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Sussex
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 Battle Abbey, East Sussex History: The first Roman invasion took place between 54-45BC leaving behind Roman coins, temples, and villas. It is a possibility that Cogidumnus became King (Rex) at the time of the second Roman invasion around 100AD. It was also at this time that many of the larger villas were built including Fishbourne and Southwick. Archaeological finds include coins and decorated pottery, and the remains of Roman roads include parts of those from Chichester to London and from Hastings northwards. Settlements also included ports such as Chichester and Portslade on the River Adur. After the Saxon attacks began forts were built around the south-east coast. In the area that would come to be known as Sussex they were Anderitum (Pevensey Castle) and Portus Adurni (Portchester Castle). According to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle the Saxons landed in 477AD in the west of the county and began to found the kingdom of the South Saxons under Aelle and his three sons. In 491AD they took the castle at Pevensey. According to Bede, Aelle became the first Bretwalda, or high king, but whatever the case he did become among one of the most prominent and influential of the contemporary Saxon chiefs. After his time however, the kingdom of Sussex gradually declined and fell under the domination of Wessex in 823AD. Archaeological finds include weapons, ornaments and vessels of various kinds, Saxon remains, and numerous cemeteries and scattered burial places along the south slopes of the Downs, including the cemetery on Highdown Hill. The Chanctonbury hoard of coins are among the most notable relics. Sussex suffered constant raids by the Danes from 895AD and then after the rule of Canute, came under the power of the house of Godwine and then that of the Normans. In fact Norman influence had already been strong in Sussex before the Conquest. For example the estate of Bosham was held by a Norman chaplain to Edward the Confessor and the abbey of Fécamp had an interest in the harbours of Hastings, Rye, Winchelsea and Steyning.
William was very astute and placed the lands in Sussex in the hands of men such as William de Warenne, his son-in-law, who held Lewes and Robert, Count of Mortain, his half-brother, who held Pevensey. Hastings and Pevensey were on the most direct route to Normandy.
Norman motte, Arundel Castle, West Sussex East and West Sussex: The county of Sussex has been divided into East and West since the 12th century. East Sussex shares it borders with Kent, Surrey, Brighton and Hove, and of course West Sussex. Its county town is Lewes which has a long history as a market town gets its name from "Hlaew", which means "hill". Lewes was also the site of a mint in the early years after the Norman Conquest. Battle is a small town in East Sussex, about 5 miles (8km) from Hastings, and the site of the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Battle Abbey was founded by William the Conqueror as a penance and to commemorate the battle and was dedicated in 1095. The high altar of the Abbey church is said to be on the spot where Harold died. Rye is a small hill top town in East Sussex, on the River Rother. It received its first town charter under the Normans and was fortified during the reign of King Stephen. Although not one of the original Cinque Ports, Rye had become one by the 13th century.
West Sussex which borders onto East Sussex, Hampshire and Surrey is very diverse and well known for its stately homes and castles such as Arundel Castle. Chichester is its county town and the county's highest point is Black Down at 280m/919ft.
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