Hadrian's Wall

Hadrian’s Wall 122 AD

When Hadrian became Emporer the policy was to construct barriers between the Roman Empire and the barbarians outwith so walls were built along all its frontier. North Africa, Germany and Britain. Hadrian travelled extensively inspecting the walls across the empire.

Key Facts

73

Miles long

From the Tyne to the Solway Firth.

17

Forts

as well as 80 mile-castles

12

Countries

Troops from France, Spain, Germany, Romania, Hungary, Iraq, Belgium, Switzerland, Syria, Croatia, and the Netherlands.

7,000

Troops

Guarding the border between Scotland and England

The Roman Empire was surrounded by barriers from North Africa to Germany to Hadrian’s Wall

Roman Empire and walls in yellow at the time of Hadrian Andrein cc3.0

In 115 AD there were forts protecting England along the Tyne and Eden Valley on the Stanegate Road as shown in the map below. Carlisle Fort and Vindolanda among others were on this road from around 80 AD.

115 AD Stanegate Road and Forts – click on the image for an interactive map

Hadrian’s Wall was constructed around 122 AD and Emperor Hadrian inspected the wall that year. The wall had troops from many countries stationed along it and there were soldiers from France, Spain, Germany, Romania, Hungary, Iraq, Belgium, Switzerland, Syria, Croatia, and the Netherlands. At its height, it is estimated that 15,000 soldiers were involved. It had a few forts north of the wall occupied by scout units and for the next 20 years controlled entry and exit into the Empire from Scotland.

The Antonine Wall between Glasgow and Edinburgh was built in 142 AD and the number of soldiers on Hadrian’s Wall was reduced. After the Antonine Wall was abandoned around 165 AD Hadrian’s Wall once again became the barrier of the empire. The History of the Wall on the Hadrian’s Wall Country website gives a lot of background.

The wall was once again reinforced in 208 AD when Emperor Septimus Severus arrived and continued to be used until the Romans left in 410 AD

The following map lists all the forts and the approximate dates built and has links to details of each fort.