History

Main article: History of London

For a chronological guide, see Timeline of London.

Prehistory

In 1993, remains of a Bronze Age bridge were found on the south foreshore upstream from Vauxhall
Bridge.[40] Two of the timbers were radiocarbon dated to 1750–1285 BC.[40] In 2010, foundations of a
large timber structure, dated to 4800–4500 BC,[41] were found on the Thames's south foreshore
downstream from Vauxhall Bridge.[42] Both structures are on the south bank of the Thames, where the
now-underground River Effra flows into the Thames.[42]

Roman London

Main article: Londinium

Despite the evidence of scattered Brythonic settlements in the area, the first major settlement was
founded by the Romans around 47 AD,[2] about four years after their invasion of 43 AD.[43] This only
lasted until about 61 AD, when the Iceni tribe led by Queen Boudica stormed it and burnt it to the
ground.[44]

The next planned incarnation of Londinium prospered, superseding Colchester as the principal city of the
Roman province of Britannia in 100. At its height in the 2nd century, Roman London had a population of
about 60,000.[45]

Anglo-Saxon and Viking-period London

Reconstruction drawing of Londinium in 120 AD

With the early 5th-century collapse of Roman rule, the walled city of Londinium was effectively
abandoned, although Roman civilisation continued around St Martin-in-the-Fields until about 450.[46]
From about 500, an Anglo-Saxon settlement known as Lundenwic developed slightly west of the old
Roman city.[47] By about 680 the city had become a major port again, but there is little evidence of
large-scale production. From the 820s repeated Viking assaults brought decline. Three are recorded;
those in 851 and 886 succeeded, while the last, in 994, was rebuffed.[48]

The Vikings applied Danelaw over much of eastern and northern England, its boundary running roughly
from London to Chester as an area of political and geographical control imposed by the Viking incursions
formally agreed by the Danish warlord, Guthrum and the West Saxon king Alfred the Great in 886. The
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records that Alfred "refounded" London in 886. Archaeological research shows
this involved abandonment of Lundenwic and a revival of life and trade within the old Roman walls.
London then grew slowly until a dramatic increase in about 950.[49]

By the 11th century, London was clearly the largest town in England. Westminster Abbey, rebuilt in
Romanesque style by King Edward the Confessor, was one of the grandest churches in Europe.
Winchester had been the capital of Anglo-Saxon England, but from this time London became the main
forum for foreign traders and the base for defence in time of war. In the view of Frank Stenton: "It had
the resources, and it was rapidly developing the dignity and the political self-consciousness appropriate
to a national capital."[50]