Mysterious Roman Fort Discovery in Wales Linked to Ancient Legend of Emperor Magnus Maximus
Archaeologist Mark Merrony believes a newly found fort in Pembrokeshire may have housed up to 1,000 soldiers and could be the site mentioned in medieval Welsh tales.
An ancient Roman fort discovered in a remote part of Wales could be connected to a centuries-old legend about Emperor Magnus Maximus, according to the archaeologist leading the excavation. The site, located near Frenni Fawr in Pembrokeshire, may have accommodated as many as 1,000 auxiliary Roman soldiers, a number comparable to garrisons on Hadrian's Wall.
Mark Merrony, a fellow at Wolfson College, Oxford, and editor-in-chief of the archaeology magazine Antiqvvs, first identified the fort using satellite imagery in 2024. Subsequent excavations uncovered two Roman coins dating to the late 4th century, a period when Magnus Maximus ruled Britain from 383 to 388 A.D. This suggests activity at the site continued into that era.
Merrony told Fox News Digital that the fort's size indicates it could have held up to 1,000 soldiers, surpassing his initial estimates. Excavations also revealed Roman artifacts, including ceramic roofing tiles and materials possibly used for underfloor heating.
The potential link to Magnus Maximus stems from the Mabinogion, a collection of medieval Welsh tales. One story describes a Roman emperor establishing a military camp near Frenni Fawr. Merrony, who identified the fort while tracing Roman roads, believes this legend might be rooted in historical fact.
"The question is, is the Mabinogion correct? And I suspect it is," Merrony stated. He suggests that Roman soldiers, possibly under Magnus Maximus, may have traveled through the region in the late Roman period, perhaps in response to incursions by Irish groups. The discovery of the fort near the hill's summit, with no other known Roman sites nearby, led Merrony to connect it with the legend.
Merrony theorizes that legends often have historical underpinnings, spread through oral tradition before being written down. While the discovery does not confirm the emperor's presence, it supports the idea that the legend preserves a memory of an actual event.
Further investigation is planned, including exploring a possible Roman road alongside the fort and an aqueduct system. Merrony's team intends to widen excavation trenches over two buildings, with one trench potentially revealing a collapsed structure. Additional excavations are scheduled for 2027.