The Romans

In AD 43 the Romans invaded Britain with a force of about 40,000 men. The landing, which has long been considered to have taken place in Kent, is now thought possibly to have been within what was left of the Atrebatic territory, perhaps at a number of sites including Fishbourne/Chichester Harbour.

Chichester in Roman Times

Excavations beneath the later Roman deposits at both Chichester and Fishbourne have revealed evidence of Roman military activity in the form of fragments of weapons, armour and other military paraphernalia, coins and pottery of the period and timber buildings interpreted as granaries (at Fishbourne) and possible barrack blocks (at Chichester). The most spectacular find, from beneath one of the Chichester buildings, was that of a Roman gladius, the short, stabbing sword generally issued to the legionaries.

Following the successful invasion the Romans rewarded the friendly local tribe by making their leader, Togidubnus, the ruler of a large part of central southern Britain. He almost certainly lived at a spectacular palace at Fishbourne.

One of the mainstays of the Roman empire was their fine quality roads, allowing quick and easy transport of goods, equipment and particularly soldiers. There was no exception in Britain and the soldiers set about building roads towards what are now Dorking, Winchester, Basingstoke and Selsey.