Level 3 - Life in Early Anglo-Saxon Sussex - From Roman to Saxon Sussex

From Roman to Saxon Sussex

The end of Roman Sussex

In the fifty or sixty years from the middle of the 4th to the start of the 5th century AD, southern Britain seems to have been transformed from a relatively stable and prosperous part of the Roman Empire, to a troubled and politically isolated land, beset by barbarian raids, and ruled from many independent regional seats of power, one of which was undoubtedly Chichester. The reasons for these dramatic changes were complex, consisting of both internal divisions within Britain and external problems throughout Italy and the western Empire.

By the early part of the 5th century, it is doubtful whether any Roman armies were left in Britain aside from some of the permanent garrison troops, and the people were therefore left vulnerable to barbarian raiding. It was in the face of such attacks by the Saxons that an appeal was made to the emperor Honorius in AD 410, who replied by stating that the British were to look after themselves. Britain may still have been thought of as part of the Roman Empire for some time, both by its inhabitants and by those in Rome, but from around this point, any centralized control that still existed is likely to have disappeared.

Late Roman silver coins from the Patching hoard

Archaeological investigation in Sussex indicates that there was a gradual but noticeable decline of standards in both town and villa during the last quarter of the 4th century. However, there is little evidence concerning the eventual fate of most of these sites, and it is likely that many continued to be occupied for some time into the 5th century, albeit in reduced circumstances.

The substantial defensive walls of Chichester would have ensured its continued occupation, although there is unlikely to have been any organised town life beyond the mid 5th century AD. It could well have been the seat of a local ruler, who may have hired Anglo-Saxon mercenaries to help defend his territory, as was quite normal in the late 4th and 5th centuries. The cemetery and settlement at Highdown has been interpreted as one such mercenary establishment, possibly connected in some way with the incredible hoard of gold and silver coins and rings buried around AD465 at Patching, 2 km distant.

The coming of Aelle

The three literary accounts of early Saxon Sussex are all concerned with the arrival and exploits of Aelle, who eventually became the first king of the south Saxons. He probably landed in East Sussex in AD 457, defeating a local force whose survivors fled into the Weald. The likelihood is that he then signed a treaty with the British in return for certain territories (between the Ouse and Cuckmere rivers?), as the next entry in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle mentions an indecisive battle in AD 465 at 'Meacredesburna', which probably translates as 'river of the frontier agreed by treaty'.

The final Chronicle entry details Aelle's capture of the fort at Pevensey in AD 471, which would have given him considerable strategic advantages. That there is no mention of him taking Chichester may imply that it was still too strongly defended at that time, although there is no doubt that there was a gradual westward encroachment in the later 5th and 6th centuries, with Anglo-Saxon material culture eventually becoming dominant across most of the region.