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| Geography | |
| Capital | Camulodunon(Colchester) |
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TheTrinovantes orTrinobantes[1][2] were one of theCeltic tribes ofPre-Roman Britain. Their territory was on the north side of theThamesestuary in currentEssex,Hertfordshire andSuffolk, and included lands now located inGreater London. They were bordered to the north by theIceni, and to the west by theCatuvellauni. Their name possibly derives from the Celtic intensive prefix "tri-" and a second element which was either "nowio" – new, so meaning "very new" in the sense of "newcomers", but possibly with an applied sense of vigor or liveliness ultimately meaning "the very vigorous people". Their capital wasCamulodunum (modernColchester), one proposed site of the legendaryCamelot.
Shortly beforeJulius Caesar'sinvasion of Britain in 55 and 54 BC, the Trinobantes were considered the most powerful tribe in Britain. At this time their capital was probably atBraughing (in modern-dayHertfordshire). In some manuscripts of Caesar'sGallic War their king is referred to asImanuentius, although in other manuscripts no name is given. Some time before Caesar's second expedition this king was overthrown byCassivellaunus, who is usually assumed to have belonged to theCatuvellauni.Imanuentius's son,Mandubracius, fled to the protection of Caesar inGaul. During his second expedition Caesar defeated Cassivellaunus and restored Mandubracius to the kingship, and Cassivellaunus undertook not to molest him again.Tribute was also agreed.
The next identifiable king of the Trinovantes, known fromnumismatic evidence, wasAddedomarus, who took power c. 20–15 BC, and moved the tribe's capital to Camulodunum. For a brief period c. 10 BCTasciovanus of the Catuvellauni issued coins from Camulodunum, suggesting that he conquered the Trinobantes, but he was soon forced to withdraw, perhaps as a result of pressure from the Romans, as his later coins no longer bear the mark"Rex", and Addedomarus was restored. Addedomarus was briefly succeeded by his sonDubnovellaunus c. 10–5 BC, but a few years later the tribe was finally conquered by either Tasciovanus or his sonCunobelinus.
The Trinovantes reappeared in history when they participated inBoudica's revolt against theRoman Empire in 60 AD. Their name was given to one of thecivitates ofRoman Britain, whose chief town was Caesaromagus (modernChelmsford, Essex). The style of their rich burials (seefacies ofAylesford) is of continental origin and evidence of their affiliation to theBelgic people.
The kings of the Trinovantes are important figures inWelsh mythology and as important antecedents in the genealogies of Medieval Welsh kings. Dubnovellaunus and Mandubracius appear asDyfnwal Moelmud (Dubnovellaunus the Bald and Silent) andManawydan, while theWelsh Triads recall Addedomarus as Aedd Mawr (Addedo the Great) is one of the founders of Britain.
In theHistoria Regum Britanniae,Geoffrey of Monmouth claimed that the Trinovantes took their name fromTrinovantum ("New Troy"), which he states was the original name for London. Geoffrey connecting the city withBrutus, the legendary founder of Britain.
InChelmsford 123, a British televisionsituation comedy produced forChannel 4 byHat Trick Productions, the main character of Badvoc (played byRory McGrath) was the leader of The Trinovantes.
InImperator: Rome, the Trinovantes appear as a playable tribe in southeastern Britain.
