Editing Wessex (section)

=== Roman Britain ===
{{Main|Roman Britain}}
Following the [[Roman conquest of Britain]], from the 1st century AD, numerous country [[Roman villa]]s with attached farms were established across Wessex, along with the important towns of [[Dorchester, Dorset|Dorchester]] and [[Winchester]] (the ending -chester comes from [[Latin]] ''castra'', "a military camp"). The Romans, or rather the [[Romano-British]], built another major road that integrated Wessex, running eastwards from Exeter through Dorchester to Winchester and [[Silchester]] and on to [[London]].

In the mid-4th century there were increasing raids on Roman Britain by peoples such as the [[Picts]], [[Scottish people]], [[Attacotti]], and [[Franks]], as well as the Saxons. In 367, these tribes simultaneously [[Great Conspiracy|invaded Britain]] from the north, west and east. The invaders reportedly defeated or co-opted Roman forces in most parts of northern and western Britain. However, the Roman general [[Count Theodosius|Theodosius]] had recaptured most areas by the end of 368.<ref name="Blair2003">{{Harvp|Hunter Blair|Keynes|2006|p=2}}</ref> In 380–1, [[Magnus Maximus]] defeated further raids. However, there was increasing internal conflict across the Roman Empire. During 383–4, in the context of the overthrow of Emperor [[Gratian]], Maximus took most of the garrison from Britain to Gaul, where he was made [[Augustus (title)|Augustus of the West]], ruling Britain, Gaul, Spain and Roman Africa.  Following the death of Maximus in 388, Roman authority in Britain again declined.  During the late 390s, [[Stilicho]] attempted to restore control, with a campaign against the Picti, but this was undermined in 401 when Stilicho transferred troops to the Continent to fight the [[Goths]]. Two subsequent Roman rulers of Britain were murdered. In 407, a Roman officer in Britain, [[Constantine III (Western Roman Emperor)|Constantine III]] declared himself Augustus of the West, and left for Gaul, taking with him Roman troops. Finally, in 410, when Romano-British officials requested military assistance from Emperor [[Honorius (emperor)|Honorius]], he told them to manage their own defences.<ref>{{Harvp|Hunter Blair|Keynes|2006|pp=2–3}}</ref> Economic decline occurred after these events: circulation of Roman coins ended and the importation of items from the Roman Empire stopped.<ref>{{Harvp|Hunter Blair|Keynes|2006|p=3}}</ref><ref>
{{Harvp|Yorke|1995|p=11}}</ref>