A Source Book of Mediæval History: Documents Illustrative of European Life and Institutions from the German Invasions to the Renaissance
History
A Source Book of Mediæval History: Documents Illustrative of European Life and Institutions from the German Invasions to the Renaissance
Middle Ages -- Sources
In the year of our Lord 449,[72] Martian, being made emperor with
Valentinian, the forty-sixth from Augustus, ruled the Empire seven
years. Then the nation of the Angles, or Saxons, being invited by
the aforesaid king, arrived in Britain with three long ships, and
had a place assigned them to reside in by the same king, in the
eastern part of the island,[73] that they might thus appear to be
fighting for their country, while their real intentions were to
enslave it. Accordingly they engaged with the enemy, who were come
from the north to give battle, and obtained the victory; which,
being known at home in their own country, as also the fertility of
the islands and the cowardice of the Britons, a larger fleet was
quickly sent over, bringing a still greater number of men, who,
being added to the former, made up an invincible army. The
newcomers received from the Britons a place to dwell, upon
condition that they should wage war against their enemies for the
peace and security of the country, while the Britons agreed to
furnish them with pay.
Those who came over were of the three most powerful nations of
Germany--Saxons, Angles, and Jutes. From the Jutes are descended
the people of Kent and of the Isle of Wight, and those also in the
province of the West Saxons who are to this day called Jutes,
seated opposite to the Isle of Wight. From the Saxons, that is, the
country which is now called Old Saxony, came the East Saxons, the
South Saxons, and the West Saxons. From the Angles, that is, the
country which is called Anglia, and which is said, from that time,
to remain desert to this day, between the provinces of the Jutes
and the Saxons, are descended the East Angles, the Midland Angles,
Mercians, all the race of the Northumbrians, that is, of those
nations that dwell on the north side of the River Humber, and the
other nations of the English.
[Sidenote: Hengist and Horsa]
[Sidenote: The Saxons turn against the Britons]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account