Editing Saxons (section)

==Saxon raiders (3rd and 4th centuries)==
[[Eutropius (historian)|Eutropius]], 4th century Roman historian, claims that Saxon and [[Franks|Frankish]] raiders had attacked the North Sea coast near [[Boulogne-sur-Mer]] in about 285, when [[Carausius]] was posted there to defend against them. However, because the terms Saxon and Frank were used for peoples from north of the Rhine in the time Eutropius, it is very likely that he was using the terms anachronistically.{{sfn|Springer|2004|p=33}} The ''[[Panegyrici Latini]]'', which were written soon after those events, instead mention Franks, [[Chamavi]] and [[Frisians]], but not Saxons, indicating that these and possibly others entered the Rhine and [[Scheldt]] deltas within the empire and held control of it for decades. The panegyrics seem to imply that the Chamavi and Frisians were types of Franks at this time. The area was brought under Roman governance by [[Constantius Chlorus]], who settled many of the conquered in underpopulated parts of Gaul. Constantius also defeated the rebel Carausius in Britain, and his Roman forces are said to have slaughtered barbarian mercenaries there and "those who lately imitated the barbarian in their mode of dress and flowing red hair".{{sfn|Nixon|Rodgers|1994|pp=137-138}} 

The first undisputed mentions of the Saxon name come from the 4th century. In about 314 the [[Laterculus Veronensis|''Laterculus Veronensis'']] mentions the Saxons in a list of barbarian peoples under the influence of Rome. By about 400 the ''[[Notitia Dignitatum]]'' shows that the Romans (perhaps already much earlier) had created several military commands specifically to defend against Saxon raiders. The {{Lang|la|Litus Saxonicum}} ('[[Saxon Shore]]') was composed of nine forts stretching around the south-eastern corner of England. On the other side of the [[English Channel]] two coastal military commands were created, over the ''Tractus Armoricanus'' in what is now Brittany and Normandy, and the coast of [[Belgica Secunda]] in what later became Flanders and Picardy. The ''Notitia Dignitatum'' also lists the existence of a Saxon military unit (an ''[[Ala (Roman allied military unit)|Ala]]'') in the Roman military, which was stationed in what is now Lebanon and northern Israel. This {{lang|la|Ala primum Saxonum}} already existed by 363 when [[Julian (emperor)|Julian]] used them in Arabia against the [[Sasanian Empire|Persian empire]]. Roman military accessories are found in northern Germany in the 4th and 5th centuries apparently indicating the return of soldiers who had served the empire.{{sfn|Springer|2004|page=45}} 

Julian mentions the Saxons in a speech as close allies of [[Magnentius]] in 350 when he declared himself emperor in [[Gaul]]. Julian describes the Saxons and Franks as kinsmen of Magnentius, living "beyond the Rhine and on the shores of the western sea".{{sfn|Springer|2004|page=34}} In 357/8 Julian apparently came into conflict with Saxons when he campaigned in the Rhine regions against [[Alemanni]], Franks, and Saxons. Late 5th century historian [[Zosimus (historian)|Zosimus]] reports the involvement of the Saxons, "who exceed all the barbarians in those regions, in courage, strength and hardiness". They sent out, according to Zosimus, the "[[Quadi]]", a part of the Saxons, against the Roman lands but they were blocked by the Franks who resided near them. These "Quadi" therefore used boats to get around the Franks, and made it to Batavia (Betuwe) in the Rhine delta.<ref>Zosimus, ''New History'', 3.6</ref> Scholars generally believe the name "Quadi" to be a mistake, perhaps by a copyist. Based upon other more contemporary reports of these campaigns it is likely he was referring to the [[Chamavi]], who were however normally listed as Franks. This implies that the term "Saxon" was probably not a clear ethnic distinction at this time, but perhaps rather designated those who attack by boat.{{sfn|Springer|2004|pages=35-36}} 

Several more records mentioning 4th century Saxons can be dated:
*4th century historian [[Ammianus Marcellinus]] (books 26 and 27) reports that Britain was troubled by the [[Scoti]], two tribes of [[Picts]] (the [[Dicalydones]] and [[Verturiones]]), the [[Attacotti]] and the Saxons. Roman officer [[Count Theodosius]] led a successful campaign to recover control in Britain. In an inscription preserved in [[Stobi]] in [[North Macedonia]], Theodosius is described as the terror of Saxony. This is the earliest known reference to a country of the Saxons apart from the disputed mention by Ptolemy, but this Saxony is likely to be in Britain.{{sfn|Springer|2004|page=36}} A poetic account of his battle with the Saxons associates it with the [[Orkney islands]] off Scotland, but Theodosius probably also battled Saxons in the Rhine delta region.<ref>{{harvnb|Nixon|Rodgers|1994|p=518}} citing Claudian, ''[https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Claudian/De_IV_Consulatu_Honorii*.html On the Fourth Consulship of the Emperor Honorius]''</ref> 
*In Gaul in 370 (Ammianus, books 28 and 30) the Saxons "overcoming the dangers of the Ocean advanced at rapid pace towards the Roman frontier" invading the maritime districts in Gaul. Emperor [[Valentinian I|Valentinian's]] forces tricked and overwhelmed them, by a "device which was treacherous but expedient", "and stripped of their booty the robbers thus forcibly crushed had almost returned enriched with the spoils which they took".
*In 373 Saxons were defeated at a place called Deuso which was in Frankish, but not Roman territory. This was therefore probably an early mention of an inland force of Saxons.{{sfn|Springer|2004|pages=39-41}}
*Not long before Emperor [[Magnus Maximus]] died in 388, according to [[Ambrose|Bishop Ambrose of Milan]], he was attacked by Franks and Saxons as divine retribution for his rebuilding of a synagogue burned down in Rome.{{sfn|Springer|2004|page=38}}
*In 393 Saxons died as gladiators in Rome.{{sfn|Springer|2004|page=38}}

In many cases the Saxons were associated with using boats for their raids, although the first mentions also involve attacks within the Rhine-[[Meuse|Maas]] delta region. Special mentions of the fearful 4th-century Saxon coastal surprise attacks were made not only by Ammianus, but also by the poet [[Claudian]].{{sfn|Springer|2004|page=37}}