Togidumnus / Togidubnus. Rex et legatus Augusti or rex magnus Britanniae

Abstract

The paper details the ancient traditions and the modern interpretations regarding the situation of Togidumnus, king of atrebats, and his juridical relations with Rome. The author insists on two different completions of an epigraph, according to which Togidumnus was either r(egis) legat[i A]ug(usti) in Bri(annia) or rex magnus Britanniae. The difference is extremely important for the juridical relations with Rome, and the author supports the second variant, on the basis of historical comparisons with similar cases. In fact, the existence of dependent kingdoms in the vicinity of the Roman provinces was not new, and the Romans constantly sought to adopt such solutions to protect their borders and reduce the resources necessary to organise the newly conquered territories.