Saxon Settlement and the Kingdom of Sussex

c. 477 AD onwards

The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records that Aelle and his sons landed near Selsey in 477 AD and established the Kingdom of the South Saxons. Chichester takes its name from this period: Cissaceastre, meaning the fortress or walled town of Cissa, one of Aelle's sons. The Saxon takeover of the former Roman town was probably gradual rather than sudden. The Roman walls still stood and provided a defensible enclosure, and the street plan remained usable. The Saxons made the walled town a centre of their small kingdom, though the royal seat may initially have been at Selsey rather than Chichester. The Kingdom of Sussex was one of the smaller Anglo-Saxon kingdoms and was eventually absorbed into the larger kingdom of Wessex during the ninth century. Christianity came to Sussex through the mission of St Wilfrid, who was given land at Selsey by the South Saxon king Aethelwealh in 681 AD. Wilfrid established a monastery and cathedral at Selsey, which served as the diocesan centre until 1075. The Saxon period gave Chichester its English name and its place within the emerging structure of English counties, hundreds and parishes. The Saxons also established a mint at Chichester, producing coins that have been found across southern England. By the time of the Norman Conquest, Chichester was a functioning small town within the walls, with a church, market and mint.