16 THE ORIGINS OF FREEMASONRY FROM ANCIENT TIMES TO THE MIDDLE AGES
country. The builders collegia were charged with the construction of
camps for use by the legions. Gradually these military camps became
outfitted with large buildings, baths, bridges, temples, and palaces. In
all places where legions established permanent camps, these camps
eventually became the core of more or less important cities, including
York (the former Eboracum), which holds a prominent place in the his-
tory of Freemasonry. This was one of the first communities in Great
Britain to gain significance and to be promoted to the rank of a Roman
city.
Constant raiding from the mountains of Scotland forced the
Romans to erect huge walls in the north of Britain on three separate
occasions. The first great wall was constructed by order of the general
Agricola in 90 A.D. The second was built under Emperor Hadrian in
120 A.D. Finally, the third was built from the Firth estuary to the river
Clyde around 140 A.D., during the time of Anthony the Pious. Septimus
Severus undertook construction of another wall farther north in the
year 207, but we lack any precise information on on its building or
whereabouts.
In 287 A.D., Carausius, commander of the Roman fleet stationed off
the coast of Belgium, rebelled and took possession of Great Britain,
where he declared himself independent of Rome and adopted the title
of emperor. Fearing attack from Emperor Maximianus, he likely sought
to earn the favor of the collegia, particularly the most important one,
that of the builders. This is why in Veralum (the modern Saint Albans),
where he resided, Carausius, through the mediation of the Roman
knight Albanus and the Greek architect Amphibolus, confirmed to the
corporations their ancient privileges conferred upon them by Numa
Pompilius and Servius Tullius, who had formed them. Not only would
he have abrogated the restrictions that had been enforced since the Julia
Law, but he would also have added the right of special jurisdiction.
Freed from the power of the emperors, Carausius used his wealth
to increase the well-being of the country. He especially kept the collegia
busy with the construction of public buildings worthy of competing
with those of other imperial residences. Following the death of
Carausius, who was assassinated in 293 A.D., vice-emperor Constantius
I (Chlorus), chosen by Maximanius and given governorship of Gaul