Saxon Shore

A system for defending the coasts of southeast England against raiding Saxon pirates, begun between 287-296 AD and was later (367 AD) constituted a separate command under the Count of the Saxon Shore. It consisted of a series of forts at strategic sites from the Wash to Southhampton, usually at the mouth of estuaries which served as harbors for attached naval units. Burgh Castle near Yarmouth, Richborough in Kent, and Porchester near Portsmouth are the best preserved of these forts. The forts were massive stone structures, defended by projecting bastions, and characterized by narrow gateways. It was a comprehensive coastal command developed with communications and administration.

[Latin: litus saxonicum]. The name litus saxonicum occurs first in a late Roman historian (Ammianus Marcellinus, xxvii, 8.1, concerning 367 ad), but was probably in use earlier. It denoted the southeastern coastline of Roman Britain, from the Wash to Southampton, and probably about 200 ad onwards these areas were subject to raids from Germanic Saxon pirates. The Roman response was the construction of a series of shore forts, built from the early 3rd century. The forts were massive stone structures, defended by projecting bastions, and characterized by narrow gateways. A comprehensive coastal command developed with appropriate communications and administration, and by 367 was under the direction of a Count (comes). Remains may be seen at Pevensey, Portchester and Richborough.