Trinovantes

The Trinovantes were a Celtic tribe who inhabited what is now modern-day Essex and parts of Suffolk in southeastern Britain. They are known primarily through accounts from Roman historians, particularly Tacitus and Caesar, who encountered them during the Roman invasions of Britain. The tribe's territory was strategically located between the Thames Estuary and the River Stour. Their capital is believed to have been Camulodunum, later established by the Romans as a major colonia and the first capital of Roman Britain.

Before the Roman conquest, the Trinovantes were a powerful people who engaged in conflict with neighboring tribes, notably the Catuvellauni. Caesar's commentaries mention their involvement in the Roman campaigns, and Tacitus later describes their role in the Boudican Revolt of 60-61 AD. During this rebellion, the Trinovantes, along with other tribes led by Boudica, rose up against Roman rule, attacking and destroying Camulodunum, Londinium, and Verulamium. Following the suppression of the revolt, the Trinovantes were largely subdued by the Roman Empire. Their social structure and daily life were typical of Iron Age Britain, with a focus on agriculture, warfare, and a hierarchical society. Little is known of their language beyond a few personal names and place names recorded by the Romans. After the Roman conquest, their distinct tribal identity gradually merged into the broader Romano-British culture.