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Anglo Saxon Chronicles - 552AD - Searobyrg (Cynric)


The entry from the Chronicles

Original text
Her Cynric gefeaht wiþ Brettas in þære stowe þe is genemned æt Searobyrg.

Translation
552AD. This year Cynric fought with the Britons on the spot that is called Searobyrg, and put them to flight.

Where is Searobyrg

Searobyrg appears to be made from two Saxon snippets 'Searo' probably derived from 'searu' meaning a device probably a ballista and 'byrg' a burh or fort, so the 'device fort', this most likely relating to the site of the old Roman fort at Old Sarum.

This was at a Strategic Roman road junction on the road from Winchester so easy to march to and provided a good defensive position for Wessex and their expansion.

This can be found at latitude longitude pair of 51.093880, -1.804939


Possible interpretation of the Chronicles

This Battle is 18 years after the take over of the Isle of Wight, so it would seem logical that during this time Wessex is taking control of the whole of Hampshire, and now needs to expand more. As the battle was probably at Old Sarum, then expansion seems more likely as Cynric has marched along the Roman road to get there.

This area was the ancestral home of the Belgae who had their capital was at Winchester(Venta Belgarum), however it would seem that they had two other centres at Old Sarum and Barbury.



Map showing the Battles of Cerdic, Cynric and the West Saxons
 
Map showing the Battles of Cerdic, Cynric and the West Saxons
Map generated using Google My Maps 2024 - showing the Landscape, modern Counties and sea in 477AD


Please Note: this map is my interpretation of the Anglo Saxon Chronicles entries relating to Cerdic, Cynric and the West Saxons and their take over of Hampshire, the thin purple line shows the modern Hampshire boundary.

The logic for the coastal changes and the Forest of Andredsweald can be viewed on the following pages:

Roman Roads in Britain

The Great Forest of Andredsweald - Anglo Saxon Chronicles

Landscape - Was the sea level in Saxon times at Pevensey 4 to 5 metres higher ?

Was the high tide in Saxon times 5 metres higher ? - the Wash

Landscape - The History of the Romney Marsh in maps(Pre-Roman to Modern times)

Roman Locations that have not been identified and roads that just terminate



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Author Simon M - Last updated - 2025-06-08 08:43:34
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