Caerleon (Isca)
 King Arthur |  Roman Britain |
Caerleon, together with Chester and York, formed one of the three permanent bases for Roman legions in Britain. The Roman fortress of Isca (often referred to as the "city of the legions") was home to the II Legio Augusta. The fortress was founded in AD74/5 by Sextus Julius Frontinus for the Emperor Vespasian to pacify and control Welsh insurgents.
The excavations of the 50 acre site have provided much information about its lay-out and life at the fort. The outer perimeter consisted of an earth rampart with stone facing. It was topped probably with a stone palisade, all of which was encompassed by a deep outer ditch. A section of this defensive wall is visible in the south-western corner of the modern town rising to a height of about 12ft.
Rows of barrack blocks arranged in pairs were located inside the fortress of which only four survive. Originally there were 24 of these huge barrack-blocks stretching towards the north corner, then 24 more at the opposite end with a further 16 in the centre. Each one of the barracks was designed to house a centuria of 80 men. In addition, at the end of each building there are large quarters for officers, centurions and junior staff. These remain the only surviving legionary barracks in Europe, and many of the excavated artefacts can be seen in the town's Legionary Museum.
The most brilliant monument at Roman Caerleon, however, is the amphitheatre. It was built in AD80 at the same time as the Colosseum in Rome. Oval in shape, its lower storey was constructed of solid buttressed stone topped with levels of timber seating. This was mainly a military arena used for military exercises and displays. Troops processed through the two principal entrances although blood sports and gladiatorial combat were also staged here in front of an audience of some 6000 spectators. The legionary companies who built the amphitheatre have inscribed their names on some of the stones in the arena wall.
Although the modern town of Newport encroaches upon Caerleon and destroys some of its character, enough of the Roman encampment itself called Isca remains to appreciate its sheer size and importance to the region. At the start opposite the 'Legionary Museum' of Roman relics in the High Street, follows almost exactly, the route of the original Roman road through the camp. At the furthest point from the High Street, remnants of the fortress wall and defensive ditch run to right and left, and here are substantial remains of an amphitheatre where Romans watched gladiators fight, and where the legionaries trained. Excavations have also unearthed a Roman bath house and the barracks of ancient Isca.
Caerleon's position near the Welsh-English border made it strategically important, and it was fought over many times by a variety of armies. Saxons, Vikings, Normans, Welsh and English have all shed blood on the fields of Caerleon. In the 11th century, the Normans built a castle there on the high ground shortly after the Conquest of 1066. Sadly, all that remains to us is the mound on which it stood.
Alfred, Lord Tennyson stayed at the 16th century Hanbury Arms beside the quick flowing River Usk, whilst working on his Arthurian epic 'Idylls of the King'.
According to the 12th century chronicler, Geoffrey of Monmouth, King Arthur held court at Caerleon. The magician Merlin also has very close associations with Wales and it is said that the town of Carmarthen is allegedly his birthplace. No wonder that the Welsh for Carmarthen is Caerfyrddin which means 'Merlin's City'. According to local tradition Merlin's father is said to have ruled the surrounding area during the period immediately following the Roman evacuation of Britain, about AD450. The rotting stump of an ancient oak tree, known as 'Merlin's Oak', used to stand in Priory Street. It was said that Merlin had put a curse on the stump which did not stop the loval council to remove it in 1978 to make way for road improvements: 'When Merlin's oak shall tumble down, Then shall fall Carmarthen town'. It is claimed by local tradition that Merlin is buried in a cave beneath the town, known as 'Merlin's Hill Cave'.
Eight miles east of Caerleon is Caerwent, the site of Venta Silurum, a civilian city built as part of the Roman policy of pacification of the local people as well as fraternisation with them. The town walls, which in places are 15ft tall, and gates are well preserved, and there are partial remains of two houses and a temple. Some Roman artifacts are on display in the parish church of Caerwent.
For further information see - http://www.caerleon.net/intro/