Hail, Caesar! British Invasion Revisited

In August of 55 B.C., Julius Caesar commanded a Roman invasion fleet that approached the white cliffs of Dover in Britain. Caesar waited until mid-afternoon for the ships to assemble near the cliffs and then, with both wind and tide in his favor, sailed to a more suitable landing point on a nearby open beach. But on what date did Caesar invade Britain? And exactly where did he land? Using forensic astronomy, tidal studies, and GPS, university researchers may have the answer, reports Sky and Telescope.

Texas State University-San Marcos researchers say they have identified the precise location of Caesar’s landfall, concluding that the historically accepted date for the event, August 26–27, 55 B.C., is incorrect. The Texas State team’s proposed new date of August 22–23, 55 B.C., reconciles all the conflicting evidence and offers both sides of the debate some measure of vindication in the process, according to the university’s news service.

This illustration of Caesar at the white
cliffs appeared in Piers Plowman Histories
(1913). (Collection of Donald Olson)

“Most history books say Caesar’s landing date was August 26–27 and he sailed to the northeast of Dover to land on an open beach near Walmer and Deal,” said physics professors Donald Olson. “That cannot be correct. The afternoon tidal streams could not have carried his fleet to the northeast on that date.”

Ironically, the origin of the debate comes from the strongest of historical evidence: Caesar’s first-hand account of the landing and ensuing campaign. But Ceasar didn’t record the actual direction the fleet sailed, and that single omitted fact has been the source of scholarly contention.

The Texas State researchers traveled to Dover in August 2007, when the equinox and lunar cycle coincided to closely replicate the tidal conditions Caesar experienced. On-site research including the collection of tide-gauge data, GPS tracking in a freely drifting boat, and other evidence that confirmed the tidal currents indicated a landing site southwest of Dover.

Blowing off Big Brother

USA Today featured the rising popularity of GPS devices for travelers on July 7. The overview discussed industry growth and the boom in location-based services, and concluded with “TELL US: Do you find using GPS-supported phones to be helpful when traveling for work, or is the idea a little too ‘Big Brother’ for your taste?”

Those replying seemed unconcerned — most posted that they love their GPS devices. “After I purchased my Garmin SP330 I tossed all my maps in the trash,” wrote racer03.

Giddy Up!

The National Pony Express Association sponsors re-rides of the April 1860 to October 1861 route from Missouri to California — a postal run that disappeared after the high-tech telegraph was introduced. Even more high tech, this year’s June 18–28 run was tracked via Enterprise GPS Tracking, reported the Reno Gazette-Journal.