Who or what was Lindum Colonia?

Lindum Colonia was the Roman settlement that is now the City of Lincoln in Lincolnshire, England. It was founded as a Roman Legionary Fortress during the reign of the Emperor Nero (58–68 CE) or possibly later. Evidence from Roman tombstones suggests that Lincoln was first garrisoned by the Ninth Legion Hispana, which probably moved from Lincoln to found the fortress at York about 71 CE. Lindum was then garrisoned by the Second Legion Adiutrix, which then went on to Chester in 77–78 CE. The name is a Latinised form of a native Brittonic name which has been reconstructed as Lindon.

After 86 CE, the fortress became a colonia, a settlement for retired soldiers sanctioned by the Emperor. The Roman settlement also spread to the south of the river Witham in the area known as the Wigford. In the early 3rd century with the re-organisation of the Roman Empire, a case can be made that Lindum Colonia had become the provincial capital of Britannia Secunda and possibly a Bishop from Lincoln was present at the Council of Arles in 314 CE. In the 4th century Lincoln continued to develop and there is increasing evidence for Christianity. After the departure of the Romans in the 5th century Lindum declined in size and population, although archaeological evidence suggests some degree of continuity.