Halesworth
was part of the Iceni Tribe in the 1st century BC when the Roman
Empire began to cast its eyes on this island. In the winter of 55 BC
Julius Caesar, with two legions of 5,000 men, set sail for the south
coast of Britain and landed somewhere between Deal and Walmer in
Kent. It was not a success, so the next year in 54 BC he tried again
with five legions and some 2,000 cavalry. This time his troops
penetrated as far as St. Albans, Hertfordshire (Verulamium) and made
its way to Colchester, Essex,(Camulodonum). Treaties were made with
the British chieftains and Caesar took hostages back to Gaul. He
enforced annual payments of tribute money in return for his guarantee
of protection against other invaders.
For
almost a century the British chieftains kept their part of the
bargain and kept in touch with Rome. All went well until some
tributes were not paid, and the new conquest of Britain began in 43
AD. Four legions and other troops under the command of the Emperor
Claudius landed in Kent and fought their way to Colchester, where
they established a military post and in time signed a treaty of
friendship with the Iceni tribe which was in control of north Suffolk
and Norfolk.