The 5th Century AD. Britannia. The Romano-Britons, under command of Vortigern, are desperate. The Roman Legions have abandoned Britannia. The Romano-Britons are under threat from several fronts. The Scots, Picts & Gaels to their North are seeking to dominate them and the sea offers no respite, for a fierce, brutal people are raiding and sacking their coastal settlements. The Saxons. The Romano-Britons, in a desperate bid to survive, call for a meeting with the Saxon Generals, Hengist and his brother Horsa. The meeting takes place over several days and ends with the following terms: - The Saxons are to cease raiding Romano-Briton settlements. - The Saxons are to engage in war with the Scots, Picts & Gaels. - The Romano-Britons shall bare no grudge against the Saxons for past transgressions. - The Romano-Britons shall gift the Isle of Thanet to the Saxons as a base for their armies. The Saxon Generals agree to these terms and, for a few years, stick to them. However, as more and more Ingaevonic Warriors (from the Ingaevonic Tribes (Angles, Saxons, Jutes & Frisians) (Who would later be known as Anglo-Saxon and, later still, as the English)) arrive on Thanet, in search of the riches they have heard they can acquire by slaughtering the Northern Celts of Britannia, Hengist & Horsa ask the Romano-Britons for concession after concession. Vortigern, knowing that he and his people NEED the Saxons' protection, has no choice but to give them what they ask for. These concessions culminate with Ingaevonic Troops being stationed on the mainland, in what is known today as the region of Kent (named by the Jutes who, at the time these concessions were made, constituted the majority of the Ingaevonic army as well as the majority of Hengist & Horsa's advisors and subordinate commanders). This was met with loathing and hatred by the Romano-Britons in the region, who gradually left as more and more Ingaevones arrived. Eventually, Vortigern and his advisors decided that the Ingaevonic settlers had outstayed their welcome and (after hiring Frankish mercenaries to bolster his own forces) ordered a full-scale onslaught against the Ingaevones. This onslaught cost the lives of many Ingaevones. Warriors and civilians alike. The most notable casualty in this war however, was Horsa, Hengist's Brother. After Horsa was slain, (dying a valiant death on the battlefield, as befitting an Ingaevonic warrior), Hengist and his forces retreated across the sea, much to the Romano-Britons' happiness. However, this happiness would not last long, as Vortigern soon after heard the prophecy of the White Dragon (which I shall make another post about, possibly later today). Hengist, his surviving commanders and his daughter Rowina, sought counsel with the Saxon kings. Upon hearing Hengist's tale, the Saxons marched for war, uniting under the banner of the White Dragon (just as the prophecy predicted). Not long after the Saxon banners unfurled, they were joined by the banners of their Ingaevonic brothers, the Angles, Jutes and Frisians. With their combined armies, the Ingaevonic horde crashed onto the shores of eastern Britannia. With fire in their eyes, they set settlement after settlement ablaze, razing all evidence of the Romano-Britons. Mass grave after mass grave, Romano-Briton blood was spilled, litres of it for every drop of Ingaevonic blood shed. The Romano-Britons fled in terror, whilst the Northern Celts watched on in horror. The wrath of the Ingaevones seemed endless, yet, as quickly as it started, it stopped. The Ingaevonic advance halted, and, to his surprise, Vortigern recieved an invitation to a peace treaty from Hengist, with even a promise of Rowina's hand in marriage. Vortigern sent his son, Vortigerm, in his place, fearing a trick. Upon arrival, Hengist ordered the Ingaevones to leave their weapons outside, and Vortigerm ordered his men to do the same. The night was filled with friendly competition between the two peoples, many a Romano-Briton filled his belly with as much drink and meat as he could handle. Vortigerm spent the night in conversation with Rowina, flattering her as best he could. All was well, but, a Romano-Briton felt something was off. He knew the food & drink hadn't been poisoned because the Ingaevones also ate and drank. They ate and drank, sure, however, this man noted that they hadn't eaten nearly half of what they had been given, strange considering they had a reputation for having large appetites. Curiously, they also hadn't drank much, despite having a reputation for loving ale, wine & mead almost as much as they loved fighting. Indeed, it was strange. Vortigerm asked the Ingaevones if their reputation for merryment had been exaggerated, then suddenly stood bolt upright, blood pouring from his neck. Rowina, stood behind him with an elongated dagger through her "future husband"'s throat. Hengist heeded his daughter's signal and ordered his men to do what they do best. Kill. This peace treaty was nothing more than a ruse, a ruse that was known as the "Night of the Long Knives". These "Long Knives" were called "Seaxes", the weapon that lends it's name to the most warlike of the Ingaevonic tribes, the Saxons. These weapons had been concealed about the Ingaevones' clothing. Ordered by Hengist himself. The Ingaevones sent messengers to Vortigern. Brave souls who knew this would be their last act. These men carried the heads of each of the Romano-Britons who had attended the peace treaty. Many of whom were commanders and diplomats. Vortigern was crushed. His son AND his half-son both lay dead. The message Hengist had sent with them dictated that their deaths were in revenge for Horsa. Vortigern became too mournful to lead effectively, and the chief of the Wealas tribe of Romano-Britons took command of the Romano-Briton forces. As soon as the massacre was done and Vortigern became too weak to lead, Hengist ordered the Ingaevonic assault to continue. Over the next few years, Hengist routed the Wealas time and time again, culminating with forcing them in the modern day nation of Wales. The Romano-Britons tried breaking out of Wales several times, each to no avail. The aftermath of this war was the formation of the Anglo-Saxon Heptarchy, (The formation of the kingdoms of Northumbria, East Anglia, Mercia, Wessex, Sussex, Essex & Kent), which would later unite under the banner of Wessex and gain the name "England" (Land of the Ingaevones).
