Dr Mark Merrony from the University of Oxford has discovered evidence of a fourth-century Roman fort in Pembrokeshire, Wales, which supports the legend that Emperor Magnus Maximus camped near Frenni Fawr hill. The excavation uncovered coins and other artifacts dating back to the time when Magnus Maximus was believed to have led his troops against northern invaders. This finding aligns with tales from medieval Welsh literature suggesting the emperor’s presence in the region, offering new insights into Roman military activity in Wales during that period.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-12,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Magnus Maximus, the Roman emperor who ruled Britain in the fourth century, led his troops against the Picts and Scots, but a theory that he also established a military camp near Frenni Fawr hill in Wales has so far been based on folklore.
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he → rule → folklore
Now fourth-century coins, among other finds at a newly identified Roman fort in Pembrokeshire, suggest the medieval tale was rooted in reality, to the excitement of archaeologists.
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tale → identify → archaeologists
The fort was discovered by Dr Mark Merrony, a leading Roman specialist at the University of Oxford.
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fort → discover → Oxford
He heads an excavation that is bringing to life a story about Magnus Maximus, as told in the Mabinogion, a collection of medieval epic tales of myth, magic and miracles.
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that → head → myth
Merrony expressed excitement that this landscape held the only Roman military site close to where the Mabinogion places the emperor.
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Mabinogion → express → emperor
“If Magnus Maximus was there, there must have been an army there,” he said.
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he → say → ?
“It’s such a remote area but the tale mentions the easternmost peak of the Preseli Hills, which is where this site is.
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site → ’ → Hills
The presence of a heavily fortified Roman auxiliary fort may help unlock the mystery of a Mabinogion legend that has endured for nearly 1,700 years.
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that → fortify → years
In The Dream of Macsen Wledig, medieval storytellers used the emperor’s name in Welsh in recounting his rise to power.
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storytellers → use → power
They described how on his military manoeuvres, he pitched his camp at Frenni Fawr, the 395-metre (1,300ft) easternmost peak of the Preseli Hills.
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he → describe → Hills
Merrony discovered it about 2 miles (3.5km) south-west of the summit in 2024.
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Merrony → discover → 2024
Satellite imagery had shown a convincing outline in an overgrown field and, shortly after visiting it, his eye was caught by a Roman tile, which turned out to be the first of many.
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which → show → many
With financial support from Oxford University and crowdfunding, one of several planned excavations has just finished, confirming his theory of the site and its significance.
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one → plan → site
Merrony said that before the dig, his brother, Nick, had jokingly asked him to find a couple of coins to prove the Magnus Maximus theory.
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brother → say → theory
“He came back and said ‘well, are these any good?’
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these → come → ?
I said ‘you’ve got to be kidding me’.
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you → say → me
He’d found two coins dating from the late 4th century.
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He → find → century
“It is fascinating to consider that the two coins may be linked to the tale of Macsen Wledig – Magnus Maximus – in the Mabinogion, the Welsh equivalent of the Odyssey.”
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coins → consider → Odyssey
Merrony is a leading specialist in the Romano-British period.
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Merrony → lead → period
His previous discoveries include two Roman villas, at Ford in Pembrokeshire and at Cutteslowe in Oxfordshire.
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discoveries → include → Oxfordshire
He identified a Roman road along the southern shoulder of the Preselis in 2022, challenging assumptions that the Romans did not venture far into Wales.
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Romans → identify → Wales
His research will appear in Antiqvvs, a quarterly magazine dedicated to archaeology, ancient art and history.
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research → appear → archaeology
Magnus Maximus will also feature in Merrony’s forthcoming book, titled Lives of the Roman Emperors: From Augustus to Romulus Augustulus.
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Maximus → feature → Augustulus
Measuring 180 by 150 metres, the fort is on a slope with a commanding view of the surrounding landscape.
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fort → measure → landscape
It is likely to have held about 500 troops, and its discovery overturns assumptions that the area’s Indigenous Celtic tribe was on peaceful terms with the Roman invaders.
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tribe → hold → invaders
It has “a characteristic playing-card form, with rounded corners” and a perpendicular road, Merrony said.
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Merrony → have → corners
Finds at the site so far include an unusual iron stylus, many pottery shards, large quantities of Roman tiles and extensive compacted clay floors, a common feature on Roman military sites.
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Finds → include → sites
Even rut marks left by wagons have been preserved.
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marks → leave → wagons
The geophysical survey confirmed the presence of a rectangular building in the middle of the enclosure and a larger rectangular building immediately to the south.
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survey → confirm → south
“This arrangement is consistent with the placement of a headquarters building orientated east and thereby ‘facing the enemy’, and a commander’s house,” Merrony said.
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Merrony → orientate → enemy
The Aporia
