Did Julius Caesar really conquer Britain — or did he simply say he did?
In this opening chapter of our Romans in Britain trilogy, Robert Hardman and Professor Kate Williams step back to the edge of the known world: Iron Age Britain. A land of tribal rivalries, painted warriors, and swirling myths — and, to Roman eyes, a place as strange and distant as the moon.
Twice, Caesar crossed the Channel in search of glory. Twice, he faced treacherous tides, reluctant troops, and fierce resistance. The result? No lasting occupation, no firm control — and yet, back in Rome, celebrations, triumphs, and headlines proclaiming victory.
So what really happened on those windswept shores? Was Britain ever truly “conquered” by Caesar — or was it one of history’s earliest and most effective pieces of political theatre?
With elephants, chariots, and a healthy dose of Roman propaganda, this episode asks a simple question with a surprisingly slippery answer:did Caesar win Britain?
Hosts: Robert Hardman and Kate Williams
Series Producer: Ben Devlin
Production Manager: Vittoria Cecchini
Executive Producer: Bella Soames
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