Saxon Raiding and the Role of the Late Roman Coastal Forts of Britain

Abstract

Existing arguments about the role of the late Roman coastal forts of south-eastern Britain turn largely on the monumental nature of their architecture, evidence of Saxon raiding in the contemporary historical record and the reference to the comes litoris Saxonici in the Notitia Dignitatum. These factors have ensured that the forts have been seen as a comprehensive defensive system to keep the Saxons from raiding Britain. In recent years, however, the traditional interpretation has been questioned and it has been suggested that the forts were not a series of naval police-stations, but trans-shipment centres. This paper will review the evidence to consider if there is indeed an alternative explanation for the construction of the forts.