ALTA CASTRICUM - Oudenburg

 Le fort romain d Oudenburg en Flqndre Occidentale, pres d Ostende, fut érigé au IV ème siecle de notre ère sous le règne de l'empereur Constance Chlore, le père du Contantin le Grand,  et peut être reconstruit ou renforcé par la suite sous l empereur Contantin I.

Il faisait partie de la défense cotière appellée le LITUS SAXONICUM, ou le littoral Saxon, destinée a protegee la cote de la Mer du Nord contre les incursions des Saxons. Il etait principalement tenu par des guerriers  Francs et leur familles, tribu germanique alliée de Rome.

On date dès lors sa construction de 296 a 306 et sa fortification entre 306 et 337 fut ordonnée par l'empereur Constantin le Grand. C'est lui qui consolider et renforcer le réseau du litus Saxomicum. Il développera et organisera la défense militaire de l Empire.

Constance II continue la defense cotiere, L'armee romaine tient encore fortement la region malgre les inscursions de plus en plus frequentes des pirates Saxons.

Valentinien reorgaise les armees des Gaules et le systeme défensif face aux invasions qui se multiplient.

Les forts comme Oudenburg sont maintenus quoique de plus en plus exposés a la menace Saxonne.

Honorius 395-423, 

L empire Romain se fragilise, 

Les Saxons et les Francs Ripuaires s intallent de plus en plus dans la region.Oudenburg ainsi que  d autres forts du littoral Saxon comme Ambleteuse, Boulogne-sur-Mer, Richborough et Portchester  perdent  leur fonction defensive et servent de site de peuplement local.

LITUS SASONICUM or Saxon shore

 LITUS SAXONICUM

Saxon Shore

It was a military command of the late Roman Empire.

It consisted in a score and a half of forts built on both sides of the English Channel from Brancaster in England to Nantes, in France.

It was erected in the late third century and was led by the Count of the Saxon Shore.
In the late fourth century, the Count's functions were limited to Britain. 

The forts in Gaul and Belgium were trasmitted to the Dux Belgica Secunda and the Dux Armoricum.

Already in the first half of the second century, under the reign of emperor Severus Alexander (222 235), several legions have been withdrawn from the northern border and started new garnisons at location in the south. They had built BRANCASTER and CALSTER ON SEA in Norfolk and RECULVER in Kent. DOVER was already fortified in the early second century.
According to recent studies, the most castle were built in the third century during the Carausius revolte or secession, Marcus Aurelus Carausius would have odered the fonstruction to secure his realm from the reconquest led by the legitimate cesar.

Here are the 13 forts located in Great Britain with their contemporary names

1. Branodunum = BRANCASTER

2. Garianorum = BURGH CASTLE, CALSTER

                       WALTON CASTLE

4. OTHONA = BRANDWELL

5. REGULBIUM = RECULVER

6. RUTUPIA = RICHBOROUGH

7. DUBRIS = DOVER

8. PORTE LEMANIS = LYMPNE

9. ANDERITUM = PEVENSEY

10, PORTUS ADUMI = PORCHESTER
                                 CARLSBROOKE

12. CLAUSENUM = BITTERNE
                             TOPSHAM

The forts in Belgica Secunda are :

1. OUDENBURG = ALDENBORG (9th century)

2. MARCKE ou MARQUISE = MARCAE

3. BOULOGNE = BONONIA

4. PORTUS APPATICA = ETAPLES

5. LOCUS QUARTENSIS =  GRANNONA

The forts in Gallia nervivani et armoricani

1. ALDERNEY

2. PORTBAIL

3. COUTANCES = CONSTANTIA

4. CAROLLES

5. AVRANCHES = ABRICANTIS

6, ALERH           =  ALETUM

7. BREST= OSISMI

8. HENNEBONT = BLABIA

9. VANNES = BENETIA

10. NANTES = MANATIAS