Why did the Romans call London Londinium?

 title: 'Londinium - Wikipedia'

The Romans likely called London 'Londinium' as a Latinized form of a native name, possibly derived from a pre-existing Celtic or Brittonic term. While the exact etymology is uncertain, it is thought that Londinium could originate from a Brittonic form reconstructed as *Londinion or a similar variant. This indicates a link to a structure involving suffixes typical of such names in the region, possibly reflecting earlier settlement names or geographical features related to the area[1][4].

Some theories suggest that the name may have roots in a Celtic word, with interpretations tying it to elements meaning 'fort' or 'place that floods,' alluding to London's geographic features alongside the River Thames[2][7]. Geoffrey of Monmouth's historical accounts, which link the name to a legendary King Lud, have been dismissed by modern historians due to a lack of evidence[4][7].

Overall, Londinium emerged as a significant center following Roman conquest in 43 AD, strategically situated for trade and military logistics, which likely influenced the choice of its name to reflect its growing prominence within the Roman Empire[3][5][8].

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