Defending the Edge - The Saxon Shore

Stretching along the southeastern coast of Britain and northern Gaul, are the Saxon Shore forts, Rome’s response to a growing threat... Raiders from across the sea. But what exactly was the Saxon Shore? When was it built, and what purpose did it serve?

In this video, I delve into the origins and evolution of the Saxon Shore system, a chain of coastal forts built during the later Roman Empire to defend against Saxon and Frankish pirates. I will explore the challenges Rome faced in the 3rd and 4th centuries AD, and how these fortifications became a last line of defense for a fading Roman Britain.

Today you will learn:

The historical context behind the Saxon Shore

Why the forts were built

Who was in command of such an operation

What remains of the forts today

From Brancaster to Portchester, the Saxon Shore forts offer a fascinating glimpse into the final centuries of Roman rule in Britain. Join me as we explore their story.

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Full List of Saxon Shore Forts mentioned in the Notitia Dignitatum:
Branodunum (Brancaster, Norfolk)
Gariannonum (Burgh Castle, Norfolk)
Othona (Bradwell-on-Sea, Essex)
Regulbium (Reculver, Kent)
Rutupiae (Richborough, Kent)
Dubris (Dover Castle, Kent)
Portus Lemanis (Lympne, Kent)
Anderitum (Pevensey Castle, East Sussex)
Portus Adurni (Portchester Castle, Hampshire)

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Channel logo kindly provided by Peter Hamilton

Credit for other images used in video:
Doll91939 - Roman Empire during Crisis of the Third Century
Barry Shimmon - Portchester Castle
Colin Babb - Portchester Castle
Tim Sheerman-Chase - Portchester Castle
Nigel Chadwick - Saxon Shore Way
Philip Halling - Saxon ShoreWay
Michael - Old Hastings Town
Mbartelsm - Map of Saxon Migration
Credit for images used in opening titles:
QuartierLatin1968 - The famous Celtic shield found at Battersea
Ángel M. Felicísimo - The Tusculum portrait
historicair - Map of Caesar’s campaigns in Gaul
Marie-Lan Nguyen - Bust of Emperor Claudius
Christophe Jacquand - Praetorians Relief
Chris McKenna - The reconstructed West gate at Arbeia Roman Fort
Łukasz Nurczyński - Deva Minerva Plan (reconstruction)
Gernot Keller - Bronze statue of Constantine the Great outside York Minster

All these images are available under the following licences:
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/deed.en
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en

Credit for Music used in video:
The Modena Chamber Orchestra - Concerto No. 4 in F minor, Op. 8, RV 297, 'L'inverno' (Winter)

Available under the following licences:
https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

Видео Defending the Edge - The Saxon Shore канала Rob's Roman Britain