Caer Celemion

Caer Celemion was a sub-Roman British kingdom centred on the Roman town of Calleva Atrebatum. Starting life as an Iron Age hill fort, Calleva Atrebatum was founded soon after the Roman Conquest of 43AD as the civitas, or capital, of the Atrebates tribe whose territory encompassed parts of northern Hampshire, Berkshire and Wiltshire. Archaeological evidence suggests that Calleva Atrebatum was a thriving town with stone city walls, a bathhouse, an amphitheatre, temples and even an early Christian Church.

As Calleva Atrebtaum may have looked in its Roman heyday

The town avoided the general decline that affected other Romano-British settlements after the Roman withdrawal and continued to prosper well into the fifth century. As with other Romano-British territories at this time, Calleva Atrebatum and its surrounding area gained autonomy as British central authority weakened and by the mid-fifth century had emerged as an independent British kingdom.

As a British kingdom, Caer Celemion lasted for just over two centuries. Saxon settlers advancing along the Thames Valley frequently encroached on its northern borders and defensive earthworks were quickly thrown up to protect the kingdom. By the sixth century, Caer Celemion faced a new threat: the West Saxons who, having consolidated control over their Hampshire heartland, were looking to expand. Caer Gwinntguic fell in 552 and, two decades later, Caer Gloui also fell, swiftly followed by its sister kingdoms of Caer Baddon and Caer Ceri. By the dying days of the sixth century, Caer Celemion stood alone, isolated and totally surrounded by Saxon chiefdoms.

Map showing Caer Celemion and its neighbours in the early fifth century. By the end of the sixth century, Rhegin, Caer Gwinntguic, Caer Baddon, Caer Gloui and Caer Ceri had all fallen leaving Caer Celemion isolated and vulnerable.

Inevitably, after holding out for almost three decades, Caer Celemion finally fell to Caewlin of Wessex in c.605. Calleva Atrebatum was abandoned, the ruins were ritually cursed, and its wells were filled to prevent any Romano-British occupants from returning. Unusually, the town was never resettled, with the West Saxons choosing instead to maintain their existing towns of Winchester and Dorchester. The ruins of Calleva Atrebatum can still be seen today.