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One of the men who died in the volcanic eruption that destroyed Pompeii was the first writer in history to mention the town of Colchester. The city was called Camulodunum back then, over 2,000 years ago. The incredible Medieval buildings and Roman ruins that are modern day tourist attractions, over run with wild flowers and wind swept grasses are a reminder of these days of the Civil War destruction.

Colchester or Camulodunum

The man who mentioned Colchester in AD77, or Camulodunum as he called it, died two years later in AD79. His name was Pliny the Elder. It is this mention that makes this the oldest recorded town in Britain.What Pliny wrote was a description of the island of Anglesey. In that description he defined the location of the island as around 200 miles from Camulodunumm, now Colchester, UK.

Not only is it the oldest recorded town, it is also the first city that the Roman Empire created in Britain. Soon after setting up the city, the Romans named it the capital of Roman Britain.

The Events of Camulodunum

A Celtic tribe called the Trinovantes lived in Camulodunum before the Romans arrived. This Celtic tribe lived in most areas that are now known to be Suffolk or Essex. They had a powerful ruler named Cunobelin who was the King of the Britons as far as the Romans were concerned. In 43AD Emperor Claudius ordered that the Roman army invade the town, so once the overtook it Camulodunum was the capital of Roman Britain from that time forward. Almost 20 years later in 61 AD, a leading member of this Norfolk based Celtic Iceni tribe named Boudica was to lead a Celtic army. They attacked the Roman town that later became Colchester, and burnt the town to the ground to protest the Roman occupation.

Summary

It is this rich history that makes a visit to the town of Colchester worthwhile. It is now a modern, bustling city with cultural and historical activities, a well stocked zoo, delightful formal and informal flower gardens and an environmentally conscious conservation programme for wildlife.