| 406 |
A man is elected emperor of the Praefectura Gallica by the legions in Britain. He adopts the name Constantine III. He reinforces the local tax administration and departs with most British troops to the Continent to impose his authority. |
| 408 |
The tax administration in Britain is deposed. Local lords are fed up paying for futile continental ambitions while they are left without a proper protection at home. Their social position is endangered. They begin to form their own local guards, allegedly against raiders. |
| 409-420 |
The proto-English lords discover the advantages of having their local guardsmen led and trained by loyal Anglo-Saxons. Although the move is illegal, they invite more and more such north-German professionals as housecarls. |
| 410 |
It's now clear that Constantine III is a failure. So western emperor Honorius is polled about the restoration of imperial power in Britain. But there is one condition: the return of imperial legions to Britain. Honorius refuses, as he faces the Goths, declares that Britain has now to defend itself, while it has to continue to pay taxes to him. |
| 411 |
Constantine II is beheaded. |
| 411-423 |
Honorius continues to rule as a powerless emperor. Britain awaits a new emperor who can revoke Honorius' decision. |
| 423-424 |
Honorius dies. A tilting point for Britain. A letter for help is sent to a certain Agitius. It is thought that this person is Aetius. Valentianus III is the new but very young emperor. Young Aetius is commander in chief of the army, clearly more powerful than the emperor, but refuses. Aetius might have been seen by some as the new emperor. |
| 425 |
Vortigern is elected as chairman of the London senate. |
| 426 |
The east-British lords fear the return of the empire. They can be punished for having a personal guard. The emperor always was the commander of all troops within the Empire. |
| 427 |
A compromise is agreed in the senate: a local law will legalize the 'guard-system' but those guards will now officially fall under the authority of the London senate. It is an intermediate solution about who commands British troops. No problem: most lords with guards also have a seat in the Senate. A committee will be appointed to scrutinize the new Anglo-saxons candidates, and lead them to their final destination. This will form the core for the new army which later can be handed over to the emperor. |
| 428 |
Adventus Saxonum. Hengest is officially welcomed by Vortigern. He is appointed as leading person within the selection committee. He has to work and live in Thanet (Margate). The Anglo-Saxons are instructed to remain within the proto-English (east) part of England. |
| 428-442 |
The housecarl system is further developed. Over equipped, some
lords separate themselves of some redundant soldiers. It's a period of relative peace. But the opposition grows.
A new generation of (British born) Anglo-Saxons gradually takes over their father's tasks. After the Great rebellion Britain becomes split : the London Council versus the southwest Alliance. |
| 442-444 ? |
After three consecutive harvest failures, the country is in a dire state.
Famine lurks, it is the Great Rebellion.
A situation of total chaos breaks out, aggravated by raids. The Anglo-Saxon housecarls are overwhelmed.
Hengest takes the lead: he gathers his army, and crushes the rebellion in Kent. |
| 445 |
A new gathering of the senate. Decided is to reorganize the national defense system in military provinces.
Loyal Hengest is appointed Military Governor of Kent. Soon after, Vortigern marries his daughter.
What happens in the other provinces is unclear, but probable is that powerful informal leaders are
confirmed as 'governors'. Most of them are native proto-English lords. They begin to name themselves 'Anglian'
or 'Saxon' meaning: "We shall defend our ancestral status as if we were Anglians/Saxons." It is devolution over all of Britain. |
| 447 |
Vortigern quits the Senate and retires in Wales. He is later besieged by the southwest Alliance and dies. |
| 467 |
His successor tries to restore the authority of the senate in southwest England. He is stopped at
Wallop. Britain is now very much split. |
| 500 |
The lord of Bath rallies the soutwest Alliance. His city is quickly occupied probably by Wessex forces.
The southwest Alliance gather its troops and the housecarls of Wessex experience a crushing defeat. |
| 500-577 |
Period of peace. The expansion of Wessex to the west is halted.
This ends with the battle of Dyrham, won by Wessex. |
