A Little History...
Before the Romans arrived, the 'Bath' part of Britain was ruled by an Iron Age tribe called the Dobunni.
Vespasian conquered Britain in AD43. Caesar had set up trade links there, but didn't actually conquer Britain. At the time that Britain was conquered, Emperor Claudius was the emperor of Rome. Vespasian was a Roman general, and became emperor in a military coup years later.
Aquae Sulis was the Roman name for Bath. It means the Waters of Sulis, as the Dobunni believed that the hot spring present at Bath was sacred to the Goddess Sulis who was thought to possess healing powers.
The goddess Sulis earned much respect from Roman soldiers because of the water's alleged healing powers. Early military tombstones in the Roman Baths Museum reflect the army's interest in the area.
For example, Antigonus from Nicopolis in Greece, a veteran of the 20th Legion, probably retired to live near Bath and was eventually buried in the military cemetery alongside the Fosse Way. For example, Antigonus from Nicopolis in Greece, a veteran of the 20th Legion, probably retired to live near Bath and was eventually buried in the military cemetery alongside the Fosse Way.
The bathing complex, as we recognise it, however, was in fact built after a devastating rebellion led by the British queen Boudica broke out. Many thousands were killed and the revenge of the Roman military was uncontrolled in its violoence. By the end of the episode, the province lay in ruins. It took ten years to repair the physical and political damage that had been done in the few months of fury and it was probably during this period of reconstruction that the Roman authorities took the decision to turn the native sanctuary of Sulis into a magnificent curative establishment, perhaps a symbol of reconciliation.