Having said that, many cities which began in the first century as fortified military establishments later became predominently civil cities. A perfect example was Dun Caestra which later was recorded as Danum. The northern British capital (York) became Eboracum based on the Celtic Ebor (place where wild boar crossed the River Ouse) whereas the southern capital (Colchester) remained under constant danger from the Budica's Iceni and retained its caestra nomination.

Other peaceful cities lost the caestra as the military threat diminished. Leicester became Ratae, London became Londinium. St Albans ceased to be Werchester (on the River Ver) and became Verulamium instead.