Sussex is nowadays divided into 2 separate counties - East and West Sussex. East Sussex covers almost 700 square miles and has a population of about 700,000.
The county of West Sussex lies in the south east of England. According to tradition the Saxon Ella landed here in 477, defeated the inhabitants and founded the kingdom of the South Saxons (the origin of the name Sussex) which was absorbed by Wessex in 825. Sussex is now divided into 2 separate counties - East and West Sussex.