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Norman Archer

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.