Caer Baddon

Better known by its Roman name of Aqua Sulis, Caer Baddon was a late Romano-British city which would in time become the modern city of Bath. In the early fourth century, the city remained under British central administration but, by 430, Caer Baddon was under the control of the magistrates of Caer Gloui. During this time, it’s likely the British inhabitants of Caer Baddon attempted to maintain an urban Romanised lifestyle but there must have been an inevitable, if slow, decline. The great bath complex eventually fell into disuse although the Britons continued to enjoy the hot springs.

In the early 440s, the city’s Roman defences were repaired but this would be prove to be too little, too late. A serious plague hit southern Britain in 446 and Saxon laeti across the country revolted. Raiders roamed across Britain in a violent free-for-all and attacked any residents who remained. The chaos in Caer Baddon is perhaps best illustrated by the discovery of a severed skull of a young child found in an oven of a Roman townhouse in the city.

The chaos reaches its zenith when Aelle and his confederation of Angles, Jutes and Saxons marched west in 496. The Britons and invaders clashed at the Battle of Mons Badonicus which, although the exact location is unknown, was likely fought at or near Caer Baddon. The British claimed a decisive victory, and secured themselves two generations of peace.

Badbury Rings, in Dorset - a possible location for the Battle of Mons Badonicus

In the mid-sixth century, the single territory of Caer Gloui was split into three kingdoms, of which Caer Baddon was one. This probably reflected a Celtic practice of dividing a kingdom between sons; an interesting shift from the previous Roman-style administration. The city was protected to the south-west by the Wansdyke, a huge earthwork constructed either in anticipation of the Battle of Mons Badonicus, or just after. However, the West Seaxe under Ceawlin managed to break through in 577 and, despite military support from Glastenning and Dumnonia, the British were defeated at the Battle of Deorham. Caer Baddon’s last king, Farinmail, was killed fighting the West Seaxe, as were the kings of Caer Ceri and Caer Gloui.

The defeat was a disaster for the British. Caer Baddon fell to the West Seaxe, swiftly followed by Caer Ceri and Caer Gloui. Caer Celemion was exposed on all sides and the British kingdoms of Gwent and Pengwern were separated from Dumnonia in the west. The kingdoms of Dumnonia and Glastenning, safe behind the Wansdyke, kept hold of what they could of Caer Baddon’s territory but the remainder was quickly settled by Angles, who migrated into the northern parts of the kingdom, and Saxons, who settled around Gloucester and Bath. The Saxons kept the city name but corrupted it to Bathanceaster. It remained an important religious site and a Saxon monastery was founded in the city in the seventh century. The Saxon and Angle settlers became collectively known as the Hwicce.