Page:VCH Sussex 1.djvu/559

 POLITICAL HISTORY OF the reduction and colonization by the Romans of that portion of Britain which subsequently became Sussex no record has survived. General Pitt-Rivers considered that the results of his excavations on the Caburn' pointed to the British camp there having undergone a short siege by Roman troops, and sug- gested that it might have been one of the twenty ' oppida ' captured by Vespasian during his expedition. But apart from such surmises, and from the conclusions that may be drawn from the prehistoric and other remains described elsewhere,' the history of what is now Sussex may be said to begin in the last quarter of the fifth century. At this period the Romans had lately abandoned their colony of Britain, leaving behind them many long-enduring monuments alike of organization and of architecture. In the district with which we are here dealing the two most important relics of their rule were the city of Regnum, subsequently re-named Chichester, and the strong fortress town of Anderida, the westernmost defence of the ' Litus Saxonicum,' whose massive walls, after forming the outer defences of the medieval castle of Pevensey, still stand imposing even in decay. In 477 the Saxon Elle with his three sons Cymen, Wlencing and Cissa, and probably quite a small band of followers, landed in the extreme west of the present county at a place which was afterwards known as Cymen- esora^ and established themselves there. The exact date at which they gained possession of Regnum, and gave it the name of Cissan-ceaster, is not known ; but they gradually extended their sway eastwards, driving the British into the dense forest of Andred, till in 485 the native chieftains, alarmed at the invaders' progress, assembled a strong force and met them in pitched battle on the banks of the Mercredesburn,* where a desperate struggle took place in which both sides suffered heavy losses and neither could claim the victory.^ But Elle, obtaining fresh forces from his native land, continued his slow but irresistible advance till in 490 he laid siege to the stronghold of Anderida. Here he met with vigorous resistance ; the lofty walls and their desperate defenders repelled all attacks, while the neighbouring forest formed a perfect refuge for the Britons who swarmed out like bees to harass the Saxons whenever they attempted the assault of the fortress, » Arch. xlvi. 476. 2 See sections on ' Early Man,' ' Earthworks,' and ' Roman Remains.' 3 Hen. of Huntingdon (Rolls Ser.), 44. ■• Possibly the Ouse, see Suss. Arch. Coll. vii. 75. 6 Hen. of Huntingdon (Rolls Ser.), 44. " Ibid. 45. I 481 61