A statue of Britannia in Plymouth

Deriving from Pretannia, Diodorus's Greek rendering of the indigenous name Pretani, Britannia was the preferred, early Roman term for the island of Great Britain, and after the failed attempt to invade and occupy Scotland, was the name applied to the Roman province in southern and central Britain (largely corresponding to modern England and Wales). Plymouth ( is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England about south west of London. The Roman Empire was the post-Republican phase of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial See also Kingdom of Great Britain Great Britain (Breatainn Mhòr Prydain Fawr Breten Veur Graet Breetain is the larger of the two main islands Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. In Ancient Rome, a province (Latin provincia, pl provinciae) was the basic and until the Tetrarchy (circa History The Roman occupation of Britain was the first period in which the area of present-day England and Wales was administered as a single unit (with the exception

Britannia was personified as a Goddess by the Romans, and in more recent times has become a figure of national personification of the United Kingdom. A national personification is an anthropomorphization of a Nation; it can appear in both Editorial cartoons and Propaganda. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located

Roman period

See also: Roman Britain

The Romans originally described the group of islands off north-west Europe as the Britanniae, in the plural, consisting of Albion (Great Britain), Hibernia (Ireland) and many smaller islands. Roman Britain refers to those parts of the island of Great Britain controlled by the Roman Empire between AD 43 and 410 Over time, Albion came to be known as Britannia, and the name for the group was subsequently dropped. The island was first invaded by Julius Caesar in 55 BC. Year 55 BC was a year of the pre-Julian calendar. Events By place Rome Consuls Marcus Licinius Crassus and At the height of Roman Britain, the Empire included most of the island of Great Britain. Roman Britain refers to those parts of the island of Great Britain controlled by the Roman Empire between AD 43 and 410 See also Kingdom of Great Britain Great Britain (Breatainn Mhòr Prydain Fawr Breten Veur Graet Breetain is the larger of the two main islands The Romans built Hadrian's Wall close to today's border between England and Scotland. Hadrian's Wall ( Latin: perhaps Vallum Aelium, "the Aelian wall" is a stone and turf Fortification built by the Roman England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. The province was named Britannia, and the unincorporated area of northern Britain was called Caledonia. Caledonia is the Latin name given by the Roman Empire to a northern area of the island of Great Britain. A southern part of what is now known as Scotland was occupied by the Romans for about 20 years in the mid-second century AD, keeping in place the Picts to the north of the Antonine Wall. The Picts were a Confederation of tribes in what was later to become eastern and northern Scotland from Roman times until the 10th century The Antonine Wall is a stone and turf Fortification, built by the Romans across what is now the Central belt of Scotland The Romans never completely occupied the island of Great Britain, and the Celtic tribes even prevented full consolidation of the southwest. People living in the Roman province of Britannia were called Britanni. Ireland was never conquered and was called Hibernia. Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world Hibernia is the Classical Latin name for the island of Ireland.

There was a Celtic goddess called Brigid who is one of the many sources of the personification of Britain. This article refers to the Pagan Goddess Brigid For the Catholic/Orthodox Saint of that name see Saint Brigid. The Emperor Claudius paid a visit while Britain was being conquered and was honoured with the agnomen Britannicus as if he were the conqueror, but Britannia remained a place, not a female personification of the land, until she appeared on coins issued under Hadrian,^[1] which introduced a female figure labelled BRITANNIA. Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus or Claudius I ( August 1, 10 BC &ndash October 13, AD 54 ( Tiberius Claudius Drusus from birth to By the Republican era and throughout the Imperial era, a Name in Ancient Rome for a male citizen consisted of three parts ( tria Publius Aelius Hadrianus (January 24 76 &ndash July 10 138 as emperor Imperator Caesar Divi Traiani filius Traianus Hadrianus Augustus, and Divus Hadrianus after

Britannia was soon personified as a goddess. A goddess is a Female Deity. Many Cultures have goddesses Often deities are part of a polytheistic system that includes several deities Early portraits of the goddess depict Britannia as a beautiful young woman, wearing the helmet of a centurion, and wrapped in a white garment with her right breast exposed. Centurion redirects here This article is about the Roman soldier She is usually shown seated on a rock, holding a spear, and with a spiked shield propped beside her. Sometimes she holds a standard and leans on the shield. A standard-bearer is a person (soldier or civilian who bears an emblem called an Ensign or standard i On another range of coinage, she is seated on a globe above waves: Britain at the edge of the 'known' world. Similar coin types were also issued under Antoninus Pius. Titus Aurelius Fulvus Boionius Arrius Antoninus ( September 19, 86 &ndash March 7 161) generally known in English as Antoninus Pius

Modern historians have noted similarities Britannia has in appearance to Boudicca. Boudica (also spelled Boudicca, formerly known as Boadicea, and known in Welsh culture and legends as "Buddug" (d Both are usually depicted with shields and wearing long dresses, and the physiognomy of both female figures in early depictions is remarkably similar.

British revival

Britannia

Britannia remained the Latin name for Great Britain. See also Kingdom of Great Britain Great Britain (Breatainn Mhòr Prydain Fawr Breten Veur Graet Breetain is the larger of the two main islands After the fall of the Roman Empire, variations on the term appear in the titles of the 9th century Historia Britonum and the 12th century Historia Regum Britanniae which became tremendously popular during the High Middle Ages. The Decline of the Roman Empire, leading to the Fall of the Roman Empire, or the Fall of Rome, was the end of the Western Roman Empire. The Historia Brittonum, or The History of the Britons, is a historical work that was first written sometime shortly after AD 833 and exists in several The Historia Regum Britanniae ( English: The History of the Kings of Britain) is a pseudohistorical account of British history The High Middle Ages was the period of European history in the 11th 12th and 13th centuries (AD 1000&ndash1299

It gained new symbolic meaning with the rise of British influence, and later the British Empire, which at its height ruled a quarter of the world's population and landmass. The British Empire was the largest empire in history and for over a century was the foremost global power. With the death of Queen Elizabeth I in 1603 came the succession of her Scottish cousin, James VI of Scotland to the English throne. James VI and I (19 June 1566 – 27 March 1625 was King of Scotland as James VI, and King of England and King of Ireland as James He became James I of England, and so brought under his personal rule the Kingdoms of England (and the dominion of Wales), Ireland and Scotland. James VI and I (19 June 1566 – 27 March 1625 was King of Scotland as James VI, and King of England and King of Ireland as James The Kingdom of England was a State (927-1707 located in Western Europe dating from the ninth or tenth century to the early eighteenth century when it was legally The Kingdom of Ireland (Ríocht na hÉireann was the name given to the Irish state from 1541 by the Crown of Ireland Act 1542 of the Parliament of Ireland. The Kingdom of Scotland ( Gaelic: Rìoghachd na h-Alba, Scots: Kinrick o Scotland) was a State in northwest Europe On 20 October 1604 King James proclaimed himself as "King of Great Brittaine, France and Ireland", a title that continued to be used by many of his successors. Year 20 was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Julian calendar. October events and holidays Children's Book Week ( England) - First Week of October National Day ( China People's Republic ^[2] With the constitutional unification of England and Scotland in 1707 and then with Ireland in 1800 Britannia became an increasingly important symbol and a strong rallying point among Britons. Year 1707 ( MDCCVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Year -of the Julian calendar. The Gregorian calendar was 11 days ahead of the Julian calendar until Friday, but 12 days ahead since Saturday.

British power, which depended on a liberal political system and the supremacy of the navy, lent these attributes to the image of Britannia. The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British armed services (and is therefore known as the Senior Service) By the time of Queen Victoria, Britannia had been renewed. Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901 was from 20 June 1837 the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Still depicted as a young woman with brown or golden hair, she kept her Corinthian helmet and her white robes, but now she held Poseidon's three-pronged trident and often stood in the ocean, representing British naval power. Originated in Ancient Greece and taking its name from the area of Corinth, the Corinthian helmet (Ancient Greek κόρυς κορινθίη In Greek mythology, Poseidon ( Greek:; Latin: Neptūnus) was the god of the Sea and as "Earth-Shaker" A trident (ˈtrаɪdənt also called a leister or gig, is a three- pronged Spear. She also usually held or stood beside a Greek hoplite shield, which sported the British Union Flag: also at her feet was often the British Lion, the national animal of England which also appears on the Arms of Scotland. The word hoplite ( Greek: hoplitēs; pl hoplitai) derives from hoplon ( plural hopla) meaning an item of armour or equipment thus 'hoplite' The Union Flag, also known as the Union Jack, is the national flag of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The lion ( Panthera leo) is a member of the family Felidae and one of four Big cats in the Genus Panthera. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Another change was that she was no longer bare breasted, due to the modesty of Victorian society. (The less puritanical French, in the same period, had no problem with the bare breasts of the famous "Liberty Leading the People"). Liberty Leading the People (La Liberté guidant le peuple is a painting by Eugène Delacroix commemorating the July Revolution of 1830 which toppled

In the Renaissance tradition, Britannia came to be viewed as the personification of Britain, in imagery that was developed during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. The Renaissance (from French Renaissance, meaning "rebirth" Italian: Rinascimento, from re- "again" and nascere The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located When James I came to the throne, some elaborate pageants were staged. James VI and I (19 June 1566 – 27 March 1625 was King of Scotland as James VI, and King of England and King of Ireland as James One pageant performed on the streets of London in 1605 was described in Anthony Munday's Triumphs of Reunited Britannia:

On a mount triangular, as the island of Britain itself is described to be, we seat in the supreme place, under the shape of a fair and beautiful nymph, Britannia herself. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. Anthony Munday (or Monday) (1560? &ndash August 10, 1633) was an English Dramatist and miscellaneous writer . .

Britannia first appeared on the farthing in 1672, though earlier pattern versions had appeared in 1665, followed by the halfpenny later the same year; the model used, then and later, was the future Duchess of Richmond. A farthing (meaning fourth part) was a British coin worth one quarter of a penny and 1/960 of a Pound sterling, slightly over a "mill" Frances Teresa Stewart Duchess of Richmond and Lennox (1648-1702 was a prominent member of the Court of the Restoration and famous for refusing to become a mistress of Stuart was famous at the time for refusing to become the mistress of Charles II, despite the King's strong infatuation with her. She then appeared on the British halfpenny coin throughout the rest of the 17th century and thereafter until 1936. Year 1936 ( MCMXXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. She also appeared on the penny coin between 1797 and 1970, occasional issues such as the fourpence under William IV between 1836 and 1837, and on the 50 pence coin between 1969 and 2008 ^[3]. Year 1797 ( MDCCXCVII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Year 1970 ( MCMLXX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. William IV may refer to William IV of Aquitaine (937–994 William IV of Provence (died 1030 Year 1836 ( MDCCCXXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap Year 1837 ( MDCCCXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common Year 1969 ( MCMLXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common See External Links below for examples of all these coins and others. In the spring of 2008, Britannia will be replaced with a design, according to the royal mint, "reflecting a more modern twenty-first century Britain". ^[4] When the Bank of England was granted a charter in 1694, the directors decided within days that the device for their official seal should represent 'Brittannia sitting on looking on a Bank of Mony' (sic). The Bank of England (formally the Governor and Company of the Bank of England) is a state-owned institution and the Central bank of the United Kingdom

1914 Russian poster depicing the Triple Entente - Britannia and Marianne in the company of Mother Russia. The Triple Entente (" entente " — French for "agreement" was the name given to the loose alignment of the United Kingdom, the Marianne, a National emblem of the French Republic, is by extension a Personification]alagor of Liberty and Reason. In this depiction, Britannia's association with the sea is provided by her holding an anchor, an attribute usually not appearing in British depictions

. An anchor is an object often made out of metal that is used to attach a ship to the bottom of a body of water at a specific point

Perhaps the best analogy is that Britannia is to the United Kingdom and the British Empire what Marianne is to France or perhaps what Lady Liberty is to the United States of America. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located The British Empire was the largest empire in history and for over a century was the foremost global power. Marianne, a National emblem of the French Republic, is by extension a Personification]alagor of Liberty and Reason. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Goddesses named for and representing the concept Liberty have existed in many cultures including classical examples dating from the Roman Empire and some national symbols such The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Like Lady Liberty, Britannia became a very potent and more common figure in times of war, and represented British liberties and democracy.

During the 1990s a new term, Cool Britannia (a pun on the poem 'Rule Britannia' by James Thomson [1700 - 1748], and the song adapted from it, which is often used as an unofficial National Anthem), was used to describe the contemporary United Kingdom. Rule Britannia! is a British Patriotic song, originating from the Poem "Rule Britannia" by James Thomson and set to music A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history traditions and struggles of its people recognized either by a nation's The phrase referred to the fashionable London, Glasgow, Cardiff and Manchester scenes, with a new generation of pop groups and style magazines, successful young fashion designers, and a surge of new restaurants and hotels. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. Glasgow (ˈglæzgoʊ is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom Cardiff ( 'kɑːdɪf) is the Capital and the largest city and county in Wales. Cool Britannia represented late-1990s Britain as a fashionable place to be. Cool Britannia is a media term that was used during the mid-to-late 20th century to describe the contemporary Culture of the United Kingdom.

In 2008, Gordon Brown announced that Britannia would not feature on the next run of new 50p coins, and that she would be replaced by modern symbols of Great Britain. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common WikipediaManual of Style (biographies#Academic titles --> James Gordon Brown (born 20 February 1951 is See also Kingdom of Great Britain Great Britain (Breatainn Mhòr Prydain Fawr Breten Veur Graet Breetain is the larger of the two main islands The decision courted some controversy, with tabloid press campaigns, in particular the Daily Mail, launched to Save Britannia. The government has said however that Britannia will return on future editions of the 50p coin. ^[5]

Wm. Roger Louis, Fellow of St. Anthony's College, Oxford, published a series of books on British history idiosyncraticaly entitled "Adventures with Britannia", "More Adventures with Britannia", "Still More Adventures with Britannia" and so on. Oxford is currently bidding for the 2010 Wikimania Conference Oxford () is a city, and the County town of Oxfordshire,

Namesakes

Today Britannia lives on in British symbols and British patriotism such as:

• Britannia silver, a high-grade alloy of silver introduced in Britain in 1697. Britannia silver is an Alloy of Silver containing 9584% silver with the balance usually Copper. An alloy is a Solid solution or Homogeneous mixture of two or more elements, at least one of which is a Metal, which itself has Silver (ˈsɪlvɚ is a Chemical element with the symbol " Ag " (argentum from the Ancient Greek: ἀργήντος - argēntos gen
• Britannia coins, a series of British gold bullion coins issued since 1987, which have nominal values of 100, 50, 25, and 10 pounds. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Gold (ˈɡoʊld is a Chemical element with the symbol Au (from its Latin name aurum) and Atomic number 79 Precious Metal is the eighteenth episode in the of the popular American Crime drama, which is set in Las Vegas, Nevada. Year 1987 ( MCMLXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar) The Pound Sterling ( symbol £; ISO code: GBP) subdivided into 100 pence (singular penny) is the Currency
• HMS Britannia, eight vessels of the Royal Navy. Six ships and a Shore establishment of the Royal Navy have borne the name HMS Britannia, after Britannia, the goddess and personification of The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British armed services (and is therefore known as the Senior Service)
• Britannia Royal Naval College, the Royal Navy's officer training college. Britannia Royal Naval College (BRNC is the initial officer training establishment of the Royal Navy, located on a hill overlooking Dartmouth, Devon
• Pugnaces Britanniae - War dog of Britain.
• The former Royal Yacht Britannia, the Royal Family's personal yacht, recently retired in Leith, Edinburgh Scotland. History HMY Britannia was built at the shipyard of John Brown & Co Formerly a municipal Burgh, Leith (Lìte is a district in the north of the city of Edinburgh at the mouth of the Water of Leith and is the port Edinburgh ( ˈɛdɪnb(ərə Dùn Èideann) is the Capital of Scotland and is its second largest city after Glasgow.
• The patriotic song "Rule Britannia", set to music in 1740. Rule Britannia! is a British Patriotic song, originating from the Poem "Rule Britannia" by James Thomson and set to music
• Company names such as Britannia Building Society. The Britannia Building Society is one of the major UK mutual building societies remaining today with headquarters in Staffordshire, England
• The preserved steam locomotive No. 70000 Britannia, built in 1951 as the first of the BR 'standard' classes.

References

External links

• Britannia on British coins and medals - Guy de la Bedoyere's website

See also

• National personification, lists personifications for various nations and territories