodius Albinus, governor of Britain claims the Imperial throne and, over the next 4 years, strips Britain of its troops, Marching into Gaul to fight Septimius Severus for control.
197 AD Albinus is defeated by Severus in Gaul and Britain is reclaimed, but lacking in military presence.
197-208 AD Rebellions break out in Britain and trouble with northern tribes resumes. Hadrian's Wall is damaged again and the governors under Septimius Severus repair forts and the wall in Northern Britain.
208 AD Septimius Severus arrives in Britain, repairs and reorganises Hadrian's Wall and begins to campaign against the rebellious Scottish tribes. Despite gaining territory, they rebel again in 210 AD and he is forced to carry out a policy of extermination.
209 AD St Alban becomes the first Christian Martyr, being beheaded for his faith under persecutions in the city of Verulamium (the later Saint Albans). The date for this is disputed and 309 AD under Diocletian's persecutions has also been suggested.
211 AD Severus, too ill to continue his campaign, dies in York and his sons Caracalla and Geta succeed him. Caracalla murders his brother and abandons the campaign against the Scots. 
212 AD All freemen in Britain receive Roman Citizenship under the edict of Caracalla.
260 AD Postumus, governor of Germany declares himself Emperor. Germany, Spain, Gaul and Britain side with him. He creates an independent Gallic Roman empire, with a capital at Trier in Germany.
269-274 AD Postumus is murdered and followed in quick succession by Marius, Victorinus, Domitianus and Tetricus. Little effect of the independent Empire is seen in Britain.'
274 AD The Emperor Aurelian reclaims the Gallic Empire and Britain once more comes under the control of Rome. The 'Emperor' Tetricus and his son survive the battle and retribution and live out their lives in senatorial roles under Aurelian.
275-282 AD Saxon raids on Britain. Creation of the defensive 'Saxon Shore Fort' system of powerful fortresses covering all the east and south coasts from Norfolk to Hampshire.
286 AD The commander of the Roman navy's British fleet, Carausius, once more claims independence, creating an Empire of Britain and northern Gaul.
293 AD Carausius is murdered by Allectus, who becomes the new Emperor of the independent state.
296 AD The Emperor Constantius defeats Allectus and puts down the rebellion, reclaiming the territory for Rome, reorganising the frontier system and repairing Hadrian's Wall. It is around this time that the Dux Britannia post is created at York and the armies are reorganised.
306 AD Constantius arrives in Britain to campaign in Scotland. The same year he falls ill and dies at York. His son Constantine (the Great) is proclaimed Emperor by the troops in York and he begins a massive project of reconstruction and improvement in Britain, initiating a time of prosperity and peace in the Province.
313 AD As throughout the Empire, Christianity is made legal in Britain under the Edict of Toleration.
342-343 AD Further disturbances in the north of Britain lead the Emperor Constans to arrive in Britain and return the status quo.
350-353 AD The usurper Magnentius, claiming the Imperial throne, draws troops from Britain to support his unsuccessful bid, weakening Britain's military defences.
360 AD A series of attacks against Britain are launched over the next decade from both Scotland and Ireland.
369 AD General Theodosius and his legions drive the enemy back out of the Province.
383 AD The Roman garrison of Britain proclaims Magnus Maximus Emperor. The general all but empties Britain of troops in order to conquer much of western Roman territory, including Rome, which he occupies.
388 AD Maximus is defeated and beheaded by the Eastern Emperor (Theodosius) and the Empire is reclaimed, though Britain is left barely defended with most of its garrison gone.
396-398 AD The Vandal/Roman general Stilicho reorganises the British military after Maximus' weakening and places the troops under local British commanders, visiting Britain personally and defeating an allied incursion of barbarians from East, West and North in 398 AD.
401-402 AD One of two surviving legions in Britain is withdrawn to Italy to defend against the incursions of the Goth Alaric.
406 AD A massive barbarian force moves into Gaul, severing contact between Britain and Rome. Britain produces another independent Emperor (Marcus), who is assassinated and followed immediately by Gratian.
407-409 AD Gratian takes the one remaining legion into Gaul to try and regain Rome. Britain is left virtually defenceless and is constantly battered by barbarian attacks and raids. This culminates in 409 AD with the British sending away the few weak Roman officials left.
410 AD Britain makes an appeal to the Emperor Honorius for help against their enemies and is told to look to their own defence. Traditionally the end of 'Roman Britain'.
429 AD Saint Germanus is sent to Britain on a mission for the Church against heresy and defeats the Picts in battle.
446 AD Britain makes a final appeal to the Emperor Aetius for aid and is refused.