Some History Facts from Mists
Historical Evidence: Rome Rome invades Britain in about 43 BCE Rome deserts Britain around 420 CE With Rome in Britain –Celts were protected from invaders –Relative peace, stability, technological improvements
Historical Evidence: Rome Without Rome Celts needed to replace –civic administration –military administration –military personnel –technological maintenance
Quick Timeline 43 Rome invades 60/61 Boudica revolts 122 Hadrian’s wall begun 364 Picts, Saxons, Scots, and Atacotti raise hell 401/402 Roman troops withdrawn Saxons raid 410 Visigoths sack Rome; Honorius tells Britons to defend themselves
At Same Time Patrick active in Ireland Vortigern (high king?) invites Saxons to defend against northern invaders –begins strife with Germanic peoples Ambrosius Aurelianus fights against Saxons
Historical Evidence: Germanic Tribes 449: Anglos, Saxons, and Jutes begin invasions –Tribes from Northern Europe –Germanic –Originally raiders –Eventually settled Devastated Celtic peoples
Historic Events: Northern Invasions Germans weren’t only problem Irish tribe from North –Scots –Conquered –Scotland as well
Celtic British Response Seem to have elected supreme ruler in time of war –High king –rex bellorum literally, king of war Vortigern (ca ) –Caused major problems
Vortigern High king Threatened from North –Scots –Picts Hired Saxon and Jute Mercenaries –Led by Hengist & Horsa –Payment: lands to settle (447ish) Germans stayed
Anglo-Saxons Initially settled on coasts Rebelled against Britons (~442) Expanded holdings –Drove Celts into Wales, Cornwall, Ireland, Brittany (NW France) 449 more invasions from continent –Joined with resident Anglo-Saxons
Anglo-Saxons Celts fought back –Launched campaign against Anglo-Saxons –~500: Celtic victory at Mt. Badon 540: De Excidio Britanniae (The Fall of Britain) –Gildas –Laments fall of Britain to Anglo-Saxons
Anglo-Saxon Dominance By end of 6th Century –Anglo-Saxons dominated Britain –Pushed Celts to Wales Cornwall Brittany Ireland Scotland 597: Gregory the Great sends St. Augustine to Christianize Anglo-Saxons
Anglo- Saxons & Celts
Excalibur Fabled sword of Arthur Cover of Mists –anything wrong with this? –This type of sword didn’t exist in the 6th century world
Excalibur Typical Medieval Swords
Excalibur Celtic Sword Viking Sword