Following Rugby's early history, the Romans arrived on the scene in the middle of the first century.
The Romans built two major roads passing the area, the Fosse Way and Watling Street.
In the first few decades the Fosse Way was the northernmost frontier of Roman control. Tripontium was built between current day Rugby and Coventry as a mansio, or stopping place. These were spaced along the major routes, like a modern day service station on the motorway.
Tripontium later developed into a small town, and around 300AD a fort was built - one of a series along Watling Street.
Tripontium was in the area of the Coritani Tribe, of which the capital was in Leicester and Rugby was on the Southern border.
The Roman army withdrew around 405 AD, but many Roman settlers remained in Britain.
By 425 the Saxons were on their way.
