Celtic Kingdoms of the British Isles

Rhegin (Romano-Britons)

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With the expulsion of Roman officials in AD 409 (see feature link), Britain again became independent of Rome and was not re-occupied. The fragmentation which had begun to emerge towards the end of the fourth century now appears to have accelerated, with minor princes, newly declared kings, and Roman-style magistrates all vying for power and influence while also facing the threat of extinction at the hands of the various barbarian tribes which were encroaching from all sides.

The post-Roman territory of Rhegin seems to have emerged in the middle of the first half of the fifth century (see feature link). Occupying Britain's south coast to the east of the Isle of Wight (in territory which now is largely part of East Sussex and West Sussex), the Rhegin Britons were neighboured to the east by Ceint, to the north-west by Caer Celemion, and to the west by Caer Gwinntguic.

After ties with Rome were severed, the city of Noviomagus (Chichester in West Sussex) could have survived as a possible capital of the territory. Fighting from here, Britons on the south coast were probably the last native defenders of the southern Litus Saxonicum (the Saxon Shore).

While the name Rhegin is used here to denote this territory, its actual name is unrecorded. Rhegin is a viable Romano-British variation of the former tribal name of Regninses. Its use is supported by a somewhat poorly-accepted opinion which suggests that the Rhegin Britons were also involved in the colonisation process of Armorica across the English Channel. They would have taken territory in the east of early Domnonia, and their colony was seemingly soon taken over by Vannetais itself, but it later emerged into recorded history as the county of Rennes.

Archaeological evidence points to the Rhegin region of the south coast being a likely base for friendly mercenaries prior to Ælle's invasion of AD 477. Two cemeteries in West Sussex, at Apple Down and at Highdown (near Worthing), show evidence of use by Saxon foederati, suggesting that the widespread use of Saxon mercenaries during the early fifth century also includes at least two bases in Rhegin, in the area between the Ouse and Cuckmere.

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(Information by Peter Kessler, with additional information by Edward Dawson, from English Historical Documents c.500-1042: Chronicle of Nantes (Chapter 27), Dorothy Whitelock (Ed, Second Edition, 1979), from The Oxford History of England: The English Settlements, J N L Meyers, from The Oxford History of England: Anglo-Saxon England, Sir Frank Stenton, from The Oxford History of England: Roman Britain, Peter Salway, from A History of the English Church and People, The Venerable Bede (Leo Sherley-Price translation - revised by R E Latham), from The Anglo-Saxon Chronicles, Anne Savage (translator and collator, Guild Publishing, 1983), and from External Link: Pevensey Castle.)

425

It seems possible that Rhegin emerges around this point as a recognisable territory in its own right, at the same time as Ceint emerges to the east. It is probably governed by a magistrate in the Roman style who acts under the authority of the country's central authority (traditionally being led by Vortigern from about this time).

Formerly the tribal territory of Regninses, Rhegin defends the southern portion of Britain's Saxon Shore, with key posts at Noviomagus and Anderita (Roman Anderitum).

This map of Britain concentrates on British territories and kingdoms which were established during the fourth and fifth centuries AD, as the Saxons and Angles began their settlement of the east coast (click or tap on map to view full sized)

c.450 - 455

The soon-to-be Meonware settlers sail around Southampton Water and along the Solent to settle in eastern Hampshire, possibly on the very edges of Rhegin. These Jutes are extremely obscure during their brief independent existence, but they certainly exist in this location within a decade of this date.

It is possible that they initially serve as laeti, and may not be seen by the British of Caer Gwinntguic and Rhegin as a threat. The founding of the Anglo-Saxon cemetery at Highdown has been dated to about 450, supporting the idea of an influx of mercenaries at this time.

455 - 457

The British kingdom of Ceint is overrun at the start of a revolt by the area's Jutish mercenaries. Two important battles are fought, at Aegelesthrep in 455 and Crecganford in 457. The new kingdom of Kent which is formed by the Jutes appears to incorporate the traditional territories of the Cantii, including all of Kent, East Sussex bordering Rhegin, eastern Surrey, and London south of the Thames.

However, the Jutes appear not to venture farther into Rhegin, perhaps satisfied for the moment with their coastal settlement area in a region which is still otherwise largely free of any Germanic settlement.

This map of Rhegin for about AD 477 shows the principle British settlements along the Sussex coast immediately prior to the brutal Suth Saxon invasion of that year

477

Newly arrived Saxons under Ælle land at Selsey on the south coast (modern West Sussex) and beat off the Britons of Rhegin who oppose their landing, driving them to take refuge in the great forest the Saxons call Andredesleag (the Weald). Suddenly, the southern Saxon Shore has been breached in a far more major way than the arrival of the Meonware had threatened, and Caer Gwinntguic is cut off from the south coast.

485

The Suth Seaxe defeat the Britons at the place the Saxons call Mearcraedes burna (modern location unknown). The name of the location has been plausibly interpreted to mean 'the stream of the agreed frontier'.

It may therefore relate to a boundary which is based on one of the river valleys which divide the Sussex coastal plain and its hinterland into naturally self-contained sections. There is no means of knowing which valley bears this name, but it seems to suggest a temporary frontier between Briton and Saxon.

The coming of Ælle and his apparently pre-established status as bretwalda spelled eventual defeat and death for the Britons of modern Sussex, and quite possibly led to the siege of Mons Badonicus

It is interesting to note that the Suth Seaxe turn eastwards, along the line of the Weald, rather than westwards into the fertile open plains of Hampshire. It suggests that this section of the Saxon Shore is comparably easy to pick off (although it still takes Ælle fourteen years to achieve this).

Could Ambrosius Aurelianus or his immediate successor be defending Hampshire from Caer Gloui and Amesbury with a much stronger force which is capable of annihilating Ælle's still small force?

491

The British fort of Anderita is attacked (Roman Anderitum or Anderidos, Saxon Andredesceaster, modern Pevensey in East Sussex - which Nennius later calls Caer Ponsavelcoit - see feature link).

The fort is conquered by Ælle and Cissa and its entire garrison is slaughtered by the Suth Seaxe in what must be a desperate fight. This seems to end any British opposition in the region (the site is not reoccupied until 1042 when Harold Godwinsson, earl of Wessex, refortifies the position).

The British fort of Anderita was originally built by the Romans as part of their late empire Saxon Shore fortifications, and the main structure still survives as Pevensey Castle

Noviomagus is left highly vulnerable by this loss. It seems that it is partially destroyed during the completion of Ælle's conquest of the area, and probably falls to the Suth Seaxe, or at least becomes tributary to them. An isolated client kingdom or vassal state may also remain in East Sussex, wedged in by Suth Seaxe, Cantware and the forest.

c.496

This is the probable date of the siege of Mons Badonicus, in which Ælle, as Bretwalda, attacks the Britons in the region of Caer Baddan (see feature link). His force is defeated by the Britons.

The Suth Seaxe must suffer heavy casualties as they are so weakened that they now drift into obscurity for around a century and-a-half. Rhegin quite possibly reasserts its independence, although an event in AD 501 which is recorded in the annals of the West Seaxe could signal its final end.

501

A newly arrived Saxon chieftain and his two ships of followers kill a Briton of very high rank at Portesmutha (British Portus Adurni, modern Portchester near Portsmouth - see feature link) This could be one of the last surviving parts of Rhegin.

The Roman walls of Portchester Castle (British Caer Peris) would still have been standing when this former Saxon Shore fort was captured by a Saxon chieftain in AD 501, possibly ending the independence of the territory of Rhegin (click or tap on image to read more about this castle)

Alternatively, the Briton could be Gereint of Dumnonia). The name of the Saxon chieftain appears to have been lost, as it has been conveniently recorded as Port in the West Seaxe annals. His sons are Bieda and Mægla (the latter a probable British name).

Excavations at Portchester (probably known as Caer Peris by the Romano-British) by Barry Cunliffe later reveals the presence of what seems to be a sort of 'peasant militia' which is accompanied by wives and children. This ad hoc British defensive organisation may continue to operate deep into the fifth century (possibly to be crushed by Ælle in 477?).

c.514 - c.550

Following the Roman withdrawal and the occupation of swathes of the coastline, Noviomagus has declined but has remained occupied. Now the rebuilding of the town is begun by the king of the Suth Seaxe, Cissa, although its old name is forgotten in favour of that of its new ruler, becoming Cisseceaster (Cissa's fort, modern Chichester).

The medieval fortress which survives within the Roman walls of Portchester Castle was developed following the arrival of the Norman King William in 1066 (click or tap on image to read more about this castle)

c.514 - c.600

Is the Suth Seaxe kingdom surrendered to the Britons? The invaders lose their prominence and are not mentioned in any records until the middle of the seventh century. Following Badon, strong Jutish influences from Kent enter the land, suggesting an extension of Kentish rule over the eastern parts of the territory.

If there still exists a British enclave in East Sussex, it is probably now freed to move westwards and reoccupy areas of West Sussex. Whatever remains of the Suth Seaxe is now very isolated and perhaps even intermingles with the Britons.

552

Rhegin's western neighbour, Caer Gwinntguic, falls to the West Seaxe, making the territory very vulnerable on that border. If there are still independent Britons in Rhegin by this date, they must lose their independence within the next fifty years or so, following the destruction of Caer Celemion.

Caer Celemion's re-use of a former Roman temple at the top of Lowbury Hill (near Compton in west Berkshire) in the mid-500s as a look-out point ended with the territory's fall, but it did see further use as an Anglo-Saxon cemetery

This latter city is the last British-held territory to fall to the south of London and east of Dorset. It seems likely that any remaining British population in Rhegin blends in with the remaining Suth Seaxe (Caer Gwinntguic provides a template for this sort of mutual integration and support), and forms part of the subsequent reformed South Saxon kingdom.