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Vortigern

Brief Biography

Vortigern is believed to have been a ruler of Britain during the early to mid 400s, having grabbed the British throne from Constantine, the father of Ambrosius Aurelianus and Uther Pendragon.

Vortigern then exiled Ambrosius and Uther (who were then just children) to Brittany to live with their uncle. Vortigern then proceeded to invite the Saxons, under Hengist and his brother Horsa, into Britain as mercenaries to help fight the invading Scots and Picts. This policy was a disaster as it led to a major Saxon invasion.

Vortigern became smitten by Hengist's daughter Rowena and in return for marrying her, he gave the Saxons what is roughly the present county of Kent to live in and rule themselves. The Saxons used this as a base to increase their presence in Southern England. And even when Ambrosius eventually killed Vortigern and took over the British throne, Saxon menace remained.

Vortigern is supposed to have retreated to his strongold of Dinas Emrys in North Wales when the Saxons began to really threaten him. The story of his building this fortress is first told by Nennius and then by Geoffrey of Monmouth. Vortigen had difficulty in actually getting his fort to stay up, and consulted his wise men who said "You must find a child born without a father, put him to death".

Vortigen's envoys found such a child, who was prepared for sacrifice. However the boy found the true cause of the building subsiding, an underground pool that was causing the foundations to crumble. Digging opened up a pool in which there were two dragons, one red and one white, who were locked in mortal combat. The red dragon eventually won, and the boy explained to Vortigen the meaning it. The White Dragon represented the Saxons. The Red Dragon represented the people of Britain .

Nennius, writing around the year 800, still saw the possibility of expelling the Saxons. And hence has the Red Dragon, the Britons, winning the fight.

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