largest city in the UK and the European Union - London - was founded in the first half of the 1st century AD.He has a long history, which is interesting including for the understanding of the processes taking place in modern Europe.For example, few know how was originally called the capital of Britain, and how many people lived there in the year 400, as well as its inhabitants.
foundation of the city
As the ancient legend, the settlement on the site of the modern capital of the UK originally called Troia Nova.The same tradition calls him the founder of a descendant of Aeneas - Brutus of Troy, who lived in the 1100s years BC.However, researchers believe this version completely groundless.Thus, as the foundation of London called the period of about 43 of the year of our era, and the founders - the Romans who invaded the island under the command of Emperor Claudius.Initially, it was a very small village, covers an area of 0.8 sq.km and equal to the territory of the modern Hyde Park, and by the beginning of the 2nd century, it grew and became the capital of the Roman province of Britannia.It is noteworthy that the vast majority of the residents were immigrants from various parts of continental Europe.
As originally called the British capital
, who first began exploring the origin of the word "London", he was a famous pastor Geoffrey of Monmouth, who lived in the 12th century.In his book "The History of the Kings of Britain", he linked it with the name of the legendary ruler Luda.However, those who want to know how was originally called the capital of Britain, is to get acquainted with the data obtained by scientists from the UK in 1998, the year.So, the first settlement on the site of modern London was called Londinium, and the word most likely derives from drevnekeltskogo word "Plowonida", consisting of two Indo-European root "plew" and "nejd", which translates as "for", "boating" or"swimming" and "flow."That word in the 1st century BC, the ancient Celts would designate a segment of the Thames, situated on the mouth to the ford below Westminster.In their language it is first transformed into "Lundonjon", and then turned into a Welsh "Lundein", from where he borrowed the Romans and began to say as Londinium.There is also another explanation.In particular, some researchers believe that the name comes from the word of Latin origin "Lond", meaning "wild place."
history Londinium
After 18 years after the city was attacked by the army of Queen of the Iceni Boudilli that after the death of her husband led the anti-Roman rebellion.The governor Gaius Suetonius Paulinus Britain, knowing that will not have time to prepare for defense, chose to withdraw.As a result of Londinium was burnt down and its inhabitants killed.However, London's first name has not disappeared from the map of the Roman Empire, as the city was revived and the end of the 100-year already was the capital of Britain.Moreover, its population reached 60 thousand people, which makes it at that time quite a large settlement in the Roman Empire, which were built by the basilica, public baths, amphitheater and fort, and placed a garrison city.After 100 years, Britain was divided into lower and upper.The capital of the latter and became Londinium.
August
However, Londinium was not the only ancient name of London.The fact that in the 4th century Romans renamed in August.So to answer the question as originally called the capital of the UK, and should indicate the name.However, soon after that the Romans were forced to leave this place.That is why this is absolutely the Roman name did not stick, and its existence known only to specialist historians.
London in the 5th century
As is known, the Roman occupation of the British Isles ended in 410th year.Thus, if the first part of the question as was originally called the capital of Britain, and how many people there were living to 400, the answer is easy, the second is there are certain problems.After three decades before the Picts and Scots came to the walls of Londinium, but were pushed back, and within four years the city has only one legion guarding.Thus, the most wealthy Romans, with relatives on the mainland, began to leave it, which led to a rapid decline in population.Reign began to settle tribal representatives Brito, however, and they did not want him to stay, and by the end of the 5th century Londinium completely empty.
What was the name London earlier (when the Anglo-Saxons)
territory located on the banks of the Thames, could not long remain unsettled.It is not surprising that at the end of 400th years BC these lands came the Anglo-Saxons.They did not settle in Londinium, and founded a new city.It happened 600's, and the correct answer to the question: "What was originally called the capital of the British in the Anglo-Saxons?" Will Lyundenvik.Already in the 8th century it became a major trading center and the port, where the ships came from different countries.By the way, experts in the field of linguistics note that contained the name of the city suffix "Vic" has a special meaning.The fact is that in Old English it means "market town".Another name - Lyundenburg - appeared in 886, the year when Alfred the Great engaged in furnishing abandoned Londinium, restored the Roman fortifications, built a new and transformed it into a fortress.Such facilities in the Anglo-Saxon language is called "Burj" and so a new name was contain a suffix.Lyundenburg, which occupied the territory of today's City of London, soon became the main city of the region and the nearby Lyundenvik has evolved into a small settlement, known today as Aldwych.
Now you know how was originally called the capital of Britain, and how many people lived there in the first century after its founding.So you can judge what a giant leap has been made in London for the past 2,000 years, during which from a small military fort, he has become one of the largest cities on the planet.
