The name of the town is given as "Noviomagus" in Ptolemy and "Navimago regentium" in the Ravenna cosmography. This is believed to be a Latinization of a Brittonicplacename meaning "new plain" or "new fields", in other words a clearing in woodland. Its epithet is drawn from the name of the inhabitants — reconstructed variously as Reginorum, Regnorum, Regnentium, Regnensium or Regentium— in order to distinguish it from other places with the same name, notably Noviomagus in Kent. The Regini were either a sub-tribe of the Atrebates or simply the local people designated the 'people of the Kingdom' by the Roman administration. In the 2nd-century Antonine Itinerary register of Roman roads, the name is abbreviated to "Regno".
History
The settlement was first established as a winter fort for the Second Augustan Legion under Vespasian shortly after the Roman invasion in 43. Their timber barrack blocks, supply stores, and military equipment have been excavated. The camp was located in the territory of the friendly Atrebates tribe and was only used for a few years before the army withdrew and the site was developed as a Romano-British civilian settlement. Kilns have been found from the building works in the early 50s, and a bronze works from the Neronian or early Flavian period; and a dedication to Nero is dated to A.D. 58. The River Lavant was diverted to provide a public water supply. The town served as the capital of the Civitas Reginorum, a client kingdom ruled by T. Claudius Cogidubnus. Cogidubnus almost certainly lived at the Palace of Fishbourne, a mile to the west. He is mentioned on the dedication stone of a temple to Neptune and Minerva. Other public buildings were also present: public baths are beneath West Street, an amphitheatre under the cattle market, and a basilica is thought to have been on the site of the cathedral. , erected on the authority of Tiberius Claudius Cogidubnus. The town became an important residential, market and industrial centre, producing both fine tableware and enamelwork. In the 2nd century the town was surrounded by a bank and timber palisade which was later rebuilt in stone. Bastions were added in the early 4th century and the town was generally improved with much rebuilding, road surfacing and a new sewerage system. There were cemeteries outside the east, north and south gates.
Decline
By the 380s, Noviomagus appears to have been largely abandoned, perhaps because of Saxon raids along the south coast. According to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle the town was eventually captured towards the close of the 5th century, by the legendary Ælle of the South Saxons. It was renamed after his son, Cissa, and probably retained as a royal residence.
Remains
The dedication stone of the temple of Neptune and Minerva is now set into the wall of the Assembly Rooms.
Part of a fine Roman mosaic may be seen in situ beneath the floor of the cathedral.
