Due to lack of any evidence predating Roman finds, archaeologists usually conclude that the Romans were the first to settle in this particular location. Before their arrival, people mostly lived further from the river. The first Romans arrived at the site in 47 AD as part of a larger operation to reinforce the Germanic lines. In order to increase the efficiency of supply chains and communication lines within his army, general
Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo had a canal built (known as the
Fossa Corbulonis, or Corbulo's Canal), connecting the
Meuse and
Rhine. Matilo was erected there, at the meeting place of the Oude Rijn and the newly dug canal, because of its strategic importance. Archaeological evidence seems to suggest that the Romans only constructed the fort itself somewhere at around 70 AD, whereas a small watchtower might have taken its place in the years before. The construction of Matilo therefore immediately followed the
Batavian Rebellion in 69 and as such played an important role in restoring order to the province of
Germania Inferior. Somewhere between 85 and 116, the moat was
palisaded and between 130 and 196 AD the Romans added three
moats and rebuilt the
armoury (
armamentarium) in stone. They did this once more sometime in 196–243, and replaced the wooden outer wall with a stone one as well. The wall and moats were then rebuilt once more after that. This
castellum was home to the
cohors XV Voluntarium from the last quarter of the first century up to at least 196–198, the
cohors I Lucensium (Hispanorum) occupied the outpost during
Trajan's reign (103 or 110) and another inscription mentions the
Numerus Exploratorum Batavorum (Antoniniarum). Archaeological findings of ammunition for an
onager indicate that an
artillery division was once garrisoned there. ==Notes==