Essex has always been one of the most heavily defended counties in Britain. From the earliest recorded battles in the county, when Boudicca burned the Roman town of Colchester, the men of Essex have been joined by others from all over the country when defense the realm has been necessary. In order to stop the invasions of the Spanish, the Dutch, the French under Napoleon, and the Germans, the county became an armed camp. This led to the building of defensive positions that have in some cases evolved over a period of 500 years or more to meet the changes in weaponry.