Trinovantes and Catuvellauni
Client status: 54 BC -c.39 AD
Location: lands in south-East England
In 54 BC, Julius Caesar set up Mandubracius of the Trinovantes as a client king and established the Catuvellauni as a tributary state of Rome.[5] The centralization of the client kingdoms in southern Britain led to some resemblance of one British society ruled by the Catuvellauni.[5] Coin evidence suggests that since 10 AD, both areas were ruled by Cunobelinus until around 39-40 AD when after his death anti-Roman factions led by his son Caratacus had the most power.[9][5] In 40 AD, Caratacus overthrew Verica of the Atrebates client kingdom, who was a known ally to the emperor, Claudius.[5] Caratacus led anti-Roman forces against the Roman invasion in 43 AD.[5] The next that was recorded of them was in 50 AD when Caratacus led forces against governor Publius Ostorius Scapula with tribes from Wales.[10] This led to his defeat in 50 AD and search of refuge with the Brigantes, and ultimately a betrayal by Cartimandua in 51 AD.[8] Following Caratacus' defeat, the lands belonging to the Catuvellauni were annexed, the settlement of Verulamium was given municipum status in 50 AD, and its settlers were given a level of citizenship with certain rights.[11]
Atrebates, later Regni or Regnenses
Client status: 55 BC-70s AD
Location: Roughly modern-day Hampshire and West Sussex (capitals now Silchester and Chichester)
The Belgic Atrebates were led by a semi independent client king, Commius, in Gaul when Caesar left Britain after his first invasion. When Commius began to conspire against Rome, he was forced to flee to Britain in 54 BC. He named himself king of his people and ruled until approximately 20 BC.[12] Commius was succeeded by three of his sons. First, Tincomarus, from 25/20 BC to 7/8 AD. He was more sympathetic to Rome than his father had been, and based on numismatic evidence styled himself rex, implying client kingship status under the Empire. He was expelled in 7/8 AD, seeking refuge with the Romans.[12]
After Tincomarus, Augustus chose to recognize his brother, Eppillus, as the next client king.[5] After ruling jointly with Tincomarus, he apparently became sole ruler c.7 AD, and may have been the one who drove out Tincomarus.[5]
Eppillus was succeeded by another of Commius' sons, Verica, who reigned from Silchester.[5] During his rule, the Atrebates were under pressure from the Catuvellauni to the east.[5] Around 10 AD, Verica was dethroned by the brother of Cunobelinus, Epaticcus. Verica did not regain control until 37 AD.[5] Caratacus, of the Catuvellauni, conquered the kingdom and Verica was driven out of Britain in roughly 40 AD.[5] As a Roman ally, it has been argued that when Verica sought refuge in Rome, he helped convince Claudius to invade Britain.[5]
Following the Roman conquest, Cogidubnus, who was at some point given the Roman names Tiberius Claudius.[5] Cogidubnus ruled the lands of the Atrebates and the Regni, taking the latter as the new name for all people who lived in the regions.[12]
Iceni
Client status: c.47-60 AD
Location: Roughly modern-day Norfolk
The Iceni tribe were located in the south east region of Britain. The Iceni had a coin system in place before the Roman invasion, and these coins show evidence that a king named Antedios was in power through the Roman Invasion by Claudius in 43 AD.[5] When the kingdom rebelled in 47 AD after an attempt to disarmour the Iceni, it is suggested he was removed from power by Rome and that Prasutagus was installed as king.[5]
Upon Parsutagus' death in 60 AD, he wanted to give half of the power to his daughters and the other half to the emperor.[5] This went against Roman law which dictated the land of the Iceni would be annexed to the emperor, Nero.[5] The Romans seized control and committed assault against Prasutagus' wife Boudica, and her daughters.[5] These actions of the Romans ignited a long lasting revolt throughout multiple British client kingdoms, including the Iceni and Trinovantes kingdoms.[5] This revolt led to the destruction of the municipums of Colchester, Londinium and Verulamium, which were all promptly rebuilt following the suppression of this revolt.[5] The story of Boudica ends with mystery as there are conflicting stories of her death.[5] The territory once ruled by Boudica and Prasutagus was considered part of the Roman province after Boudica's defeat.[13]