Vortigern
A
Tantalising Figure
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| Vortigern being presented- with his Saxon Bride. |
The period after the Roman’s abandoned,
or were driven out of England is perhaps the most obscure period in English
history we know virtually nothing about this time period. In fact historical
knowledge of any reliability only really begins again in the late 6th
century and not coincidentally at the same time the Christianity was
reintroduced to England.1
During this early part of this time
period two sources refer to a King named Vortigern who supposedly invited the
Anglo-Saxons to settle in exchange for service as military units. Supposedly
the Saxons had then risen in revolt and took control over much of England until
they were halted by the Britons lead by Arthur. I have previously discussed why
it is likely that Arthur is a mythological character but it appears that
Vortigern is actually a real person.2
