History of Sussex - Roman Sussex

Roman Sussex

After the Roman invasion Cogidubnus was placed or confirmed by the Romans as ruler of the Regnenses and he took the name Tiberius Claudius Cogidubnus and claimed to be ‘'rex magnus Britanniae'’. His name is mentioned on two exceptionally early Roman inscriptions in his capital of Noviomagus Reginorum (Chichester).

There are a variety of remains in the county from Roman times, coin hoards and decorated pottery have been found.

There are examples of Roman roads such as:

• Chichester to Silchester Way
• Chichester to London Stane Street

Also a variety of buildings, the best known being:

• Bignor Roman Villa
• Fishbourne Roman Palace

The coast of Roman Britain had a series of defensive forts on them, and towards the end of the Roman occupation the coast was subject to raids by Saxons. Additional forts were built against the Saxon threat, an example in Sussex being Anderitum (Pevensey Castle). The coastal defences were supervised by the Count of the Saxon Shore. There is some suggestion that around the beginning of the fourth century the Roman authorities recruited mercenaries from the German homelands to defend the southern and eastern coasts of Britain. The area they defended was known as the Saxon Shore. It is possible that these mercenaries remained after the departure of the Roman army and merged with the eventual Anglo-Saxon invaders.