Professor Peter Heather

And these expeditions must have taken several months. And they're not, you know, fast-moving hit-and-run raids. We're not quite in Viking territory. But certainly there are as many Saxon intrusions noted in northern Gaul, northern France, on the south side of the Channel as there are in the north, yes.

And these expeditions must have taken several months. And they're not, you know, fast-moving hit-and-run raids. We're not quite in Viking territory. But certainly there are as many Saxon intrusions noted in northern Gaul, northern France, on the south side of the Channel as there are in the north, yes.

And these expeditions must have taken several months. And they're not, you know, fast-moving hit-and-run raids. We're not quite in Viking territory. But certainly there are as many Saxon intrusions noted in northern Gaul, northern France, on the south side of the Channel as there are in the north, yes.

That's deeply contentious. You'll be pleased to know. There's a chain of fortifications along the south coast of Britain running from kind of Norfolk. round to the Solent, which are commonly called the Saxon shore forts, the Letus Saxonum. And one idea is that this is all a huge structure to fend off a massive Saxon threat. They're dated to about 300 AD.

That's deeply contentious. You'll be pleased to know. There's a chain of fortifications along the south coast of Britain running from kind of Norfolk. round to the Solent, which are commonly called the Saxon shore forts, the Letus Saxonum. And one idea is that this is all a huge structure to fend off a massive Saxon threat. They're dated to about 300 AD.

That's deeply contentious. You'll be pleased to know. There's a chain of fortifications along the south coast of Britain running from kind of Norfolk. round to the Solent, which are commonly called the Saxon shore forts, the Letus Saxonum. And one idea is that this is all a huge structure to fend off a massive Saxon threat. They're dated to about 300 AD.

But actually, that's probably, they come to maximum capacity when the British usurper, Carousius, is trying to defend himself from the continent. However, and some people argue from that, there's no Saxon threat in 300, and the dated mention of a commander of the Saxon shore is only in the Notitia Dignitatum from the late 4th century, from 395.

But actually, that's probably, they come to maximum capacity when the British usurper, Carousius, is trying to defend himself from the continent. However, and some people argue from that, there's no Saxon threat in 300, and the dated mention of a commander of the Saxon shore is only in the Notitia Dignitatum from the late 4th century, from 395.

But actually, that's probably, they come to maximum capacity when the British usurper, Carousius, is trying to defend himself from the continent. However, and some people argue from that, there's no Saxon threat in 300, and the dated mention of a commander of the Saxon shore is only in the Notitia Dignitatum from the late 4th century, from 395.

There's no mention of anyone earlier than that called the Count of the Saxon Shore. And I think that's correct. I think the Count of the Saxon Shore is created in 395 because by Stilicho, when he comes to power in the Western Empire, his chief propagandist, a poet called Claudian, mentions him having done something to protect Britain from the Saxons. And I think the two things tie up.

There's no mention of anyone earlier than that called the Count of the Saxon Shore. And I think that's correct. I think the Count of the Saxon Shore is created in 395 because by Stilicho, when he comes to power in the Western Empire, his chief propagandist, a poet called Claudian, mentions him having done something to protect Britain from the Saxons. And I think the two things tie up.

There's no mention of anyone earlier than that called the Count of the Saxon Shore. And I think that's correct. I think the Count of the Saxon Shore is created in 395 because by Stilicho, when he comes to power in the Western Empire, his chief propagandist, a poet called Claudian, mentions him having done something to protect Britain from the Saxons. And I think the two things tie up.

I'm sure that's correct. However... While most of those forts were built to fend off Diocletian's attack on Carusius, about half a dozen of them stay in service subsequently. So I think even though there's not a count of the Saxon shore in the 4th century, there is a military command with quite a lot of troops available that is directly responding to seaborne Saxon troops. threat.

I'm sure that's correct. However... While most of those forts were built to fend off Diocletian's attack on Carusius, about half a dozen of them stay in service subsequently. So I think even though there's not a count of the Saxon shore in the 4th century, there is a military command with quite a lot of troops available that is directly responding to seaborne Saxon troops. threat.

I'm sure that's correct. However... While most of those forts were built to fend off Diocletian's attack on Carusius, about half a dozen of them stay in service subsequently. So I think even though there's not a count of the Saxon shore in the 4th century, there is a military command with quite a lot of troops available that is directly responding to seaborne Saxon troops. threat.

And you've got to think about that threat. They're rowing. They don't just come and then leave. They come, they have to rest up, they have to raid, and then they leave. Trying to find these Saxons at sea, that's a small boat's problem in spades. But they're on land at least for several days.

And you've got to think about that threat. They're rowing. They don't just come and then leave. They come, they have to rest up, they have to raid, and then they leave. Trying to find these Saxons at sea, that's a small boat's problem in spades. But they're on land at least for several days.

And you've got to think about that threat. They're rowing. They don't just come and then leave. They come, they have to rest up, they have to raid, and then they leave. Trying to find these Saxons at sea, that's a small boat's problem in spades. But they're on land at least for several days.

So actually, a well-placed series of local garrison infantry and cavalry forces is a perfectly good response to that potential level of threat. So to my mind, there are others who don't think this. There are some who think that the threat only built up from about 360.

So actually, a well-placed series of local garrison infantry and cavalry forces is a perfectly good response to that potential level of threat. So to my mind, there are others who don't think this. There are some who think that the threat only built up from about 360.