10 Dates That Made History

Due to its geographical position, Sussex has often been the nucleus of national events. Here are 10 times that Sussex rocked history

- Steve Roberts

FISHBOURNE (75 AD)

The largest residential Roman building found in Britain, Fishbourne has both an unusually early date (75 AD, only just over 30 years after the Roman conquest of Britain), and quite exceptional mosaic floors.

If you stroll in today’s recreated gardens, you are admiring a simulacrum of the earliest domestic gardens found anywhere in the UK. Inside is the largest in situ collection of mosaics anywhere in Britain. It was not until 1960 that the site was systematically excavated.

SUSSEX (477)

Roman Britain was in decline from about 350 AD and the legions departed around 410. The void was filled by the Anglo-Saxons, who invaded from modern-day Denmark and Germany. Here we have the origins of Sussex, the kingdom of the South Saxons. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle states that Ælle and his three sons landed in 477, at ‘Cymenesora’ (Cymenshore). Ælle was clearly a powerful character, as he’s not only regarded as the South Saxons’ first king (up to c. 514) but was reputedly strong enough to become ‘Bretwalda’ or overlord of the whole of southern Britain. Some sources state that he was in command at the Battle of Mount Baden (c. 500) when the Anglo-Saxons suffered a rare defeat at the hands of the Britons, who were, according to legend, led by a shadowy figure named Arthur.

BOSHAM (1064)

One might expect to see the Battle of Hastings at this point, but instead we’re including an event from two years earlier, which was hugely significant in its own way. In fact, the Bayeux Tapestry opens with Harold Godwinson (who would become Harold II) riding to Bosham, before he crosses the Channel, is captured, and delivered to Duke William of Normandy.