Hadrian's Wall Route Hadrian Construction Garrison

The wall was the northern border of the Empire in Britain for most of the Roman Empire's rule, and also the most heavily fortified border in the Empire. In addition to its use as a military fortification, it is thought that the gates through the wall would also have served as customs posts to allow trade to be taxA tax is an involuntary fee paid by individuals or businesses to a government. Taxes may be paid in cash or kind (although payments in kind may not always be allowed or classified as taxes in all systems). The means of taxation, and the uses to which theed.

A significant portion of the wall still exists, particularly the mid-section, and for much of its length, the wall can be followed on foot. It is the most popular touristTourism can be defined as the act of travel for the purpose of recreation, and the provision of services for this act. A tourist is someone who travels at least fifty miles from home, as defined by the World Tourism Organization (a United Nations body). attraction in Northern England, where it is often known simply as the Roman Wall. It was made a UNESCO World Heritage SiteA UNESCO World Heritage Site is a specific site (such as a forest, mountain range, lake, desert, building, complex, or city) that has been nominated for the international World Heritage program administered by UNESCO. The program aims to catalogue, name, in 19871987 is a common year starting on Thursday. Events January January 1 Nunavut's capital changes it name to Iqaluit from Frobisher Bay. January 3 Aretha Franklin becomes the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. January 4 An Amtrak train.

1 Route

Hadrian's Wall ran for 120 km, virtually due west, from WallsendWallsend is literally the "end of the Wall", that being Hadrian's Wall. Situated between North Shields, Jarrow and Newcastle upon Tyne, it has a history of shipbuilding. Wallsend was the home of the Wigham Richardson shipyard, which later amalgamated to f on the River TyneThe River Tyne is a river in England. It is formed by the confluence of two rivers, the North Tyne and the South Tyne. These two rivers converge at Acomb in Northumberland. The South Tyne rises on Alston Moor, Cumbria and flow through the towns of Haltwhi to the shore of the Solway FirthThe Solway Firth (see http://www. htm for map) is a body of water that borders the most north westerly county of England ( Cumbria) and the most south westerly county of Scotland ( Dumfries and Galloway). It stretches from St. Bees Head just south of Whit. The A69 road follows the course of the wall as it starts in Newcastle-on-Tyne to Carlisle, then on round the northern coast of Cumbria. The wall is entirely in England and south of the border with Scotland by 15 km in the west and 110 km in the east.

2 Hadrian

Hadrian's Wall was built following a visit by Roman emperor Hadrian. Hadrian was experiencing military difficulties not just in Britain, but from the peoples of various conquered lands across the Empire, including Egypt, Judea, Libya, Mauretania, and many of the peoples conquered by his predecessor Trajan, so was keen to impose order. However the construction of such an impressive wall was probably also built as a symbol of Roman power, both in occupied Britain and in Rome.

3 Construction

Construction started in 122 and was largely completed within ten years, with soldiers from all three of the occupying Roman legions participating in the work. The route chosen largely followed the Stanegate road from Carlisle to Corbridge, which was already defended by a limes and several auxiliary forts, including Vindolanda.

The wall was initially built to a width of 3 metres, but later sections were narrowed to 2.5 metres. The height is estimated to have been around 4 or 5 metres. Along the Wall there were 14 auxiliary forts, including Housesteads and Birdoswald . There were 80 fortlets with gates, known as "milecastles", one every Roman mile. Two turrets were set between each pair of milecastles, probably used for observation and signaling.

The Wall was part of a defensive system which, from north to south included

a glacis and a deep ditch armed with rows of pointed stakes
the Wall itself
a military road (the "Military Way")
the Vallum—two huge banks with a ditch between. The Vallum probably delineated a military zone rather than intending to be a major fortification, though the British tribes to the south were also sometimes a military problem.

4 Garrison

The wall was garrisoned by a mixture of legionary units and auxiliary units of the army (non- citizens). Their numbers fluctuated throughout the occupation, but may have been around 9,000 strong, including infantry and cavalry. They suffered serious attacks in 180, and especially between 196 and 197 when the garrison had been seriously weakened, following which major reconstruction had to be carried out under Septimius Severus. After the harsh suppression of the tribes under Septimius, the region near the wall remained peaceful for most of the rest of the 200s. It is thought that many in the garrison may have married and integrated into the local community.

5 Decline

As the Empire declined, by 400 the garrison had abandoned the wall and it fell into disuse. A large proportion of the stone was reused in other local buildings. This continued until the 20th century.

6 Other fortifications

The first Roman fortification in Scotland was the Gask Ridge, a series of forts North of the

Clyde and Forth estuaries in Perthshire. This was soon abandoned for Hadrian's Wall.

Fifteen years after completion of the Hadrian's Wall, a turf fortification, the Antonine Wall, was built to run between the Clyde and Forth. This wall was considerably shorter than Hadrian's Wall, but was manned by roughly the same number of troops. In some ways the Antonine Wall was more sophisticated, including large platforms for ballista. Within one generation the Antonine Wall had been abandoned, and Hadrian's Wall was reoccupied.

7 See also

English Heritage Properties in England
Birdoswald Fort
Banks East Turret
Hadrian's Wall long-distance footpath

8 References

Forde-Johnston, James L. Hadrian's Wall. London: Michael Joseph, 1978. BooksEnthsiast.com.

9 External links

http://www.hadrians-wall.org/

World Heritage Sites in England Ancient Roman architecture Archaeological sites in Britain Fortification Walls Cumbria Northumberland Tyne and Wear

Nerva-Antonine Dynasty

<Hide>

Home > Hadrian's Wall