Traditional arrival of Hengist and Horsa; Anglo-Saxon settlement pressures Britons (indirect)

The Arrival of Hengist and Horsa

In the year 449 CE, two legendary figures, Hengist and Horsa, are traditionally believed to have arrived in Britain. These brothers, said to be the sons of a Jutish chieftain, were invited by Vortigern, the king of the Britons, to help defend his kingdom against the Picts and the Scots.

However, the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, a collection of annals in Old English, tells a different story. It suggests that the brothers turned against their hosts, instigating a period of conflict and conquest that led to the establishment of Anglo-Saxon rule in much of Britain.

The Impact on the Britons

The arrival of the Anglo-Saxons and their subsequent settlement had a profound impact on the Britons. The pressure from these new settlers led to significant cultural, linguistic, and political changes. The Britons were gradually pushed westward, into what is now Wales and Cornwall.

Key events in the early Anglo-Saxon period.
Year Event
449 Arrival of Hengist and Horsa
455 Battle of Aylesford
457 Battle of Crayford

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