A representative record for an unknown number of Roman warships lost in the first attempted invasion of Britain. For convenience they have been indexed as lost by wrecking, since they had already been beached as implied in the text in chapter 4.29 below. The departure point is traditionally believed to be Portus Itius, or Boulogne-sur-Mer, although this is not universally accepted, nor is the identification of Portus Itius with modern Boulogne; the destination may have been, as is traditionally believed, Richborough. Since Roman times the port of Richborough has retreated inland through coastal silting, so that the inter-tidal zone of Roman times is likely now to be inland, possibly as far away as two miles (4). With this in mind the record has been indexed for convenience in Sandwich Bay, pending further information (5):

4.28
'His rebus pace confirmata, post diem quartum quam est in Britanniam ventum naves XVIII, de quibus supra demonstratum est, quae equites sustulerant, ex superiore portu leni vento solverunt. Quae cum adpropinquarent Britanniae et ex castris viderentur, tanta tempestas subito coorta est ut nulla earum cursum tenere posset, sed aliae eodem unde erant profectae referrentur, aliae ad inferiorem partem insulae, quae est propius solis occasum, magno suo cum periculo deicerentur; quae tamen ancoris iactis cum fluctibus complerentur, necessario adversa nocte in altum provectae continentem petierunt.

4.29
'Eadem nocte accidit ut esset luna plena, qui dies a maritimos aestus maximos in Oceano efficere consuevit, nostrisque id erat incognitum. Ita uno tempore et longas naves [quibus Caesar exercitum transportandum curaverat,] quas Caesar in aridum subduxerat, aestus complebat, et onerarias, quae ad ancoras erant deligatae, tempestas adflictabat, neque ulla nostris facultas aut administrandi aut auxiliandi dabatur. Compluribus navis fractis, reliquae cum essent funibus, ancoris reliquisque armamentis amissis ad navigandum inutiles, magna, id quod necesse erat accidere, totius exercitus perturbio facta est. Neque enim naves erant aliae quibus reportari possent, et omnia deerant quae ad reficiendas naves erant usui, et, quod omnibus constabat hiemari in Gallia oportere, frumentum in his locis in hiemem provisum non erat.' (1)

4.28
'A peace being established by these proceedings four days after we had come into Britain, the eighteen ships, to which reference has been made above, and which conveyed the cavalry, set sail from the upper port with a gentle gale, when, however, they were approaching Britain and were seen from the camp, so great a storm suddenly arose that none of them could maintain their course at sea; and some were taken back to the same port from which they had started; - others, to their great danger, were driven to the lower part of the island, nearer to the west; which, however, after having cast anchor, as they were getting filled with water, put out to sea through necessity in a stormy night, and made for the continent.

4.29
'It happened that night to be full moon, which usually occasions very high tides in that ocean; and that circumstance was unknown to our men, Thus, at the same time, the tide began to fill the ships of war which Caesar had provided to convey over his army, and which he had drawn up on the strand; and the storm began to dash the ships of burden which were riding at anchor against each other; nor was any means afforded our men of either managing them or of rendering any service. A great many ships having been wrecked, inasmuch as the rest, having lost their cables, anchors and other tackling, were unfit for sailing, a great confusion, as would necessarily happen, arose throughout the army; for there were no other ships in which they could be conveyed back, and all things which are of service in repairing vessels were wanting, and corn for the winter had not been provided in those places, because it was understood by all that they would certainly winter in Gaul.' (2)

Voyage traditionally believed to be from Portus Itius (Boulogne-sur-Mer) to the coast of Kent; date circa late August 55 BC. (3)

Date of Loss Qualifier: Actual date of loss

Gaius Julius Caesar, c. 58-49 BC, C Iuli Caesaris Commentariorum de Bello Gallico (Bibliographic reference). SKE56359.