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Sussex

 

Contents

Introduction

History

Flag

Meaning/Origin of the Flag

Map



Introduction

Britannia was conquered by Roman legions around the year 43 and became in 85 a province of the Roman Empire. Towards the end of the fourth century the Roman Empire came under considerable pressure from outside, so that Britannia could no longer be held. Thus the Romans began to withdraw about 400 or 410. Shortly afterwards, Jutes and Angles began to migrate in eastern and southern Britannia coming from today's Denmark and Saxons coming from the area of the Weser and Elbe estuaries, and also some Frisians. The differences between the peoples blurred over the generations, and they were summarized under the term Anglo-Saxons. As fighters they have been very welcome for the mostly Romanesque Celtic British, against the since the withdraw of the Romans advancing Picts and Scots. Already in the middle of the fifth century, they had established themselves as the new aristocracy and began to separate from themselves by the formation of their own kingdoms.

Since the beginning of the 6th century, seven great kings have been known which dominated the south and east of Britannia. A formation of states that has become known in history as "Heptarchy" (Greek: hepta = seven). These have been the kingdoms of Sussex, Wessex, Essex, Kent, East Anglia, Mercia and Northumbria. However, in reality, there have been more and some smaller kingdoms, which, however, often existed for only a short time. In 825 Wessex, Sussex, Kent and Mercia became united under King Egbert of Wessex. Essex, East Anglia and parts of Mercia were occupied by invading Danes in the year 865 and became summarized as "Danelaw" (Danelag, territory of Danish law). In 1016 the Danish Knut the Great (brother of the king of Denmark) forced his election to the first king of England. After riots the Danish rule ended in 1050, and in 1066 Harald II., Earl of Wessex, was crowned to the first Anglo-Saxon King of England.

Source: Wikipedia (D)

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History

The Kingdom of Sussex was first mentioned in 477. It is a foundation of the Saxons, and was placed in the south of the area, which was inhabited by the Saxons in Britain. The name implies "Southern Saxony". At the beginning of the 8th century, it came under the rule of the Kingdom of Wessex. In the year 823 it was affilliated to Wessex. Sussex was later one of the 39 traditional counties of England. It was divided in 1974 in West Sussex and East Sussex.

Source: Wikipedia (D)

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Flag

Flagge Fahne flag Sussex Suþseaxe Südsachsen
Flag of Sussex,
ratio = 3:5,
Source, by: Wikipedia (EN)



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Meaning/Origin of the Flag

The time of the Heptarchy belongs – in the themes of flags or coats of arms – to the period of protoheraldics. This means that seals, coats of arms or flags, as we know them today, were not yet in use. Nevertheless, it seems that there was a kind of symbolism, which is partly handed down, or it is known from the field of legends. The coats of arms or flags were designed in the modern age, which are used now for the ancient kingdoms of the Heptarchy.

The heraldry of Sussex, which is known today, was mentioned for the first time in 1611 by John Speed and it shows six golden martlets ("blackbirds") on a blue background. A martlet is a duck-like bird, which is often mutilated, so that the beak and feet are missing.

Source: Wikipedia (EN), Volker Preuß

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Map


Source: Freeware, University of Texas Libraries, modyfied by: Volker Preuß

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