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This article is part of the series on: Military of ancient Rome (Portal) 800 BC - AD 476

Structural history

Roman army (unit types and ranks, legions, generals)

Roman navy (fleets, admirals)

Campaign history

Lists of Wars and Battles

Decorations and Punishments

Technological history

Military engineering (castra, siege engines, arches, roads)

Personal equipment

Political history

Strategy and tactics

Infantry tactics

Frontiers and fortifications (Limes, Hadrian's Wall)

Portus Adurni was a Saxon Shore Fort in the Roman province of Britannia. It is located at grid reference SU624045 adjoining Portchester in the English county of Hampshire and was later converted into a medieval castle known as Portchester Castle. It is considered by many as one of the finest Roman fortifications remaining in Europe.

View from later castle towards the walls and bastions of the Roman fort, including the Saxon gate and Norman priory church

The fort was built during the 3rd century to protect the southern coastline of Britain from Saxon raiders (part of the Saxon Shore) and occupies a commanding position at the head of Portsmouth Harbour. The fort is square, enclosing an area of 9 acres (36,000 m²) with outer walls 20 feet (6 m) high, 10 feet (3 m) thick, 210 yards (200 m) long and constructed of coursed flint bonded with limestone slabs.

Unusually for a building of this period, the majority of the walls and bastions are complete. It has lost only four of its bastions and, although the walls themselves have been quarried to provide stone for later additions, from the outside at least, they appear much as they did when they were first built.

Even after the departure of the Roman Army its location and strong walls made it attractive as a fortress, and it became an Anglo-Saxon high-status residence with great hall and tower, and the Roman gateways were rebuilt.

Main article: Portchester Castle

The circuit walls of the fort became the outer bailey wall of a Norman castle and later medieval palace. It was used as a gaol during the Napoleonic Wars. Its exceptional condition can therefore be attributed to the fact that, despite short periods of abandonment and longer periods of neglect, the fort was occupied for almost sixteen centuries. The site is owned by English Heritage and is open to visitors.

• Munby, J T (1990). Portchester Castle. London: English Heritage. 

• Portchester Castle
• A Guide to Portchester Castle Times, prices and visitor information.

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Coordinates: 50°50′17″N, 1°06′54″W