# Troops are withdrawn for continental wars (401)

URL: https://english-history.com/timeline/401-troops-are-withdrawn-for-continental-wars

Roman units were increasingly redeployed from Britain as the western empire faced invasions and civil conflict. Within the broader Roman Britain period, conquest, provincial administration, urbanization, frontier warfare and the gradual weakening of imperial rule reshaped the island. This event is placed at c. AD 401 in the chronology so it can be read alongside the political, military, social and cultural changes around it. The island became progressively more responsible for its own defence.

## Why it matters
The island became progressively more responsible for its own defence.

Ruler at the time: [Roman Britain](https://english-history.com/rulers/roman-britain)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia topic lookup — Troops are withdrawn for continental wars](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Search?search=Troops+are+withdrawn+for+continental+wars&go=Go)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — Troops are withdrawn for continental wars](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=Troops+are+withdrawn+for+continental+wars)
- [Wikipedia — Timeline of British history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_British_history_%28before_1000%29)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica — Roman Britain topic search](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=Roman%20Britain)