Britannia Road Map

[Arturus Uriconium]

Now I appologise for being thick, but I'm trying to find the Iters I would take to get from Viriconium to Corinium via Isca Siliurum. It's not helped by Corinium missing from Iter XIII in the Antonine Itinery but I'm still a little stuck. So far I've got Iter XII from Viriconium to Isca but then I'm not sure. Is it the Via. Julia then and does anyone know the name of Iter XII? Can anyone help?

[Medicus matt]

Not sure what you're asking here Mak. XII and then XIII, which runs right through Cirencester.
It's widely accepted that at some stage a copyist managed to miss Corinium off when transcribing the details of Iter XIII. The total mileage stated for the road is greater than the sum of the stated stretches, accounted for (mostly) by the ommision of Corinium.

[Arturus Uriconium]

Sorry Matt, probably shouldn't have mentioned XIII, that would be going the long way. Viriconium to Isca (Caer Leon) is XII, but not sure what it's name was, and Isca to Corinium (Caer Ceri/Cirencester) is Via Julia (I think), but I don't know it's number.

[Medicus matt]

Sorry Matt, probably shouldn't have mentioned XIII, that would be going the long way. Viriconium to Isca (Caer Leon) is XII, but not sure what it's name was, and Isca to Corinium (Caer Ceri/Cirencester) is Via Julia (I think), but I don't know it's number.

Ooh, gotcha.
If you mean the road that branches off from the main Via Julia and goes from Caerwent to Gloucester via Lydney, I don't think it's numbered or mentioned in any Itinerary.

Personally I'd go the scenic route. Take the XIV ferry across the Severn to Abona and follow it to Bath and then go up the Fosse Way. Longer but you avoid all that toxic heavy industry in the Forest of Dean. :wink:

[Arturus Uriconium]

This is probably the easiest way of describing:



Now this would be a unit of cavalry, so they can't go by boat down the Severn.

[Arturus Uriconium]

Interesting choices as to where the provinces where on that map I used!

[Medicus matt]

This is probably the easiest way of describing:



Now this would be a unit of cavalry, so they can't go by boat down the Severn.

Are you saying that they couldn't transport horses by water then? I'm thinking big, flat bottomed barges, not piddly little rowing boats.

That map...the line your showing from Caerleon to Cirencester...that IS ITER XIII (Caerleon, Usk, Momouth, Weston Under Penyard, Gloucester), the shorter route on that side of the Severn pretty much hugs the banks of the river and follows (roughly) the A48.

[Arturus Uriconium]

It's not that they couldn't go by boat, it's that I need them to go to Caerleon first, before moving on to Caer Ceri.

So that's XIII! And is that the same thing as Via Julia?

[Medicus matt]

It's not that they couldn't go by boat, it's that I need them to go to Caerleon first, before moving on to Caer Ceri.

And? Go to Caerleon first, then get the ferry across the Severn and have a nice civilised ride up the open roads on this side of the river rather than through all of the dangerous woods/polluted industrialised mess on the other side.

So that's XIII! And is that the same thing as Via Julia?

No. The XIII goes from Caerleon back up north to Usk, the Via Julia is the XIV that goes east from Caerleon to Caerwent and then to a crossing point (possibly at Sudbrook) then carries on through Abona to Bath and beyond.

The short route would be via the Lydney road (modern A48) that brances off from the Via Julia/Iter XIV at Caerwent.

Get yourself a copy of the Ordenance Survey Map of Roman Britain...makes it much easier to find your way around. :wink:

[Arturus Uriconium]

Thanks for all that.

Do you think a unit in 455 AD would do what you suggest?

PS: I do have the Ordenance Survey Map of Roman Britain but it's on loan at the moment.

[Medicus matt]

Thanks for all that.

Do you think a unit in 455 AD would do what you suggest?

Nah, they'd have waited for low tide and forded the Severn at Bedwin Sands, just like Arthur did. :wink:

[Arturus Uriconium]

Nah, they'd have waited for low tide and forded the Severn at Bedwin Sands, just like Arthur did.

Ah, yes, the sands of Bedwini.... mm. Dangerous place! That's going a long way south to get to Cirencester though, isn't it? The roman road crosses at Over and then goes southeast to it. Mm.

Thanks again Matt.

[fasta]

Thanks for all that.

Do you think a unit in 455 AD would do what you suggest?

PS: I do have the Ordenance Survey Map of Roman Britain but it's on loan at the moment.

Have you used the online service?

http://www.bibliographics.com/MAPS/BRIT ... E-LOOK.htm

[Arturus Uriconium]

Thanks John, I didn't know about that! It's fantastic. I do have my OS map back now, but looking at it on line saves me spreading over the floor and the dog walking over it!

I realise just how many more options there would be that you don't see on a none detailed map.