![]() |
||
|
|
410 - Emperor Honorius of Rome tells Britain
to attend to its own affairs. Zosmius reports Roman officials expelled and
native government establishes "independence". c.410 - Governor Owain Finddu of Glywysing is
assassinated in Gwynedd. Irish incursions into Gwynedd, Powys, Garth
Madrun, Dyfed & the Gower Peninsula. 411 - Capture, at Arles, of Constatine, last
Emperor of Britain. He is executed at Ravenna soon afterward. 413 - The spread of the Pelagian heresy is
said to have begun, by Prosper (Tiro) of Aquitaine in his
"Chronicle". 418 - The Pelagian heresy is outlawed in
Rome. c.419 - Decurian Tewdrig of Garth Madrun's
daughter and heiress, Princess Marchell, marries an aristocratic Irish
settler in Wales, Prince Anlach. 420 - In Britain, the Pelagian heresy
supposedly enjoys much support from pro-Celtic faction. Pro-Roman
Traditionalists support the Roman Church. During this time, according to
Prosper, Britain is ruled by petty "tyrants". c.420 - Death of Coel Hen, probably the last
Roman Dux Brittanniarum. The lands of his office in Northern Britain are
divided between his descendants and become petty kingdoms of the "Gwyr
y Gogledd". 421 - Supposed death of King Gradlon Mawr of
Brittany. Probable division of Brittany into sub-kingdoms of Cornouaille
and Domnonée. c.423 - Birth of St. Patrick in Banna Venta
Burniae, thought to be near Birdoswald. 425 - Vortigern usurps Imperial power in
Britain, possibly as High-King. c.425 - Cunedda Wledig and his retinue are
moved south from Manau Gododdin to Gwynedd in order to expel the invading
Irish. c.425-50 - King Conomor flourishes in
Dumnonia, probably from his capital at Castle Dore. 428 - Vortigern invites a number of Germanic
warriors to aid him in consolidating his position in Britain. This appears
to have been an early use of German mercenaries, who probably settled in
the Dorchester-upon-Thames area. 429 - At the request of Palladius, a British
deacon, Pope Celestine I dispatches Bishops Germanus of Auxerre and Lupus
of Troyes to Britain to combat the Pelagian heresy. While in Britain,
Germanus, a former military man, leads the Britons in their 'Hallelujah'
victory at Maes Garmon, near Mold on the Welsh border. St. Cadfan founds the Monastery of Barsdey. c.430 - Death of Tewdrig of Garth Madrun. His
British kingdom is taken over by the Irish aristocracy when his
son-in-law, Prince Anlach, inherits. c.434 - St. Patrick is captured by pirates
and taken to Ireland as a slave. 435 - Tibatto leads an Armorican movement for
independence from Roman Gaul. c.435 - War breaks out between the Irish
settlers in Garth Madrun and Powys. King Anlach of Garth Madrun is
defeated and forced to send his son, Brychan, as a hostage to the Powysian
Court. 437 - Ambrosius Aurelianus appears as the
leader of the Pro-Roman faction in Britain (traditionally returning from
exile in Brittany). Vortigern's apparent relative, Guidolin (Vitalinus),
fights against Ambrosius at the Battle of Wallop. The latter is probably
victorious and is "given all the kingdoms of the western side of
Britain". c.437 - Triffyn Farfog, the Irish chieftain
and resident of West Wales, marries, Princess Gwledyr, heiress of the
Kingdom of Dyfed. c.440 - St. Patrick escapes from his captors
and returns to Britain. 440 - The Gallic Chronicle records, rather
prematurely, that "Britain, abandoned by the Romans, passed into the
power of the Saxons." This is probably inspired by Vortigern
authorizings the use of Saxon mercenaries, known as foederati, in Britain.
They defend the northern parts against barbarian attack and guard against
further Irish incursions. The Saxons are given a little land in
Lincolnshire. c.440-50 - King Glywys of Glywysing
flourishes in Glywysing. c.440-90 - King Brychan flourishes in
Brycheiniog. His three wives give birth to many saintly children who
evangelize Dumnonia. 443 - Death of King Constantine Corneu of
Dumnonia. His kingdom is divided between his two sons as Dumnonia and
Cerniw. c.445-50 - A period of Civil War and famine
in Britain, caused by the ruling council's weakness and inability to deal
with Pictish invasions. The situation is aggravated by tensions between
the Pelagian and Roman factions. Semi-desertion of many towns. Migration
of pro-Roman citizens toward the West. The country begins to be become
divided, geographically, along factional lines. 446 - The Britons (probably the pro-Roman
party) appeal to Aetius, the Gaulish Consul, for military assistance in
their struggle against the Picts and the Irish. Aetius has his hands full
with Attila the Hun and is unable to send any help. 447 - Second visit of St. Germanus (this time
accompanied by Severus, Bishop of Trier) to Britain. His visit may have
been spiritually motivated to combat a revived Pelagian threat; or
possibly he was sent in Aetius' stead, to do whatever he could to help the
desperate Britons. Vortigern is accused of incest. Germanus expells the
Irish from Powys and restores Cadeyrn's son, Cadell Ddernllwg, to the
throne. c.447 - The Britons, aroused to heroic
effort, "inflicted a massacre" on their enemies, the Picts and
Irish, and are left in peace for a brief time. Possibly led by St.
Germanus. c.448 - Civil war and plague ravage Britain. c.451 - During the consulship of Marcian and
Valentinian (450-7), Hengest arrives on the shores of Britain with '3
keels' of warriors, and are welcomed by Vortigern. This event later
becomes known as the Adventus Saxonum - "the coming of the
Saxons". c.452 - There is increasing Saxon settlement
in Britain. Vortigern marries Hengest's daughter, Rowenna, and supposedly
offers the Jutish leader the kingdom of Kent. Hengest invites his son,
Octha, from Germany with "16 keels" of warriors, who occupy the
northern lands, to defend against the Picts. Pictish invasions cease soon
afterward. c.453 - Raids on British towns and cities
becoming more frequent. Increasing Saxon unrest. 455 - Prince Vortimer apparently rebels
against the pro-Saxon policies of his father, Vortigern, and fights
Hengest at the Battle of Derguentid (Crayford). Hengest is victorious and
the British army flees back to London. c.455 - Death of King Clotri of Dyfed. His
kingdom is inherited by his son-in-law, Prince Triffyn Farfog, and taken
over by his Irish aristocratic relatives. 456 - The indecisve Battle of Rithergabail (Aylesford)
in which the rebellious sons of Vortigern, Vortimer and Cadeyrn, defeat
Hengest for the first time. Cadeyrn is killed in the fighting. c.456 - St. Patrick leaves Britain once more
to evangelise Ireland. The Saxons call the British nobles to a peace
conference at Stonehenge, then turn on them and massacre almost everyone.
This is the original 'Night of the Long Knives'. c.458 - The Saxon uprising is in full-swing.
Hengest finally conquers Kent. c.458-60 - Full-scale migration of British
aristocrats and city-dwellers across the English Channel to Armorica, in
north-western Gaul. The British contingent may have been led by one
Riothamus. c.459 - Vortigern is burnt to death while
being besieged by Ambrosius Aurelianus at Ganarew. c.460 - Death of King Vortimer Fendigaid of
Gwerthefyriwg. He is succeeded by his son-in-law, Ynyr, a minor prince of
the House of Dyfed. He changes the Kingdom's name to Gwent, after its
capital city of Caer-Gwent (Caerwent). c.460-70 - Ambrosius Aurelianus, from the
pro-Roman faction, takes full control of Britain, leading the Britons in
years of back-and-forth fighting with Saxons. The British strategy seems
to have been to allow Saxon landings and to then contain them there. 464 - Supposed death of the legendary King
Aldrien of Brittany. 465 - Battle of Lapis Tituli (Richborough
alias Wippedsfleet), in which the Britons defeat the Saxons, but with
great slaughter on both sides. The latter are confined to the Isle of
Thanet and there is a respite from fighting "for a long time." c.465 - High-King Arthur probably born around
this time. Birth of St. Dyfrig also. c.466-73 - A period of minimal Saxon
activity. Re-fortification of ancient hillforts and construction of the
Wansdyke possibly take place during this time. c.469 - The Roman Emperor, Anthemius, appeals
to the Britons for military help against the Visigoths. Reliable accounts,
by Sidonius Apolonaris and Jordanes, name the leader of the 12,000 man
Breton force as Riothamus. The bulk of the British force is wiped out in
battle against Euric, the Visigothic King, and the survivors, including
Riothamus, vanish and are never heard from again. c.471 - The army of King Ceretic of
Strathclyde raids the Irish Coast and carries off some of St. Patrick's
new flock and sells them into slavery. The King receives a written reprimand
from the Irish Evangelist. 473 - The men of Kent, under Hengest, move
westward, driving the Britons back before them "as one flees
fire." c.475 - Death of King Gwrast Ledlwm of Rheged.
His kingdom is divided between his sons: Meirchion Gul retains the central
Rheged homeland and Masgwid Gloff becomes King of Elmet. The death of King
Mor of Greater Ebrauc occurs around the same time. He is succeeded by his
son, Arthwys, who probably takes the opportunity to seize the Peak
District from Elmet. 477 - The Saxon chieftain, Aelle, lands on
the Sussex coast with his sons. The Britons engage him upon landing but
his superior force besieges them at Caer-Anderida (Pevensey) and drives
them into the Weald. 477-486 - Saxon coastal holdings are
gradually expanded in Sussex. c.480 - Traditional ascendancy of Arthur to
the High-Kingship of Britain. King Erbin of Dumnonia abdicates in favour
of his son, King Gerren Llygesoc. Death of King Glywys of Glywysing. His
kingdom is divided into Gwynllwg, Penychen, Gorfynedd, Edeligion and
others. c.485 - Birth of St. Samson. c.485-96 - Period of King Arthur's
"twelve battles" during which he gains a reputation for
invincibility. 486 - Aelle and his sons overreach their
normal territory and are engaged by the Britons at battle of
Mercredesburne. The Battle is bloody, but indecisive, and ends with both
sides pledging friendship. c.487 - Birth of St. David. c.490 - Hengest dies. His son, Aesc, takes
over and rules for 34 years. Death of Einion Yrth of Gwynedd. His kingdom
is divided into Gwynedd and Rhos. St. Cybi Felyn is born in Callington in
Cerniw. Death of King Cinuit of Strathclyde. The major portion of his
kingdom is inherited by his eldest son, Dumnagual Hen. Galwyddel &
Ynys Manaw, however, become independent under the rule of his younger son,
Tutgual. 493 - Death of St. Patrick, in Glastonbury
according to local legend. Down Patrick seems more likely. c.495 - The Germanic King Cerdic and his son,
Cynric, land somewhere on the south coast, probably near the
Hampshire-Dorset border. Their followers establish the beginnings of the
Kingdom of Wessex. King Gwynllyw of Gwynllwg carries off Princess Gwladys
of Brycheiniog. War between the two kingdoms is narrowly avoided by the
intercession of the legendary King Arthur. The couple marry.
|
|
| © Nash Ford Publishing 2001. All Rights Reserved. | ||