Camulodunum ( or ; ), the
Ancient Roman name for what is now
Colchester in
Essex, was an important town in
Roman Britain, and the first capital of the province. It is claimed to be the
oldest town in Britain. Originally the site of the Brythonic-
Celtic oppidum of
Camulodunon (meaning
"The Stronghold of Camulos"), capital of the
Trinovantes and later the
Catuvellauni tribes, it was first mentioned by name on coinage minted by the chieftain
Tasciovanus sometime between 20 and 10 BC. The Roman town began life as a
Roman Legionary base constructed in the AD 40s on the site of the Brythonic-Celtic fortress following its conquest by the Emperor
Claudius. After the early town was destroyed during the
Iceni rebellion in 60/1 AD, it was rebuilt, reaching its zenith in the 2nd and 3rd centuries. During this time it was known by its official name
Colonia Claudia Victricensis (), often shortened to
Colonia Victricensis, and as
Camulodunum, a Latinised version of its original Brythonic name. The town was home to a large classical
Temple, two theatres (including Britain's largest), several Romano-British temples, Britain's only known chariot circus, Britain's first town walls, several large cemeteries and over 50 known mosaics and tessallated pavements. It may have reached a population of 30,000 at its height. It wasn't until the late 18th century that historians realised that Colchester's physical Brythonic (British Celtic) and Roman remains were the city mentioned in ancient literature as "Camulodunum".