ROMAN LONDON (AD47-410)

From around AD50 the Romans created a city next to the Thames and called it Londinium. For some 350 years it this was the largest city in Britannia, and a vital international port. 

Londinium was established as a civilian town by the Romans about four years after the invasion of AD 43. As was the case with Rome, London was founded on the point of a river where it was narrow enough to build a bridge. The strategic location of the city provided easy access to Europe. 

Early Roman London was a relatively small area, about the size of Hyde Park. In around AD 60, it was destroyed by the Iceni tribe, led by their queen, Boudica (the Romans would have their revenge later). The city was quickly rebuilt as a planned Roman town and recovered after perhaps 10 years; the city grew rapidly over the following decades.

By around AD 120, Londinium had a population of some 45,000 people. In the cent it would not reach this size again until the 13th century.