ancient Camulodunum
City and borough (pop., 2001: 155,794), southeastern England.
In ancient times, the city was the capital of the powerful pre-Roman ruler Cunobelinus. After his death, the enmity of his sons toward Rome encouraged the Roman invasion of Britain, and it became the first Roman colony there, founded by Claudius с AD 43. Burned by Boudicca 's warriors с AD 60, it was reestablished and received its first charter in 1189. In the 13th century it was a major port. It has a long history in both cloth making and oyster trading. It is the site of England's largest castle keep (built с 1080), which now houses a museum of Romano-British antiquities.