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Hadrian's Wall
Hadrian's Wall was a Roman frontier work of the early 2nd cent. running 70 miles from the Tyne near Newcastle to the Solway west of Carlisle. Commenced at the behest of Hadrian on his visit to Britain in 122, the wall was originally to consist of a running barrier fronted by a ditch (except on the crags of the central sector), with a gateway defended by a fortlet every mile (milecastle) and two watchtowers (turrets) between each pair of milecastles. The troops remained based in forts along the Tyne–Solway road, the Stanegate. The eastern three-fifths of the wall were in stone, the western two-fifths in turf, later rebuilt in stone. With the construction of the wall well advanced, the decision was taken to place the garrison forts actually on the line of the wall and to extend the eastern terminal from Newcastle to Wallsend. The final addition was the ‘vallum’ to the rear of the wall, a ditch flanked by two mounds with causeways only at the forts. The western terminal of the wall was at Bowness-on-Solway, but fortlets (milefortlets) and watchtowers (towers) continued down the Cumberland coast. The entire complex was built by the three legions in Britain, though garrisoned by the more mobile auxiliary troops. Apparently a frontier, it was designed to be permeable, to supervise not to deny movement. The line could not have been held against a concerted attack; in the event of a crossing Roman forces would concentrate to the south to expel invaders. North of the wall were further forts monitoring Northumberland and the Lowlands. The psychological and propaganda effect of this enormous feat of construction and of the garrison along it must have been immense, not to mention the demographic and economic impact of the thousands of troops stationed along its line.
Alan Simon Esmonde Cleary |
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JOHN CANNON. "Hadrian's Wall." The Oxford Companion to British History. 2002. Encyclopedia.com. 9 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JOHN CANNON. "Hadrian's Wall." The Oxford Companion to British History. 2002. Encyclopedia.com. (February 9, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O110-HadriansWall.html JOHN CANNON. "Hadrian's Wall." The Oxford Companion to British History. 2002. Retrieved February 09, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O110-HadriansWall.html |
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Hadrian's Wall
Hadrian's Wall was a Roman frontier work of the early 2nd cent. running 70 miles from the Tyne near Newcastle to the Solway west of Carlisle. Commenced at the behest of Hadrian on his visit to Britain in 122, the wall was originally to consist of a running barrier fronted by a ditch (except on the crags of the central sector), with a gateway defended by a fortlet every mile (milecastle) and two watchtowers (turrets) between each pair of milecastles. Apparently a frontier, it was designed to supervise not to deny movement. The line could not have been held against a concerted attack; in the event of a crossing Roman forces would concentrate to the south to expel invaders.
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Cite this article
JOHN CANNON. "Hadrian's Wall." A Dictionary of British History. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 9 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JOHN CANNON. "Hadrian's Wall." A Dictionary of British History. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (February 9, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O43-HadriansWall.html JOHN CANNON. "Hadrian's Wall." A Dictionary of British History. 2004. Retrieved February 09, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O43-HadriansWall.html |
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Hadrian's Wall
Hadrian's Wall ancient Roman wall, 73.5 mi (118.3 km) long, across the narrow part of the island of Great Britain from Wallsend on the Tyne River to Bowness at the head of Solway Firth. It was mainly built from c.AD 122 to 126 under Emperor Hadrian and was extended by Emperor Severus a century later. The wall demarcated the northern boundary and defense line of Roman Britain. Fragments of the wall, 6 ft (1.8 m) high and 8 ft (2.4 m) thick, and many of the "mile stations" (stone blockhouses along the wall constructed every Roman mile) remain. Hadrian's Wall, which has been preserved, is one of the largest and most significant remains of the Roman occupation. |
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"Hadrian's Wall." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 9 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Hadrian's Wall." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (February 9, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-HadriansW.html "Hadrian's Wall." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Retrieved February 09, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-HadriansW.html |
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Hadrian's Wall
Hadrian's Wall A defensive fortification in northern Britain. It was built 122–26 AD after a visit to Britain by Emperor HADRIAN. It is 117 km (73 miles) long, a stone barricade with a turf section in the west. Large fortress bases, mile-castles, and signal towers marked its length. A road ran along it to the south and defensive ditches accompanied it on both sides. The wall was damaged several times by the Picts and was finally abandoned in 383, but long stretches of the wall still stand.
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"Hadrian's Wall." A Dictionary of World History. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. 9 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Hadrian's Wall." A Dictionary of World History. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. (February 9, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O48-HadriansWall.html "Hadrian's Wall." A Dictionary of World History. 2000. Retrieved February 09, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O48-HadriansWall.html |
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Hadrian's Wall
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"Hadrian's Wall." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 9 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Hadrian's Wall." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (February 9, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-HadriansWall.html "Hadrian's Wall." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved February 09, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-HadriansWall.html |
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Hadrian's Wall
Hadrian's Wall Cumbria–Northum.–Tyneside, Roman fortification built AD 122–6, called after Roman Emperor Hadrian and giving name to Wall (Northum.), Heddon on the Wall, and Wallsend.
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A. D. MILLS. "Hadrian's Wall." A Dictionary of British Place-Names. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. 9 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. A. D. MILLS. "Hadrian's Wall." A Dictionary of British Place-Names. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. (February 9, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O40-HadriansWall.html A. D. MILLS. "Hadrian's Wall." A Dictionary of British Place-Names. 2003. Retrieved February 09, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O40-HadriansWall.html |
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