Location of the tribe Far South East of England, Kent and a smail part of Sussex
Background information
Julius Caesar noted in his writings that this part of Britain was occupied by what he considered to be the most civilised tribe in Britain.
Mostly this attributed to the fact that being the furthest south and east, therefore closest to the continent, they were the tribe most influenced by European ways and innovation, due to their extensive trade with Gaul.
Some of the writings about the Cantium
Caesar
‘The natural shape of the island (Britain) is triangular, and one side lies opposite to Gaul. Of this side one angle, which is in Cantium (where almost all the ships from Gaul come in to land), faces the east, the lower angle faces south.’
Caesar ‘Of all the Britons the inhabitants of Cantium, an entirely maritime district, are by far the most civilised, differing but little from the Gallic manner of life.’And provides us with further snippets on the political
Caesar ‘Cassivellaunus¹ sent messages to Cantium, a country by the sea, as above set forth, over whose four districts Cingetorix, Carvilius, Taximagulus, and Segovax ruled as kings, and commanded them to collect all their forces for a sudden attempt and assault upon the naval camp.’
Principal towns and settlements in Cantium territory
Durovernum Cantiacorum – (Canterbury, Kent) – Pre-Roman settlement, later Civitas capital served by a port three miles down the Stour at Fordwich.
Pre-Roman Settlements Durobrivae – (Rochester, Kent) – Pre-Roman native settlement on the Medway. One of only two walled towns in Cantium territory. The other being Canterbury. Durolitum? – (Ospringe, Kent) Hastings (Sussex) – This iron port had overland connections with Kent rather than Sussex. Loose – (near to Maidstone, Kent) – Pre-Roman native settlement on the upper Medway. Maidstone (Kent) – A Roman settlement of some kind is suspected.
Noviomagus Cantiacorum -(Crayford, Greater London) – Posting Station on Watling Street Portus Dubris – (Dover, Kent) – Coastal Station Portus Lemanis – (Lympne, Kent) – Coastal Station Rutupiae – (Richborough, Kent) – The main port of entrance to Britain. Titsey (Kent) – Rural temple may mark the western border of the Canton.
Vagniacis or Vagniacae – (Springhead, Kent) – Posting Station on Watling Street
Some of the Cantium kings and queens
Dubnovellaunus Perhaps one of several kings of the Cantium in the latter half of the first century BC. He could well have been the second British king mentioned in the Augustan record, but it is not likely.
Cunobelin The coins of Cunobelin of the Catuvellauni appeared throughout Cantium territory during the early part of the first century AD. It is widely beleived that the Catuvellauni became extremely powerful sometime between the second expedition of Caesar and the Roman invasion. There is much evidence to suggest that the Cantium tribe were overrun by the Catuvellauni, as were the Atrebates and the Trinovantes.
Adminius Adminius was probably the eldest son of Cunobelin, who was given the administration of Cantium by his father around 30AD
An incomplete Early Medieval (Anglo-Scandinavian) silver penny in the name of St Peter dating to the period c.AD 905 - 910. Two-line horizontal type. Cross pattee reverse. Mint of York.North Vol. 1, p.116, no.551.
Copper alloy and iron brooch. Cast headstud brooch, Headstud 6, cf.Mackreth 2011 Pl. 73 no. 11868. A tubular case for an iron axis bar which formerly retained a hinged pin is masked by short wings with two vertically Mackreth typeincised lines on the front of each and surmounted by an integrally cast loop. The wings […]
Copper alloy brooch. Cast bow and fantail brooch, Mackreth type undetermined [his CD H 6 includes fantails but none patterned as appears here]. Almost-plain tubular wings – the only decoration is a possibly incised line wandering up the front of each wing to the crest of the bow - clenched behind retain an axis bar […]
Copper alloy coin fragment. A scrap – perhaps one third – of a nummus of the House of Constantine (306-361), Gloria Exercitus issue of 335-341, Reece period 17.Obverse description: [bust] corrodedReverse description: two soldiers with one standard between themReverse inscription: (GLOR) IA E(XERC ITVS]Diameter (in excess of): 13.8mm, Weight: 0.79gms
Lead probable game piece. A cast object of slightly conical form with flat ends; the smaller bears an incised saltire or cross, here presumed to be the top. Patinated overall. This may relate to those game pieces of castellated form, which may thus have been distinguished from others. This might be required for the King […]
An almost complete cast lead or lead alloy pilgrims ampulla dating from the medieval period; circa late 13th - late 15th century (AD 1250-1500).The ampulla has a circular (scallop) shaped body with a narrowed neck. On the right-hand side of the object situated on the neck is a flattened semi-circular loop. There are the remains of […]
A complete copper-alloy buckle of medieval date, c.AD 1250-1500. Meols Type 2.The buckle is a single looped D-shape with a widened frame and a narrowed and offset bar. A wire pin remains fitted around the bar by an open loop.The metal has a dark brown patina and is in a worn condition. The buckle is 14.61mm […]
Addendum to an Iron Age sacred lake assemblage: a Late Iron Age bridle-bit and terret (50 BC - AD 75)1. Two-link bridle-bit, Polden Hill Subtype, bronze, complete Dimensions: maximum length 238.0mm; external rein-ring diameters (1)73.8-74.0mm & (2) 73.5-74.7mm; internal rein-ring diameters (1) 55.6mm & (2) 56.3mm; thickness rein rings – side to side (1) 8.3-9.0mm & […]
An incomplete lead-alloy pilgrim's ampulla of medieval date, c.AD 1350 - 1550.Only part of the body of the ampulla remains which is semi-circular with a worn break to the upper edge from which the neck would have extended. One side of the object is decorated with an eight-petalled 'compass-drawn' flower. The other side is too […]
