This is a timeline of Sussex history. To read about the background to these events, see History of Sussex. See also the list of monarchs of Sussex.
Millennia: 1st BC1st2nd3rd
Centuries: 1st2nd3rd4th5th6th7th8th9th10th11th12th13th14th15th16th17th18th19th20th 21st
1st century Year Date Event Reference c. 15 Verica succeeds Eppillus as king of the southern Atrebates (approximately modern Sussex and south-east Hampshire) with a capital at or close to what went on to become the Roman Noviomagus Reginorum (modern Chichester) by 42 Caratacus, king of the Catuvellauni tribe, conquers the southern Atrebatic kingdom and expels Verica. c.43 Romans land on Sussex coast as part of the Roman conquest of Britain, perhaps in support of Verica. Under Roman rule the client kingdom of the Regni or Regnenses is created from the southern Atrebatic kingdom for Cogidubnus that includes much of what is to become Sussex. c.75 The largest Roman residence north of the Alps is built close to what is now Chichester Harbour c.80 Kingdom of Regni or Regnenses, becomes a Roman canton or civitas with its capital at Noviomagus Reginorum (modern Chichester).
2nd century Year Date Event Reference 121/122 A stone statue, perhaps the largest in Roman Britain, is erected at what is now Chichester HarbourRussell, M., & Manley, H. (2015) "Trajan Places: Establishing Identity and Context for the Bosham and Hawkshaw Heads". Britannia, 46, 151-169. doi:10.1017/S0068113X15000136, http://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/22352/1/Print%20version.pdf c.150 Ptolemy's Geography mentions several places in what was to become Sussex including Magnus Portus, Noeomagus (Noviomagus Reginorum), Novus Portus and the Flavius Trisantona (River Arun). c.190 Construction begins on a Romano-British villa just north of the South Downs, close to Stane Street
3rd century
Year Date Event Reference c.200-250 Beachy Head Lady buried at East Dean, the first known person of sub-Saharan origin in Britain. c.293-300 The Romans build the Saxon Shore fort of Anderitum at Pevensey
4th century
5th century Year Date Event Reference c.410 Romans leave Britain 460s onwards Hoard of coins deposited at what is now Patching.Sally White. The Patching hoard published in Medieval Archaeology. pp. 88-93 c.477 Aelle arrived at Cymenshore; Aelle goes on to become the first king of Sussex and the first Bretwalda.ASC Parker MS. 477AD."Her cuom Ęlle on Bretenlond 7 his .iii. suna, Cymen 7 Wlencing 7 Cissa, mid .iii. scipum on þa stowe þe is nemned Cymenesora, 7 þær ofslogon monige Wealas 7 sume on fleame bedrifon on þone wudu þe is genemned Andredesleage." 485 Battle of MercredesburneASC Parker MS. 485AD. 491 Siege of Anderitum in modern Pevensey.ASC Parker MS. 491AD.
6th century Year Date Event Reference c.500 The beginning of the Heptarchy, which includes the Kingdom of Sussex.
7th century Year Date Event Reference 607 Ceolwulf of Wessex fights the South SaxonsASC Parker MS. AD607. 661 King Æthelwealh of Sussex becomes Christian and his territory expands westwards to include the Meon Valley and the Isle of Wight. c. 679 Sussex is affected by famine. 681 St Wilfrid arrives in Sussex.Bede.HE.IV.13 c.681 Selsey Abbey founded. 685-686 Cædwalla of Wessex invades Sussex, killing King Æthelwealh of Sussex.Bede.HE.IV.15 686 South Saxons attack Hlothere, king of Kent, in support of Hlothere's nephew Eadric. c.7th century Sussex appears in the Tribal Hidage.
8th century Year Date Event Reference c.700 Parts of Sussex are mentioned in the Ravenna Cosmography including Nouiomago or Nauimago regentium (Chichester) and Anderito (Pevensey). 710 King Nunna of Sussex and King Ine of Wessex clash with King Geraint of Dumnonia (Devon and Cornwall). c.715 Eadberht, Abbot of Selsey is consecrated the first bishop of the South Saxons. 771 King Offa of Mercia defeats the Haestingas and adds their kingdom to the Kingdom of Sussex.
9th century
Year Date Event Reference c.827 Sussex annexed by Kingdom of Wessex 828 Historia Brittonum is written, which refers to the "Night of the Long Knives" in which Sussex is ceded by sub-Roman authorities to Saxons. 839 Æthelstan becomes "King of the Dwellers in Kent, of the East Saxons, of the South Saxons and of Surrey" on the authority of his father, Æthelwulf of Wessex. 858 Æthelwulf of Wessex buried at Steyning. 860 Æthelberht of Wessex becomes king of Wessex. Sussex, together with Essex, Kent and Surrey, is fully subsumed as part of this kingdom. 885 King Alfred meets his biographer, Asser, for the first time at Alfred's royal estate at Dean in Sussex.
10th century Year Date Event Reference After 915 The Burghal Hidage lists five burhs (fortified towns or forts) in Sussex at Chichester, Burpham, Lewes, Hastings and Eorpeburnan 927 Æthelstan styles himself as King of the English, becoming the first king to do so. 930 3 April England-wide Royal Council (Witenagemot) takes place at Lyminster, included King Æthelstan and his councillors. 994 Vikings commanded by Olaf Tryggvason and Sweyn Forkbeard raid the coast of Sussex.
11th century
Year Date Event Reference 1011 The last Viking raid on Sussex takes place at Hastings. Later in the same year, Sussex is ruled by the Danes 1049 Sweyn Godwinson abducts his cousin Beorn at Bosham and later murders him. 1064 Harold Godwinson sets sail for Normandy from Bosham. 1066 September William of Normandy lands at Pevensey. 1066 14 October Battle of Hastings at Senlac Hill. 1075 The Council of London decrees that the bishopric for Sussex should be moved from Selsey Abbey to a new cathedral at Chichester. 1088 Rebellion of 1088: William II captures the rebel leader Odo of Bayeux in a six-week siege at Pevensey Castle.1090First mention of Church in the wood Hollington, Saint Leonards on Sea
12th century
Year Date Event Reference 1107 Henry I of England grants Bishop Ralph de Luffa the right to hold a fair in Chichester, which becomes known as the Sloe Fair.Chichester District Council: 12th–13th century 1108 Chichester Cathedral is consecrated under Bishop Ralph de Luffa. 1139 Siege of Arundel - part of the events of the Anarchy. 1155 Earliest known charter of the Cinque Ports, included Hastings and later Rye, Winchelsea and Seaford. 1187 Fire destroys Chichester Cathedral and much of the city of Chichester. 1194 While Richard the Lionheart is held captive in France, King John's forces lay siege to Chichester Castle. 1199 Chichester Cathedral is re-consecrated under Bishop Seffrid II.
13th century
Year Date Event Reference 1208 King John confiscates Bramber Castle from the de Braose family, after suspecting them of treachery. 1215 22 January While King John visits Knepp Castle for 4 days, confederated barons assemble in London to determine how best to check the career of this vicious king. 1216 in part of the First Barons' War, Rye and Winchelsea open their gates to Prince Louis of France in an unsuccessful bid to take the crown from the hated King John 1216 Chichester Castle is attacked and occupied by Prince Louis of France. 1217 A force of Wealdsmen led by William of Cassingham ambushes Prince Louis of France and his men at Lewes, pursuing them to Winchelsea. 1225 Chichester Castle is demolished so that it cannot be used again by French forces 1250-1262 The Rape of Chichester is created, the last of Sussex's six sub-divisions, known as Rapes. 1262 Pope Urban IV canonises St Richard of Chichester, former bishop of Chichester and now Sussex's patron saint. 126414 May Battle of Lewes 1287February Old Winchelsea completely destroyed by flood.
14th century
Year Date Event Reference 1315 The Great Famine of 1315–17 brings a relatively large increase in mortality in Sussex and across much of northern Europe. 1336 Edward III decides to site the county court for Sussex at Chichester. 1338 Start of the English Channel naval campaign, part of the Hundred Years' War, saw the unwalled Hastings burnt to the ground. 1348 Over the next 20 years the Black Death kills perhaps half of the population of Sussex. 1350 29 August Battle of Winchelsea 1353 Chichester is named as the staple port for Sussex in the Statute of the Staple. 137710 December Bishop William Reade receives permission to fortify Amberley Castle. 1381 Peasants' Revolt: people from Sussex participate in riots in London; Lewes Castle is sacked; 1385 Work begins on Bodiam Castle
15th century Year Date Event Reference 1406 James I of Scotland is imprisoned in Pevensey Castle, where Henry IV of England provided for his education. 1419 Joan of Navarre, dowager Queen of England, is imprisoned in Pevensey Castle for the next three years after her step-son Henry V accuses her of planning to destroy the king by sorcery 1450 June Rebels involved in Jack Cade's Rebellion assemble outside London. 1450 12 July Jack Cade fatally wounded at Cade Street. 1451 Easter week John and William Merfold indicted after publicly inciting the killing of the nobility, clergy, the deposition of King Henry VI and advocating rule by common people.
16th century
Year Date Event Reference 1504 A statute is passed to alternate the court of the High Sheriff of Sussex between Chichester and Lewes. 1538 20 December Shrine of St Richard destroyed following a royal order from Henry VIII. 1545 20 July After the Battle of the Solent, the French Navy landed at Brighton and Newhaven but is repulsed. 1555-1557 As part of the Marian Persecutions, a significant number of men are martyred for their Protestant faith, including 17 men burnt alive in Lewes. c.1562 First Huguenot community arrived at Rye, arriving at Winchelsea the following year.Proceedings of the Huguenot Society of Great Britain and Ireland, Volume 28, Issue 5) 1588 1 October Ralph Crockett and Edward James executed in Chichester for being Catholic priests.
17th century
Year Date Event Reference 1611 24 March The first known reference to cricket being played by adults is recorded at Sidlesham on the Manhood peninsula. 1611 First recorded use of the emblem of Sussex in John Speed's Theatrum Imperii Maganae Britanniae 1624 10 September Jasper Vinall becomes the first person recorded to have died as a result of an incident in a game of cricket 1642 December English Civil War: Battle of Muster Green in Haywards Heath results in the deaths or fleeing of 200 Royalists 1642 22–27 December English Civil War: Siege of Chichester 1643 14 April - 1 May English Civil War: Siege of Arundel Castle 1643 13 December English Civil War: Battle of Bramber Bridge 1643-1644 19 December 1643 – 6 January 1644 English Civil War: Siege of Arundel 1655 George Fox preaches at Ifield and as a result the first weekly Quaker meeting in Sussex is held; the first Quaker Friends meeting house in Sussex is built in 1676. 1690 10 July Battle of Beachy Head.
18th century
Year Date Event Reference 1743 27 August Henry Pelham, one of the two MPs elected to the county of Sussex constituency, becomes Prime Minister of Great Britain. 1745 Sussex Weekly Advertiser first published. 1748 February The brutal murders take place of William Galley and Daniel Chater by the Hawkhurst Gang of smugglers. 1749 16 January At a special Assize in Chichester, seven men were convicted of smuggling and their part in murders carried out by the Hawkhurst Gang. 1768 19 February Thomas Paine moves to Lewes, where he develops his political ideas, particularly as part of the Headstrong Club. 1794 Sussex Yeomanry founded when there was a threat of invasion in the Napoleonic Wars.
19th century