A.D. 56 - c. 120

Name: Cornelius Tacitus                   Dates: c. A.D. 56 - c. 120
Occupation: Historian
Importance: Source on Imperial Rome, Roman Britain, and Germanic TribesTacitus Quote "It is the rare fortune of these days that a man may think what he likes and say what he thinks.

"Histories
 I.1Tacitus

 Quotes

Biography

Little is known for certain about the origins of Tacitus, although he is believed to have been born, around A.D. 56, into a provincial aristocratic family in Gaul (modern France) or nearby, in the Roman province of Transalpine Gaul. We don't even know if his name was "Publius" or "Gaius Cornelius" Tacitus. He had a successful political course, becoming senator, consul, and eventually governor of the Roman province of Asia. He probably lived and wrote into Hadrian's reign (117-38) and may have died in A.D. 120.

Despite a political situation that had provided for his personal success, Tacitus was unhappy with the status quo. He lamented the previous century's reduction of aristocratic power, which was the price of having a princeps 'emperor'

somerset dawn 2

UPHILL

UPHILL 55

aloud for a complete investigation and thorough planning. Another Cleeve Abbey, almost, is perhaps asking to be added to our national treasures. UPHILL (D ., Opopille—? Hubbds Creek: cf. Pylle, Pille=creek. The Knoll close by explains the popular corruption).—The only thing “uphill” is the remains of the originally Norman church on the end of the knoll. There is a ferry (6d.) across the Axe to Brean Down. The chief interest of Uphill is purely antiquarian. It is fairly certain that under the name of Axium this was the harbour from which much of the produce of the Roman lead mines on Mendip was exported. The land route was by the road which has been traced for fifty-five miles from Uphill to Old Sarum, near Salisbury. It is a pretty piece of road between Bleadon Hill, practically Mendip end, and the sea flats. Just beyond Bleadon village a bridge crosses the Axe, and a minute later on the left Crook’s Peak opens up, as it looks across to the group of pines that marks out Bleadon Down. BANWELL {? pers. name, and well).—About five miles E. of Weston is Banwell; but the most effective way to see this picturesque village leaning up against its island hillock is to approach it from the N. across I he flats, when there comes into view a noble lofty church and an old turreted building to the E. of it. I Unwell is quite rich in interest: it has, besides the < Imrch and old manor-house, a prehistoric camp, a I ruck way, called a Roman road, a mysterious turf i mss, and some caves. It is, moreover, the site of a Saxon monastery given by Alfred to Asser, like < nngrcsbury. The church is fine. Its tower, with

W E S T O N-S U P E R-M ARE

54 W E S T O N-S U P E R-M ARE
S. of the low promontory of Middle Hope which ends westward in Sand Point. Turn N. over the flats from the village of Worle. Was the irony of deterioration ever better exemplified than in this thoroughly ecclesiastical and picturesque farmhouse? The nave, north aisle, and tower of a church, with some additions on the N. side, are used as a house. The place was founded (i 210) as a small Priory of Austin Canons by William de Courtenay, a descendant of de Tracy, one of *the four murderers of Thomas a Becket, possibly in expiation of the ancestral crime. The infirmary has been converted into a cart house, and the kitchen attached to it has been unearthed. The monastic barn on the N. side is in good preservation, and reminds us of the Bishop’s Barn at Wells, at any rate in size, being over 120 feet long. However, it is not cruciform, having a door only on the S., which is supported by massive buttresses, round in the lower part and rectangular above. Between the buttresses on the S. side are three pointed doors beside the central one. A most interesting survival! Ferns and ivy growing up the walls add a glamour to this venerable fourteenth-century structure. There is besides, on the S.W., a chapter-house (with stone seat all round), which shows traces of a gabled porch at its W. end; and here, the result of recent excava tion, are seen the wall-footings of several chambers S. of the site of the chancel and Lady-chapel. These latter together measure 57 feet by 21 feet. A delicate E.E. tower arch on this side is blocked up. The present owner, Major Vernon Hill, has done most praiseworthy work in excavating, but the place flie

ad577

sending slaves to the Vikings in Dublin

sending slaves to the Vikings in Dublin, Ireland

Exactly when the city was founded is unknown. The earliest relic is a silver coin in the Royal Collection at Stockholm, Sweden. The coin bears the image of Ethelred Unrede (978 – 1016) and was minted in Bricgstowe (Bristol) by a man named Aelfweld. If Bristol was important enough to have a mint by 978 it must have been in existance sometime before then.
It is fairly certain that no town existed here before 577 AD. The reason being that in 577 two Saxon kings (Cuthwine and Ceawlin) fought and killed three British kings (Commail, Condidan and Farinmail) at a village called Dyrham near Pucklechurch, just outside of the present city. Although the towns of Bath, Gloucester and Cirencester are mentioned in the account of this battle, Bristol isn’t mentioned at all, even though it would have been closer than those mentioned.
Thus, Bristol was founded sometime between 577 and 978 AD. Even by this latter date the town was known to be dealing sending slaves to the Vikings in Dublin, Ireland.
Bridges at this time were of vital importance. There are three reasons why Bristol, as a port, is situated 7 miles inland with access to ships up a very tortuous river. A bridge across the Avon nearer it’s mouth would have been technologically very difficult, the land there was very prone to flooding and the town would have been very exposed to attack. Ships would make their way up the Avon until they reached Bristol Bridge and lay beached at low tide on the mud ready to be unloaded.

mengelewestof: sending slaves to the Vikings in Dublin

mengelewestof: sending slaves to the Vikings in Dublin: sending slaves to the Vikings in Dublin, Ireland Exactly when the city was founded is unknown. The earliest relic is a silve...

mengelewestof: KING BLADUD

mengelewestof: KING BLADUD: KING BLADUD The figure is in two parts,and the head, older than the body, was easily detached. From this Janice Tindall removed ...

timsbury

plymouth 123

king alfred and the levels of somerset

alfreds country