Isca Dumnoniorum
Isca Dumnoniorum, located in present-day Exeter, Devon, England, was an important settlement during the Roman occupation of Britain. Established around AD 43 following the Roman invasion, it initially served as a military fort for a legion before transitioning to a civilian settlement by around AD 80. The town was a significant administrative center for the indigenous Dumnonii tribe, reflecting a blend of Roman and local influences. Throughout its history, Isca Dumnoniorum underwent various phases, including the development of public amenities such as a bathhouse and a forum, showcasing its role in trade and governance.
As the Roman Empire evolved, Isca Dumnoniorum became part of different administrative divisions, ultimately aligning with Britannia Prima in the late Empire. The archaeological remains in Exeter reveal the extensive fortifications and urban planning of the town, highlighting its significance in both military and civilian life. By the late 4th century, the site experienced decline, with the forum falling out of use, yet the municipal building persisted until the Saxon arrival in the 5th century. This rich historical backdrop invites further exploration of Isca Dumnoniorum's role in shaping the region's cultural and social landscape during and after Roman rule.
Isca Dumnoniorum
(Exeter)
A town in the territory of the tribe of the Dumnonii (Devonshire, southwest England), on a river bearing their name (the Exe). After the invasion of Britain under Claudius (AD 43–48), the place was furnished with a military fort, which was garrisoned shortly afterward by a legion. But c 80 this unit was moved to Isca Silurum (Caerleon), whereupon the fortress of Isca Dumnoniorum was replaced by an open civilian settlement, which became—or remained—the administrative center of the Dumnonii. When Britain was divided into two by Septimius Severus (193–211), Isca Dumnoniorum belonged to the upper province (Britannia Superior), and after the fourfold (later fivefold) division of the administrative diocese of the Britanniae in the later empire the town became part of Britannia Prima.
Remains of both its successive phases, military and civilian, are to be seen. The original military headquarters has been located in the center of Exeter. Extending over forty acres (a larger area than had been thought), it included a stone bath house which, after the legion had gone, became the municipal administrative center, adjoining a forum; and new public baths were built nearby. The southwestern defences of the legionary fortress (c 55/60–75) and early town (c 80–180/200) have now been investigated; the first rampart and ditch (with stone gates) were replaced by a strong stone wall enclosing a hundred-acre perimeter. The presence of coins minted at Alexandria in Egypt bears witness to overseas trade. By 375, however, the forum was no longer in use, though the municipal building continued to be employed, on an impoverished scale, until the Saxons arrived in the fifth century.