The Little-Known Belgian Invasion of Britain

[John Conduitt]

The first coins used in Britain arrived around 150BC from the Continent. The first British-made coins were copied from those that travelled all the way from the Greek colony of Massalia. Such were the extensive trade routes at the time. Yet trade between Celtic tribes was not prevalent – British Celtic hoards tend to be homogenous. Some tribes seem to have only used coins as gifts or for votive purposes. Others traded much more with the Romans than with other tribes.

Then after 100BC, Belgic tribes such as the Atrebates and Belgae migrated to the south of Britain and established themselves there as well as on the Continent. This migration accelerated with Caesar’s campaigns in Gaul. The new arrivals continued to trade with their Belgic and Gallic cousins on the mainland, bringing coins and coin-making technology. Mediterranean commodities such as wine were traded for tin, corn, slaves and hunting dogs. British aristocrats helped fund the Continental Celts' resistance to Caesar, which led directly to his invasions of Britain in 55-54BC.

This is a Continental coin found in England. It was struck by the Baiocasses (‘with blond curls’), a Gallic tribe from Bessin, Lower Normandy, who gave their name to modern Bayeux. They were one of six tribes that made up Armorica in northwest Gaul. This coin was found on Hayling Island, on route to Noviomagus Reginorum (Chichester), capital of Regni tribe, who may have been controlled by a Belgic elite. The examples on the Portable Antiquities Scheme database were found in a relatively small area in Hampshire, Dorset and the Isle of Wight (DT2264, DT2254 and DT2255). Die links suggest they were all brought to Britain at the same time - maybe by the same trader. Archaeological sites along the south coast of England, notably at Hengistbury Head (capital of the Durotriges), show connections with Armorica, with Hayling Island the furthest east they came. Further east, the Continental connections were with the Seine valley.

‘Bayeux Head Boar’ Stater, 80-60BC

Baiocasses, Armorica (Brittany/Normandy). Electrum, 22mm, 5.01g. Head right, large curls for hair, boar above. Human-headed horse right, boar standard below (ABC 55; de Jersey fig. 57a; Delestré and Tache, Série 341, var. 1, DT 2254). See also Figure 18, Plate I, page 3 of Ancient Gaulish Coins, including those of the Channel Islands, Bernard Roth.

There is plenty of evidence of this cross-Channel trade with the Armorica. The Câtillon Hoard of 2,500 Celtic coins found on Jersey in 1957 mostly comprises coins from the Coriosolitae tribe (near modern-day St Malo) but also includes coins of the Baiocasses and several Gallic and British tribes such as the Durotriges of Dorset. Le Câtillon II, the largest even Celtic hoard of 70,000 coins found in 2012, also includes this type. Jersey was a convenient stopping place on the route from Alet (St Malo) to Hengisbury (Dorset).

Some tribes did more than trade. Below is another Continental coin found in England. It was struck by the Ambiani (‘living around the Somme river'), a Belgic tribe who were westerly neighbours of the Atrebates in Belgic Gaul and gave their name to modern Amiens. They came from the Picardy coast (south of Calais) and were part of the coalition against Caesar. Their prolific gold coinage is found in northern France and southern Britain, from the West Country to Kent. While other tribes imitated Arverni coins inspired by Philip II of Macedon staters, the Ambiani imitated those from Magna Graecia in southern Italy. Their bronze is relatively scarce, especially in Britain, but so much gold coinage reached southern England it is likely they settled there from as early as 200BC as the first of the Belgae tribe.

‘Type de Chilly’ Unit, 60-40BC

Ambiani. Bronze, 15mm, 2.23g. Long-nosed head right, hair in large oval locks. Horse right, long tail with three strands, kneeling charioteer above on the rump (DT S 366A). Found near Slindon, West Sussex in 2022.

While the Ambiani assimilated into the British population, the connection between the people of Armorica and southwest Britain continued into the medieval period. As the Roman Empire fell, many Britons settled in Armorica. This continued for the next few centuries so that Armorica became Brittany and their language Breton, setting them apart from their Gallic countrymen to this day.