Romans Terminology of the British Isles

roman britain in 410

caesar s invasions of britain brought descriptions of peoples of called britannia pars interior, inland britain , in 55 bc. throughout book 4 of geography, strabo consistent in spelling island britain (transliterated) prettanikē; uses terms prettans or brettans loosely refer islands group – common generalisation used classical geographers. example, in geography 2.1.18, …οι νοτιώτατοι των Βρεττανών βορειότεροι τούτων εισίν ( …the southern of brettans further north ). writing around ad 10, although earliest surviving copy of work dates 6th century. pliny elder writing around ad 70 uses latin version of same terminology in section 4.102 of naturalis historia. writes of great britain: albion ipsi nomen fuit, cum britanniae vocarentur omnes de quibus mox paulo dicemus. ( albion own name, when [the islands] called britannias; speak of them in moment ). in following section, 4.103, pliny enumerates islands considers make britannias, listing great britain, ireland, , many smaller islands. in geography written in mid 2nd century , describing position around ad 100, ptolemy includes both great britain (albion) , ireland (iwernia) in called bretanic island group. entitles book ii, chapter 1 of iwernia, bretanic island, , chapter 2 alwion [sic], bretanic island.

the name albion great britain fell favour, , island described in greek Πρεττανία or Βρεττανία, in latin britannia, inhabitant Βρεττανός, britannus, adjective Βρεττανικός, britannicus, equating british . roman conquest of britain name britannia used province of roman britain. emperor claudius honoured agnomen britannicus if conqueror, , coins struck ad 46 inscribed de britan, de britann, de britanni, or de britannis. visit of hadrian in ad 121 coins introduced female figure label britannia personification or goddess of place. these , later roman coins introduced seated figure of britannia reintroduced in 17th century.

in later years of roman rule britons left latin inscriptions, both @ home , elsewhere in empire, described brittanus or britto, , describing citizenship gave cives of british tribe or of patria (homeland) of britannia, not roma. 4th century, many britons migrated roman britain across english channel , founded brittany.