Fishbourne Roman Palace

Fishbourne Palace is a Roman villa built around 75 CE and rediscovered in 1960 by workmen. It was built during a time in which the Romans were trying to establish order in Britannia, which had undergone a long period of unrest and rebellion. The palace is the largest Roman building ever discovered in Britain. Before the palace was built there was a military base in the area to send and receive supplies from the harbour. The palace stood until 270 CE when it burned down and the site was abandoned.

Built in 75 AD for a local ruler named Brittania Tiberius Claudius Togidubnus. At the time of its creation the emperor was Vespasian. Vespasian is regarded as one of the best roman emperors due to the great stability and prosperity he brough to the empire. He began his rule following the Year of Four Emperors, a disastrous year of political turmoil and upheaval after the death of Nero. During construction of the palace, the Romans were busy consolidating their borders in Britannia and fighting the local tribes.

At the time of construction, the Romans were busy expanding their empire in the east as well as in Germania in mainland Europe. They were also in a period of reconquest in Palestine after the Jewish Revolt around 70 AD. This is a map showing the locations of the events occurring at the time of the building of the palace.

The palace is made up of four wings surrounding a large central courtyard. The west wing of the palace contained a gallery and a large reception hall used for receiving important visitors. Central radiant floor heating as well as a private bathhouse made the palace a very stately place. In addition there was a wide array of artwork including floor mosaics, wall paintings, and stucco mouldings that depicted scenes from mythology.

The palace was remodeled several times throughout its life including twice during the second century. Much of this reconstruction centered around the baths which were demolished and rebuilt twice. The gardens and courtyards were elaborate and meticulously well-maintained. The landscaping required to build and sustain these gardens required the skills of foreign craftsmen who had expertise in such projects.

MATERIALS

The evolution from original granaries, initially fashioned from timber with clay and mortar floors, to the eventual construction of a stone-walled villa marked a significant architectural transition. The materials salvaged from the former structures, including greenstone, limestone, flints, and concrete, were repurposed for the construction of the new Palace, prominently featuring elements sourced from Italy. Notably, chips of marble and imported stone from Italy and Greece were integrated, alongside squared Bembridge limestone blocks and boulders. Bembridge Limestone, a variety indigenous to the Bembridge area of the Isle of Wight, located off England's southern coast, played a significant role in the construction. Additionally, fountains built of Purbeck stone and imported marble statues from Italy and Greece adorned the palace grounds. Opus sectile flooring, a decorative technique prevalent in ancient and medieval Roman times involving the cutting and inlaying of materials into walls and floors to form intricate patterns or pictures, was also abundantly utilized in the palace's interior design.

CONSTRUCTION

The original timber buildings that preceded the Fishbourne Palace appear to have remained as shells until the new Roman-style masonry buildings were complete. This may be representative of the continued use of the structures by the same people. There is evidence of various crafts such as metalworking taking place in the vicinity as well as of a farmyard. For the construction of the Fishbourne Palace in around 75AD, they had to level the ground and excavate some 360,000 cubic feet of soil. There were 160 stone columns in the palace and 50 mosaic floors which were built by imported craftsmen. The palace was remodeled throughout the second and third centuries, with many of the original black and white mosaics replaced with colored work. Discoveries of stone fragments bearing multiple blade marks hint at the potential utilization of Roman saws in construction. Situated near the Fishbourne Channel, which provided access to the sea, the palace likely had its own harbor, facilitating trade via incoming ships and improving ease of access for imported craftsmen and materials. The architect, Vitruvius, in the first century BC, tells us that a sound base for the mosaic to rest in was most important. He says that the soil should be leveled and rubble, mixed with lime, should be rammed tightly down. Upon this, a layer of powdered pottery mixed with lime should be used to create the bedding for the mosaic. This should then be covered with a fine layer of mortar to lay the tesserae. Notably, similarities in architecture between the Palace and the Domus Flavia, Domitian’s Palace on the Palatine Hill, prompt speculation regarding shared architectural influence, perhaps implicating Rabirius, the architect credited with the Domus Flavia, in the design of Fishbourne Roman Palace.

The development of the Fishbourne Roman Palace, in the United Kingdom, reflects that of an Italian descent. It is believed that Roman artisans were employed to construct this building and can be seen through the materials used to build the palace. The materials that reflect this Roman influence include marble and stone, which were imported from Italy and Greece.

The mosaic floors showcase marble that is said to come from the eastern borders of the Roman Empire.

The Italian-styled garden at the palace capture the culture behind its Roman constructors.

It is said that the Fishbourne Roman Palace was not unique to its surrounding areas, as many buildings nearby held similarities in terms of construction. This may give insight toward shared knowledge between construction, or even the same labor force being used for multiple buildings. The ideas behind the Fishbourne Roman Palace was brought forth by a Roman architect and engineer named Vitruvius.

Fishbourne was originally constructed as a supply base for roman soldiers in Britania. The construction on the original building began around 43 AD in the southern region of Roman Britania. For its years as a supply base, Fishbourne served the roman soldiers in their daily life. The complex provided food and shelter for the soldiers as at the time, the main buildings at Fishbourne were granaries and residential buildings. Around 60 AD the reconstruction began to turn Fishbourne from a supply base to the palace we know today.

Though there is dispute as to the general use of the temple, there are many ways in which the temple affected the daily lives of the people around it. First off, the reconstruction brought about a large call for artistry inside the temple. A lot of this art suggests that Fishbourne Palace was a spot for the aristocrats and influential people of Roman Britania. Though this is the leading theory, the construction of the palace also shows the use of residency halls. This also suggests that the palace was home to many people and that the palace was also of large cultural significance to the Romans in the area. This is further emphasized by the sheer size of the palace. Fishbourne Palace is the largest Roman building discovered to date in Roman Britania.

Fishbourne was also impactful to the citizens due to its proximity to the water. The ability to buy and trade goods further emphasizes the importance of the temple to its residents. This is further supported by the theories about Fishbourne being a place for aristocrats and other influential figures. Fishbourne Palace held people of a higher social or economic status and therefor was able to trade for what it liked. Overall, Fishbourne Palace served a major role in the daily lives of the people of the surrounding areas. The palace started out as a military base, turned into jobsite during the reconstruction, and finally was a large residence hall and garden for Roman Britania's elite to reside.

All in all, Fishbourne Palace served a variety of purposes as well as being one of the most important buildings in Roman Britain. The building was the largest roman palace in all of Roman Britain, was reconstructed from a supply base, and was built out of materials and labor from different areas around Europe. Although there is still much to discover about Fishbourne Palace, there is no doubt that the palace exemplifies the Roman Empire’s presence in Britain.

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