Everything about Glevum totally explained
Glevum (or, more formally,
Colonia Nervia Glevensium) was a
town in the
Roman province of
Britannia. Today it's known as
Gloucester, located in the
English county of
Gloucestershire. The name Glevum is taken by many present day businesses in the area and also by the 26-mile
Glevum Way, a long distance footpath encircling modern Gloucester.
Fortress
Glevum was established around AD
48 as a market centre at an important crossing of the
River Severn. Initially, there was a
Roman fort established at
Kingsholm. Twenty years later, a larger replacement fortress was built on slightly higher ground nearby, centred on Gloucester Cross, and a civilian settlement grew around it
Colonia
In AD
97, the whole area was designated a
colonia by the Emperor
Nerva. A colonia was the residence of retired
legionaries and enjoyed the highest status in the
Empire. The legionaries were given farmland in the surrounding district and could be called upon as an auxiliary armed force. A large and impressive administrative
basilica and
forum market-place was built in the town and there were many fine homes with
mosaic floors. At its height, Glevum may have had a population of as many as 7,000 people.
Decline
Excavations at the New Market Hall showed that
Romano-British occupation of the town may have continued in some form into the
sub-Roman period. The
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records a King Cynfael, who may have come from Gloucester, probably then known as
Caer Gloui, taking part in the
Battle of Dyrham in
577.
Remains
- Many artefacts and some in situ walls from Roman Glevum may be seen in the Gloucester City Museum
- The remains of the Roman and medieval East Gate are on display in the East Gate Chamber on Eastgate Street.
- There is a small display in the Royal Bank of Scotland on Roman finds from the site
- Northgate, Southgate, Eastgate and Westgate Streets all follow the line of their original Roman counterparts, although Westgate Street has moved slightly north and Southgate Street now extends through the site of the Roman basilica.
- A statue of the Emperor Nerva was erected in the city in 1997
Further Information
Get more info on 'Glevum'.
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