10-22-2021, 10:56 AM
Crispianus wrote:
There were no defences at Colchester the original fortress ditch had been partly filled in on the east side for the construction of public buildings, there are two forts to consider one at Gosbecks (possibly mixed or cavalry) and another at Fingeringhoe (port poorly excavated in the 1930s military equipment was found but likely no longer used as a fort) which may have had auxiliaries, Crummy estimates 500men plus 200 reinforcements from London and perhaps as many as 2000 settled legionarys but no doubt weapons etc would likely be a problem for these...
It seems more and more obvious that even with a huge body of tribes people mustering on their doorstep, the inhabitants of Colchester didn't feel under any threat at all until the very last minute when they retreated to the Temple.
Why would they be unconcerned? There must have been a reason for an officially recognised gathering.
Taking what we know about the speed that a roman army could make on a forced march in extremis, Cerialis could have been there in a day and a half.
There were no defences at Colchester the original fortress ditch had been partly filled in on the east side for the construction of public buildings, there are two forts to consider one at Gosbecks (possibly mixed or cavalry) and another at Fingeringhoe (port poorly excavated in the 1930s military equipment was found but likely no longer used as a fort) which may have had auxiliaries, Crummy estimates 500men plus 200 reinforcements from London and perhaps as many as 2000 settled legionarys but no doubt weapons etc would likely be a problem for these...
It seems more and more obvious that even with a huge body of tribes people mustering on their doorstep, the inhabitants of Colchester didn't feel under any threat at all until the very last minute when they retreated to the Temple.
Why would they be unconcerned? There must have been a reason for an officially recognised gathering.
Taking what we know about the speed that a roman army could make on a forced march in extremis, Cerialis could have been there in a day and a half.
Deryk
