Wall facts:
Building Hadrian's Wall
Stone by Stone
It has long been accepted that at some point in the programme of building the wall, forts and turrets, construction was halted for a period of time. This event is usually referred to as dislocation.
The evidence we have of this is that all along the wall and forts, the foundations were laid by one gang of builders and then after a period of time re started by a different gang of builders.
The most popular explanation given by archaeologists is that fighting erupted within the region around the wall so that the soldiers had to immediately stop building in order to put down a rebellion.
This book is a based on real events and real people who existed at the time. Whilst some of these events are fictitious many are not. This book is aimed at providing the reader with a plausible explanation of the what took place in Britain in 122 AD.
Hadrian's time in Britannia
Hadrian arrived in the Newcastle (Pons Aelius) in the April 122AD with specific plans in mind.
He had an enormous wall of stone to design and build, to secure the province against further attacks from the north, troops to oversee and a Senate who appeared unsupportive. The Historia Augusta tells that he dismissed two senior figures in the royal court. Was there a plot against the Emperor ?
Clearly his time in the province of Britannia was not an easy one.
It is no surprise he brought with him his most loyal General, Platorius Nepos.
Nepos was a personal friend and promoted to military Governor of Britannia, in order to project manage the job in hand.
Could they both deal with this enormous civil engineering project given the back drop of other issues?
What really happened in the province of Britannia in 122 AD?
Hadrian's achievement's
Roman engineers distinguished themselves as experts in their field, demonstrating unparalleled proficiency in construction that resulted in some of the most remarkable buildings ever created. Many of these structures remain today, a testament to their advanced engineering techniques. Notably, their innovative use of concrete derived from volcanic ash and the incorporation of lime in mortar facilitated the construction of monumental buildings.
Hadrian's Wall stands as a significant military achievement of its era. It was designed to convey the might of Roman engineering to the northern tribes, serving as an exceptional example, unmatched within the empire.
The concept of 'depth of defence' encapsulates a military strategy aimed at delaying, rather than outright preventing the enemy advance. This approach focuses on buying time and inflicting casualties in concentrated engagements, effectively causing the attacker to lose momentum as they cover increasing territory. Consequently, defenders are better positioned to withstand a superior attacking force and initiate a counter attack at a more opportune moment.
As attackers advance, their flanks become increasingly vulnerable; should their progress stall, they risk encirclement. If an attacker managed to get over the 30 ft ditch, climb the 18ft wall and get down behind it, they would then find themselves facing the vallum ditches. Going through a further 2 ditches would cause further disorder , so they are trapped in the wall area and would now be open to counterattacks east ,west and south from any forts along the wall or the Stangate. This rationale underpinned the design of Hadrian's Wall, exemplifying how the principle of depth of defence contributed to its success.
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