The Trinovantes' first interaction with Rome occurs during Julius Caesar's British campaign in 55 BC. During his campaign, Caesar's protection is requested by Mandubracio, the young son of the late king Trinovantian, Imanuentius. In his account, Caesar places the Trinovantes under his protection - only after they accept his terms - and describes the tribe as "almost the most powerful state in those parts" (Caesar 5:20, De Bello Gallico). From this passage it can be deduced that the Trinovantes were in a less than ideal political situation at the time of their first interaction with Rome. This is presumably because they were kingless and were not the most powerful state in the region. A tribe known as the Catuvellauni, based in Hertfordshire, appears to have been the most powerful state in south-eastern Britain at the time of Caesar's conquest. This is probably due to the fact that their king Cassivellaunus killed the Trinovantian king, Imanuentius, in battle. If the Trinovantes were a strong power in the south-east of Britain, as described by Caesar, it would probably take an even more powerful state to defeat them in battle. Furthermore, the Catuvellauni were known to be neighbors and “traditional enemies” of the Trinovantes (Dunnett 8, The Trinovantes). Again, if the Trinovantes were almost the most powerful tribe in south-eastern Britain, it is unlikely that the Catuvellauni were not the most powerful state, since they had defeated the Trinovantes in battle. Finally, Caesar describes the Catuvellaunians as his “chief adversary” (Caesar 5.20). This description is important because during Roman conquest, Rome often sought to eliminate the most powerful tribe in a region first, regardless of whether this was done through brute force or... middle of paper ......a oppidum at Camulodunum [flourished]” (Dunnett 30). A major reason for Cunobelin's success, rarely discussed, was his ability to unite the Trinovantes and their long-time enemies, the Catuvellauni, under one banner. There was probably an adjustment period of at least a few years, and certainly at least some scrambling. However, there is nothing in the historical record to suggest that Cunobelin was unsuccessful in uniting these two most powerful tribes under his reign. Cunobelin, unlike his predecessors, realized that to have stability in south-east Britain the two tribes could not co-exist as separate entities. Thus by uniting the tribes, strengthening Camulodunum, and conquering other territories such as Kent, Cunobelin was able to create a vast and powerful kingdom that was unrivaled among those who came before him..