The first Christian Roman emperor. The son of the Emperor Constantius, who came over to Britain, had married a British princess, and died at York A.D. 309; where Constantine assumed the rank of emperor. He is said by some historians to have been born in England. He greatly promoted Christianity. HENGIST AND HORSA. A.D. 449. Two Saxon chiefs, who came over at the invitation of the Britons, under their chief, Vortigern, to help them drive back the Picts and Scots, who, coming from the north, invaded the country when the Romans abandoned Britain. KING ARTHUR. Reigned 508–533. When the Romans left Britain, A.D. 409, the country split up into principalities and petty kingdoms, under chiefs. Vortigern brought in the Saxons to help him reign, and they took possession of most of southern England. King Arthur is said to have stemmed the invasion and conquered them in twelve pitched battles, and to have formed a league of chiefs reaching from Somersetshire to the Frith of Forth. Beautiful legends have been written about this league and the chiefs who joined in it. Arthur’s reign lasted twenty-five years. GILDAS THE WISE. A.D. 570. The first British historian. A native of Wales, and a monk. He died A.D. 570. SAINT AUGUSTINE. Died A.D. 596. A Benedictine monk, who was sent over from Rome by Pope Gregory the Great, at the invitation of the Saxon king Ethelbert, to preach the Gospel in Britain. Two of the kings were soon converted to Christianity, who pulled down the heathen temples and began to build churches. VENERABLE BEDE. Born 672.—Died 735. A Benedictine monk of great learning, and an early author and historian; he translated the Scriptures into Anglo-Saxon. Died A.D. 735. ALFRED THE GREAT. Born 849.—Died 901.—Ethelwulf.—Ethelbald—Ethelbert.—Ethelred.—Alfred.