BRITONS TRIUMPHANT: An Alternate History of Dark Age Britain

[robertp6165]

The voting on my poll seems to be going firmly in favor of my continuing this timeline, so I am going to repost an updated version of the timeline as a beginning for those who have not read it. In this new version I have included some events which were going on in Ireland and Scotland contemporaneously with the events in the Britain, as Ireland and Scotland are going to start becoming more important in the next few segments of the timeline. I am also going to repost my original introduction, taken from Ye Olde Board, where the timeline was originally created.

Introduction

One period of history which has always been fascinating for me is the early Dark Ages in Britain, the period of the Anglo-Saxon invasions. I have always been especially fascinated by the shadowy figure of King Arthur (reigned ca. 490-ca. 517 A.D.). I read a really interesting book called KING ARTHUR: A MILITARY HISTORY, by Michael Holmes.

In this book, Holmes postulates that Arthur was a historical Celtic High King (similar to Brian Boru in Ireland), who, in a campaign which culminated in the victorious Battle of Badon Hill, halted the advance of the Anglo-Saxon invasion for almost 20 years, and in some areas, actually rolled the invaders back. While there are many who would argue that Arthur never existed, there is good archaeological evidence to show that the Anglo-Saxon invasion was indeed halted and rolled back during this time period, strongly suggesting that Arthur, or some other figure playing the same role, existed. Holmes goes on to suggest that Medraut (Mordred) was a lieutenant of Arthur's who was placed in charge of the eastern marches of Arthur's kingdom, where he was charged with watching over the remaining Saxon invaders. Medraut instead allied himself with them in a bid to gain the High Kingship for himself, and in the Battle of Camlann (which Holmes places in 517 A.D.), both were killed. The British fell to squabbling among themselves, and the Anglo-Saxons were able to make a comeback, completing their conquest of most of what is now England by 584 A.D.

Let's assume that Holmes is correct, and that Arthur was indeed the Romano-Celtic High King of Britain, and that he was responsible for rolling back the Anglo-Saxon invaders. Let's assume that Medraut rises in rebellion, as in OTL, however, let us also assume that Arthur is able to defeat Medraut's forces and survive the battle. He has a strong son, and establishes a dynasty which over several generations manages to consolidate its rule over Romano-Celtic Britain. The Anglo-Saxons never manage to expand out of their initial bridgeheads into the interior of the island. Let's assume that the Scots still cross over from Ireland, and found their kingdom of Dalriada, where they compete with the Picts for supremacy in what is now Scotland. What would be the effect on history of a strong, unified Romano-Celtic kingdom in Britain?

The first segment of the timeline itself will be posted next....

 

[robertp6165]

PART ONE: 410-537 A.D. (From the withdrawal of Roman troops from Britain to the death of King Arthur).

410--Emperor Honorius of Rome tells Britain to attend to its own affairs. Zosmius reports
that Roman officials are expelled and the native government establishes "independence".
Britain is divided into numerous petty states, the Kings of which form a Ruling Council
for Britain. The greatest of the petty Kings is elected High King. Two factions soon
form...the "Celtic" faction, which favors a return to traditional Celtic ways, and the
"Roman" faction, which wants to preserve a Roman society in Britain.

c.410--Irish incursions into Gwynedd, Powys, Dyfed & the Gower Peninsula.

411--Capture, at Arles, of Constantine, last Emperor of Britain. He is executed at
Ravenna soon afterward.

413--Pelagian heresy said to have begun, by Prosper (Tiro) of Aquitaine in his
"Chronicle". Pelagius was a British monk who denied the concept of "original sin," and
argued that mankind has free will, and that salvation is attainable by faith alone and was
not dependent on divine grace. His teachings gain a wide following, primarily in the East
and in Britain and Gaul. His great adversary will be St. Augustine of Hippo, whose
teachings on the subjects of original sin and divine grace will become the canon of the
Catholic Church.

420--Pelagian heresy outlawed in Rome (418), but in Britain, enjoys much support from
"Celtic" faction. The Roman faction supports the Augustinian or "Roman" church.
However, even the "Roman" Church in Britain has some peculiarities of its own
(primarily in the method of reckoning the date of Easter, and in it's decentralized
monastic nature which does not readily admit to the authority of the Pope in Rome) which
will eventually cause it to be in controversy with the Catholic Church in Rome.

c.420--Death of Coel Hen, the last Roman Dux Brittanniarum. The lands of his office in
Northern Britain are divided between his descendants and become petty kingdoms.

c.423--Birth of St. Patrick in Britain.

425--Vortigern, a leader of the "Celtic" faction, usurps the High-Kingship in Britain.

c.425--Cunedda Wledig and his retinue are moved south from Gododdin to Gwynedd in
order to expel the invading Irish.

428--Vortigern invites Germanic warriors (Jutes and Angles) under Hengest and Horsa to
aid him in consolidating his position in Britain. Vortigern uses these mercenaries to put
down local opposition, as well as to repel invading Picts from the north.

429--At the request of Palladius, a British deacon, Pope Celestine I dispatches Bishops
Germanus of Auxerre and Lupus of Troyes to Britain to combat the Pelagian heresy.
While in Britain, Germanus, a former military man, leads the Britons to the so-called
"Hallelujah" victory over the Picts and Scots on the Welsh border.

c. 434--St. Patrick is captured by pirates and taken to Ireland as a slave. At about the same
time, Ambrosius Aurelianus the Younger is born in Brittany. He is the son of Ambrosius
Aurelianus the Elder, who is living in exile in Brittany and is claimed to be the son of
Constantine (the last Emperor of Britain who was executed in 411). Ambrosius the Elder
is held to be the rightful High King by the "Roman" faction in Britain.

c. 435--Bressal Belach, King of Leinster dies.

437--Ambrosius Aurelianus the Elder returns from exile in Brittany and appears as leader
of the "Roman" faction in Britain. Vortigern's relative, Vitalinus (Guitolinus), fights
against Ambrosius at the Battle of Wallop. The latter is victorious and is "given all the
kingdoms of the western side of Britain".

c.440--St. Patrick escapes from his captors and returns to Britain.

c.440-50--Period of Civil War and famine in Britain, caused by ruling council's weakness
and inability to deal with Pictish invasions; the situation is further aggravated by tensions
between the Pelagian and Roman factions of the Church. Most towns and cities are
vacated at this time and fall into ruin. Migration of pro-Roman citizens toward west
begins, and the country is beginning to be divided, geographically, along factional lines.

c.441--The Gallic Chronicle records, prematurely, that "Britain, abandoned by the
Romans, passed into the power of the Saxons."

444 --Foundation of Armagh in Ireland (traditional date).

c. 445-53--Probable activity of Niall Noigiallach, founder of the Ui Neill dynasty. Ui
Neill conquest of the Ulaid begins.

445--Death of Nath I mac Fiachrach of Connacht, 'High' King of Tara.

446--The Britons (probably the pro-Roman party) appeal to Aetius, Roman governor of
Gaul, for military assistance in their struggle against the Picts and the Irish/Scots. No help
could be sent, at this time, as Aetius had his hands full with Attila the Hun.

c.446--Vortigern authorizes the use of German mercenaries (mostly Angles), known as
foederati, for the defence of the northern parts of Britannia against the Picts and to guard
against further Irish incursions. The Angles are given land in Lincolnshire...the nucleus of
what will one day be the Kingdom of Lindsay. Vortigern's sons, Vortimer and Cadeyrn,
recognize the threat posed by their father's policies and go into open revolt against them.

446--Battle of Femen (in Brega) and the death of Mac Cairthinn mac Coelboth, King of
Leinster.

447--Second visit of St. Germanus (this time accompanied by Severus, Bishop of Trier)
to Britain in an attempt to combat the Pelagian heresy. While in Britain, he leads the
British in a successful effort to expel the Irish invaders from Powys. Vortigern is accused
of incest. Battle of Aylesford (Kent) in which the rebellious sons of Vortigern, Vortimer
and Cadeyrn, defeat Hengest and Horsa for the first time. Cadeyrn and Horsa are killed in
the fighting. Shortly afterward, Hengest leaves Britain and returns to his homeland to
recruit more troops. Telling the kings of the Angles, Saxons and Jutes of the "cowardice"
of the Britons, he stirs much interest in migration among those tribes.

c.447--The Britons, aroused to heroic effort by St. Germanus, "inflicted a massacre" on
their enemies, the Picts and Irish, and were left in peace, for a brief time.

c.448--Civil war and plague ravage Britain.

c.450--Hengest arrives on shores of Britain with "3 keels" of warriors, and is welcomed
by Vortigern. Death of Ambrosius Aurelianus the Elder. Ambrosius Aurelianus the
Younger is proclaimed High King by the "Roman" faction. Probable fall of Emain
Machae, the Ulaid Overkingdom to the sons of Niall.

c.452--Increasing Saxon settlement in Britain. Vortigern marries Hengest's daughter,
Rowenna, and offers the Jutish leader the kingdom of Kent. Hengest invites his son,
Octha, from Germany with "16 keels" of warriors (primarily Angles), who occupy the
northern lands, to defend against the Picts. The Picts are never again a threat to Britannia.
These warriors settle down in the British kingdoms of Bryneich and Deywr, where they
will eventually take full control and become the germ of the future kingdoms of Bernicia
and Deira.

c.453--Raids on British towns and cities becoming more frequent. Increasing Saxon
unrest.

455--Prince Vortimer rebels once again against the pro-Saxon policies of his father,
Vortigern, and fights Hengest at the Battle of Crayford. Hengest is victorious and the
British army flees back to London.

c.456--St. Patrick leaves Britain once more to evangelise Ireland. Loegaire mac Neill
celebrates the 'Feast of Tara' and confronts Patrick. In Britain, Hengest massacres 300
leading British noblemen at a phony "peace" conference.

c.458--Saxon uprising in full-swing. Hengest finally conquers Kent, in south-eastern
Britain.

c.458-60--Full-scale migration of British aristocrats and city-dwellers across the English
Channel to Armorica, in north-western Gaul (the "second migration"). The British
contingent is led by "Riothamus" (possibly Prince Vortimer?).

c.459--Vortigern is burnt to death while being besieged by Ambrosius Aurelianus the
Younger at Ganarew.

c.460-70--Ambrosius Aurelianus the Younger of the "Roman" faction takes full control
of Britain. He leads Britons in years of back-and-forth fighting with Saxons. British
strategy is to allow Saxon landings and to then contain them there.

461--Loegaire mac Neill, King of Tara dies.

465--Battle of Wippedsfleet (or Richborough), in which the Britons defeat the Saxons,
but with great slaughter on both sides. The latter are confined to the Isle of Thanet and
there is a respite from fighting "for a long time."

c.465--Future High King Arthur, son of Ambrosius Aurelianus the Younger, born around
this time.

c.466-73--Period of minimal Saxon activity. Re-fortification of ancient hillforts and
construction of the Wansdyke takes place during this time.

c.469--Roman emperor, Anthemius, appeals to the Britons for military help against the
Visigoths. Reliable accounts by Sidonius Apolonaris and Jordanes name the leader of the
12,000 man Breton force as "Riothamus" (Vortimer?). The bulk of the British force was
wiped out in battle against Euric, the Visigothic king, and the survivors, including
"Riothamus," vanished and were never heard from, again.

c. 470-480--High King Ambrosius Aurelianus establishes a system of garrison sites for
local defense of the areas threatened by the Saxons. The units based at the sites are known
as "Ambrosiaci," and the garrison sites would, in OTL, eventually become the towns of
Amesbury, Ambersham, the two towns Amberley, Amberstone, Amsbury, the two towns
of Amberland, Ambersury Banks, Emberdon, Amberden, and Ambyrmede. This barrier
will prove effective in containing the Saxons for many years.

c.471-- The army of King Ceretic of Strathclyde raids the Irish Coast and carries off some
of St. Patrick's new flock and sells them into slavery. The king receives a written
reprimand from the Irish Evangelist.

473--Men of Kent, under Hengest, move westward, driving Britons back before them "as
one flees fire."

477--Saxon chieftain, Aelle, lands on Sussex coast with his sons. The Britons engage him
upon landing but his superior force besieges them at Pevensey and drives them into the
Weald. Over next nine years, Saxon coastal holdings are gradually expanded in Sussex.

c. 480--Icel, King of the Angles, migrates to Britain. He settles in what will later become
East Anglia, and his descendants will later form various sub-kingdoms in the region.

c.485-96--Prince Arthur is appointed "Dux Bellorum," or commander in chief of the
British armies in the service of High King Ambrosius Aurelianus. Period of Arthur's
"twelve battles" during which he gains a reputation for invincibility. Arthur supplements
his father's static defense strategy by developing a mobile force composed of both light
cavalry (shield, sword and javelin) and medium armored cavalry (leather armor, shields,
armed with swords and spears) which he uses to great effect in these campaigns.

486--Aelle and his sons overreach their normal territory and are engaged by the Britons at
battle of Mercredesburne. The battle is bloody, but indecisive, and ends with both sides
pledging friendship.

487-- Ailill Molt mac Nath I is killed at the battle of Ochae and the Ui Neill seize the
Kingship of Tara.

488—Hengest, King of Kent, dies. His son, Aesc, takes over as King of Kent.

489--Battle of Granard where Finchad mac Garrchon, King of Leinster is defeated and
killed by Coirpre mac Neill, King of Tara.

c490s-- Fergus Mor mac Erc moves the seat of the Dal Riata kingdom from Ulster to
Argyll in Britain.

493--Death of St. Patrick. By the time of his death, Patrick has firmly established the
church in Ireland. Like the British church from which Patrick came, the Irish church
differs from "Roman" practice in its method of calculating the date of Easter, its method
of baptism, and other procedural methods. And, like British Christianity, the Irish church
is primarily monastic, and not organized into dioceses under the control of bishops, in
contrast to the Roman practice.

c.495--The Saxons under Cerdic and his son, Cynric, land on the south coast, probably
near the Hampshire-Dorset border, where they establish the beginnings of the Kingdom
of Wessex. Also at about this time, High King Ambrosius Aurelianus the Younger dies.
Prince Arthur is proclaimed High King. In Ireland, the second battle of Granard is
fought, in which Froech mac Findchado, King of Leinster is defeated and killed by Echu
mac Coirpri.

c.496--The Siege of Mons Badonicus (Mount Badon, or Badon Hill). The Britons, under
the command of High King Arthur, decisively defeat the Saxons, commanded by King
Aelle of Sussex.

c.496-550--Following the victory at Mons Badonicus, the Saxon advance is halted with
the invaders returning to their own enclaves. A generation of peace ensues, which High
King Arthur uses to consolidate his rule and to rebuild his kingdom. He forces the Ruling
Council to pass several laws, including a law that establishes the succession of the High
Kingship and places it permanently in the House of Ambrosius. Another law establishes
the rule of primogeniture for all the ruling houses of Britain. This eliminates the practice
of dividing the local kingdoms among all the sons of a deceased ruler, a practice which
has been leading to greater and greater fragmentation of Britain and civil war as the
inheritors of the fragments of each kingdom try to reunite the kingdom under their own
rule. In an effort to increase the defensibility of the various sub-kingdoms, Arthur forcibly
consolidates many of the smaller, less defensible sub-kingdoms with the larger parent
kingdoms from which they had been split off prior to the passage of the primogeniture
law, in the process dispossessing a number of minor British royal families. After having
done so, he forces the Ruling Council to pass another law which fixes the boundaries of
the individual sub-kingdoms and makes it an act of rebellion against the High King for
individual sub-kingdoms to war against each other. Arthur has a system of boundary
stones installed to prevent any misinterpretations of the boundaries fixed by the new law.
Arthur also encourages resettlement of the abandoned towns in the kingdom, and brings
in artisans from the Continent who help the British re-establish important industries such
as metal-working, pottery-making, and weaving. There will soon be a thriving woolens
industry in Britain which exports to the Continent, enriching Arthur's realm.

c. 500-17--King Cadwallon Lawhir of Gwynedd expels the Irish from Anglesey.

c. 500--At about this time High King Arthur marries Princess Gwenhwyfar (Guinevere),
daughter of King Lleudd-Ogrfan of Camulod, a kingdom with an important position
separating the Angles in the north from the Saxons and Jutes of the south. High King
Arthur further cements his control of this vital region by appointing Medraut, his nephew
(Medraut is the son of King Lot of Goddodin...a leader of the "Celtic" faction...and
Arthur's sister) and next in line to the High Kingship (as Arthur has, at this point, no son
of his own) to command of the important fortress at Domnoc (Walton Castle, on the
peninsula between the Deben and Orwell rivers). Over time, unknown to the High King,
Medraut establishes friendly relations with the Angles he is supposed to be keeping watch
upon.

501-- Death of Fergus Mor of Dal Riata (or Dalriada). He is succeeded by his son
Domangart.

508--King Cerdic of Wessex begins to move inland and defeats the local British king,
Nudd-Lludd (Natanleod), at the Battle of Netley. But Cerdic is unable to expand
significantly inland from his original holdings.

509--The Battle of Llongborth (possibly Langport or Portsmouth), where King Gerren
Llyngesoc of Dumnonia, was killed.

510--High King Arthur and Queen Gwenhwyfar have a son, who is named Constantius
Artorianus Ambrosius. There is now a Crown Prince for the realm. Medraut begins to
plot rebellion.

510-517--Medraut negotiates with the leaders of the "Celtic" faction and with King Icel of
the Angles for support in his planned rebellion against Arthur. He secretly gathers a
coalition of allies in support of his claim to the High Kingship. He wins the support of the
"Celtic" faction by promising to rescind the primogeniture law, which has been bitterly
resented, and promises the Angles additional lands.

512--Aesc, King of Kent, dies. Octa ascends the throne.

c.515--Death of Aelle. Kingdom of Sussex passed to his son, Cissa.

516--Battle of Druin Derge and the final victory of the Ui Neill which takes the midlands
of Ireland from Leinster.

517--Revolt of Medraut. Battle of Camlann between the forces of High King Arthur and
those of Medraut. Arthur is victorious, and although grievously wounded, survives the
battle. Medraut is killed, and his army is scattered.

517 - Death of King Cadwallon Lawhir of Gwynedd. His son, Maelgwn takes the throne.

517-25 - King Maelgwn of Gwynedd rallies the remnants of Medraut's coalition, invades
Dyfed and tries to assert himself as High-King of Britain, which he is temporarily and
partially successful in doing while High King Arthur recovers from his wounds.
However, when Arthur recovers, he leads an army into Gwynedd and Maelgwn is
defeated. He is captured and executed in 525. The victorious Arthur now claims the right
to confiscate the kingdom of Gwynedd and to remove it's rebellious royal family from
power. Henceforth, Arthur declares, Gwynedd will be the personal land of the Crown
Prince of the realm. Despite some dissent within the Ruling Council, this claim is finally
accepted as valid. Crown Prince Constantius is accordingly installed as King of Gwynedd
shortly after Maelgwn's execution. Thus, Arthur establishes the principle that the realms
of local kings who rebel against the High King are forfeit to the High King, who may
claim them as his personal lands or grant them to a ruler of his choice. This, over time,
will serve to increase the power of the High King and reduce the propensity of local kings
to rebel against the central government. Arthur also is able to negotiate a treaty with Icel
of the Angles, which fix the boundaries of Icel’s lands. Icel and his descendants
acknowledge the British High King as overlord, and they will respect this treaty for many
years, even after Icel’s realm is divided into the Kingdoms of East Anglia, Middle Anglia,
and Lindsay later in the century.

519 - Kingdom of the West Saxons (Wessex) founded with Cerdic its first ruler.

527—Kingdom of Essex founded under King Aescwine.

528-535--In the preceding decades, many Angles have migrated peacefully from their
coastal enclaves into the region known as Caer Lerion. By 528 the Angles form a majority
population in the area, and rebel against the local King, overthrowing him and
establishing the Kingdom of Mercia. This kingdom forms a dangerous salient, driven
deep into the heart of Arthur's realm. Arthur recognizes the danger, and organizes a
campaign to reclaim the area. After several hard-fought battles, the Britons are victorious,
and the British ravage the area, driving out or slaughtering most of the Angles. Since the
ruling house of Caer Lerion was killed during the Angle revolt, Arthur claims the realm
as his own, and Caer Lerion becomes a land under hereditary direct rule by the High
King.

530--The British of the Isle of Wight are defeated by King Cerdic of Wessex at the Battle
of Carisbrooke. The Isle of Wight becomes part of Wessex. Crown Prince Constantius
marries.

c. 530—King Icel of the Angles dies. Kingdom of East Anglia founded, with Wehha as
it’s ruler. Kingdoms of Middle Anglia and Lindsay also founded about this time. All three
kingdoms acknowledge the British High King as overlord.

533--A son is born to Crown Prince Constantius. The boy is named Artorius
Constantianus Ambrosius.

534--Death of Cerdic. Cynric ascends the throne of Wessex. Muirchertach Mac Ercae,
King of Tara, dies.

537--Death of High King Arthur. Crown Prince Constantius succeeds to the High
Kingship. The new Crown Prince Artorius is installed as King of Gwynedd.

 

[EvolvedSaurian]

The first segment of the timeline itself will be posted next....

I'll wait until I post then. Oops, too late.

I can't wait, you've got me all excited.

 

[robertp6165]

PART TWO: 537-600 A.D. (From the death of High King Arthur I to the accession of High King Cadwaladyr).

540—King Octa of Kent dies. Eormenric ascends the throne.

544-- Assassination of Tuathal Malegarb, King of Tara.

c.545--The Synod of Brefi is held at Llandewi Brefi to condemn the Pelagian heresy.

547—The Angles, under a chieftain named Ida, overthrow the kingdom of Bryneich and
expel King Morgan Bulc, who flees to Gododdin. Foundation of the Kingdom of
Bernicia.

549--The "Yellow" Plague (part of the wider “Plague of Justinian” which devastated large
parts of Europe and the Middle East during the time period) hits British territories,
causing many deaths. Ireland also affected. The Angles, Saxons, and Jutes, for whatever
reason, are mostly unaffected by it. British defenses are severely weakened, and the
invaders will take advantage to expand their realms in the intervening years. However,
the High King’s mobile cavalry force remains in being, and thus the British are able to
more effectively resist than in OTL.

550-570--Expansion of the Kingdoms of Wessex, Essex, Deira and Bernicia at the
expense of the Britons during the chaos following the Yellow Plague, but not as much as
OTL due to more effective British resistance.

552--King Cynric of Wessex lays siege to the British at the hill fort of Old Sarum in
Dwrn Gwarae and put them to flight. In the wake of this victory, Wessex over-runs the
kingdoms of Dwrn Gwarae and Caer Gwinntguic.

556--King Cynric of Wessex lays siege to the British at Barbury Castle, in Caer Gloui,
but High King Constantius arrives with the mobile cavalry force and the Saxons are
defeated. Cynric and Constantius agree to a treaty fixing the boundaries of Wessex, which
Cynric will respect to the end of his days.

557-559—King Cynric of Wessex wars against King Eormenric of Kent, pushing the
Jutes back to the a line nearly equivalent to the modern borders of Kent.

557—King Sawyl Penuchel of The Peak dies without a male heir. His only daughter is
married to a Prince of Elmet. Elmet absorbs The Peak, which ceases to exist.

558--St. Brendan the Voyager founds Clonfert.

559--Death of King Ida of Bernicia. His kingdom is divided among his sons…Glappa,
Adda, Aethelric, Theodric, and Frithuwald, all of whom claim the supreme kingship of
Bernicia at different times during the next quarter century.

559--Angles under the leadership of a chieftain named Aelle overthrow the Kingdom of
Deywr, killing it’s last king. Aelle becomes the first ruler of the new Kingdom of Deira.

560—Death of King Cynric of Wessex. Caewlin ascends the throne. Death of King
Eormenric of Kent. Aethelbert I ascends the throne.

c. 560—Death of King Cissa of Sussex. Aelle II ascends the throne.

c. 560-561--Battle of Cul Dreimne, Diarmait mac Cerbail defeated by the Columba's
Northern Ui Neill.

561--Columba, an Irish churchman, exiles himself from Ireland, and goes to Iona, a small
Island (three miles by one and a half) just off a larger Island called Mull, off the West
coast of Scotland. He takes with him twelve disciples in a hide-skin craft, and sails across
the North Sea. They land at Port na Curaich (Harbour of the Coracle), on the southern tip
of Iona.

562--Asecond phase of Northern Ui Neill expansion into Ulster begins; Battle of Moin
Dairi Lothair won by the Northern Ui Neill over the Cruthin of the Ulaid.

c. 563--Columba founds a monastery on Iona and begins conversion of the Picts to
Christianity.

564--Aed Dub mac Suibne, King of the Uslter , defeats and killed Diarmait mac Cerbaill,
King of Tara.

565—King Gwenddolew of Caer Luel dies without a male heir. He has three daughters,
one of which is married to a prince of Rheged, the second to a prince of Gododdin, and
the third to a prince of Strathclyde. To prevent a civil war, High King Constantius
arbitrates, and the kingdom of Caer Luel is divided between the kings of Gododdin,
Rheged and Strathclyde. Caer Luel ceases to exist. In Ireland, Ainmere son of Setna
becomes High King at Tara.

567--Colman Bec, son of Diarmait mac Cerbaill joins Connall mac Comgall, King of
Dalriada on a raid to the Hebrides.

568--Murder of Ainmere, son of Setna, High King of Tara, by Fergus son of Nellen.

569--St. David holds the Synod of Victoria to denounce the Pelagian heresy once more.
High King Constantius dies, and Crown Prince Artorius succeeds to the High Kingship,
calling himself Arthur II.

570--A son is born to High King Arthur II. In an effort to finally unite the "Roman" and
"Celtic" factions firmly behind his rule, Arthur II has married a princess of Gododdin, one
of the strongholds of the "Celtic" faction. He gives his new son the name of Cadwaladyr
Artorianus Ambrosius, as a symbol of the unity of the factions. Crown Prince Cadwaladyr
is installed as King of Gwynedd. Also in this year, High King Arthur II orders the British
church to send missionaries into the lands of the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes. These are
well received in those kingdoms which acknowledge the British High King as overlord,
but missionaries are murdered by the pagans in other areas, including Wessex, Bernicia,
Deira and Kent. Missionaries to Sussex and Essex are not murdered outright, but receive
a cool reception.

570—The King of Gallgaedhel dies childless. The nearest male claimant to the throne is
the King of Strathclyde, who is descended from the daughter of a previous king of
Gallgaedhel. High King Arthur II approves the union of the two kingdoms, and
Gallgaedhel ceases to exist as a separate kingdom.

c.570-75--The Northern British Alliance is forged between the kingdoms of Rheged,
Strathclyde, Gododdin, Eborac and Elmet.

571--King Caewlin of Wessex invades Midland Britain, violating the Treaty of Barbury,
and defeats King Cadrod of Calchvynedd at the Battle of Bedford. However, High King
Arthur II arrives with the mobile cavalry force and the Saxons are forced to retreat back to
their own territory. King Wehha of East Anglia dies, and his son Wuffa ascends the
throne. Shortly after taking power, King Wuffa becomes the first of the heathen kings to
convert to Christianity.

571-587--Angry over the breach of the Treaty of Barbury by Caewlin of Wessex, High
King Arthur II decides to eliminate the threat of Wessex once and for all. Arthur
concludes an alliance with King Aelle II of Sussex (a bitter rival of Wessex) and, in a
campaign that sees many battles, Arthur II first reclaims Dwrn Gwarae and Caer
Gwinntguic, then invades Wessex itself. By 587, the Saxons of Wessex have been totally
defeated. The British (as they earlier did in Caer Lerion) ravage the land, slaughtering or
putting to flight the Saxon inhabitants. Most of the Saxons flee to Sussex, Kent, and
Essex. King Caewlin and the remaining members of the Wessex royal house establish
themselves on the Isle of Wight, where they will make themselves a nuisance by raiding
and other piratical activity for many years. The conquered territory is divided between
Sussex and the British High King, who claims the territory as his personal land by right of
conquest.

572-592--Cruithin Beatan mac Cairell , King of Ulster and 'High King' of Tara.

573—The kings of Middle Anglia and Lindsay follow the example of Wuffa of East
Anglia, and convert to Christianity.

574--Death of King Conall mac Comgall of Dalriada who granted Iona to Columba;
Columba conscrates Aeddan mac Gabran king of Dalriada.

575--Prince Owein of Rheged kills King Theodric of Bernicia at the Battle of Leeming
Lane. Convention of Drum Cett between Aed mac Ainmerch, King of the Northern Ui
Neill and Aeddan mac Gabran of Dalriada in which St. Columba negoitates an alliance.

578—King Wuffa of East Anglia dies. Tyttla ascends the throne.

577--Baedan of Ulster claims the Isle of Man. Death of St. Brendan the Voyager of
Clonfert.

580--The army of King Peredyr of Eborac marches north to fight the Angles of Bernicia.
King Adda’s forces kill Peredyr in battle and destroy most of his army. The Deirans,
under King Aelle, take advantage of the temporary weakness of Eborac, and move on the
city of Eborac (York) itself. King Peredyr's son is forced to flee the Kingdom. Deira and
Bernicia swallow up most of Eborac shortly afterward (Elmet and Rheged take the rest),
and Eborac ceases to exist. Battle of King Aeddan mac Gabran of Dalriada in the
Orkneys.

582-- Battle of Manu (Isle of Man) won by King Aeddan mac Gabran of Dalriada.

585—King Adda of Bernicia dies. Hussa ascends to the throne of the reunited kingdom.

587 onward--Arthur II follows the example of his grandfather and namesake and
encourages British re-settlement and development of the newly re-conquered lands of
Dwrn Gwarae and Caer Gwinntguic. The addition of these lands to the personal holdings
of the British High King gives him a substantial independent tax base which he can
exploit to rebuild his kingdom and to maintain and expand his military.

587—King Aescwine of Essex dies, and Sledda ascends the throne. In the wake of their
joint victory over Wessex, King Aelle II of Sussex acknowledges the British High King
as overlord and converts to Christianity.

588--In this year, a British monk sent as ambassador from the High King to the Pope in
Rome sees Lombard cavalry clad in chain mail and armed with sword, lance, and shield.
The monk reports his observations to High King Arthur II, and Arthur decides to add a
force of mail-armored cavalry to his mobile cavalry force, which will be accomplished
over the next several years.

588-626-- Cruithin Fiachnae mac Beatain becomes King of Ulster and 'high king' of
Ireland.

589—King Aelle of Deira dies. Aethelric ascends the throne.

590--The Siege of Lindisfarne. The Northern British Alliance (Gododdin, Rheged,
Strathclyde, and Elmet) makes an alliance with King Aethelric of Deira and lays siege to
King Hussa of Bernicia. The combined British/Deiran force almost exterminates the
Bernicians from Northern Britain. King Urien of Rheged (who has been given the title of
Dux Britanniarum and overall command of the Northern British armies by High King
Arthur II) is assassinated by a jealous rival. The allies begin to squabble among
themselves, and the siege is abandoned. The Bernicians are given a respite to recover.

590--High King Arthur II has completed his upgrade of the mobile cavalry force. The
force now consists of approximately 2,000 men. About 800 of these are light cavalry with
shields, swords, and javelins; about 700 are medium cavalry armored in leather armor,
with small shields, swords, and either spears or javelins; and slightly over 500 are the new
heavy cavalry, clad in chain mail, with large round shields, swords, and lances.

591—King Caewlin of Wessex (Wight) dies. Ceol ascends the throne.

593—King Hussa of Bernicia dies. Aethelfrith ascends the throne. King Tyttla of East
Anglia dies. Raedwald ascends the throne.

595--A son is born to Crown Prince Cadwaladyr. Influenced by his mother and his wife,
both of whom are from traditionally "Celtic-faction" lands, and recognizing the general
trends in his Kingdom (which has evolved culturally farther and farther away from
Roman ways over the years), Cadwaladyr has abandoned the old custom of giving Roman
names to his children. Accordingly, the boy is named simply Hywel ap Cadwaladyr of the
House of Ambrosius.

597—King Ceol of Wessex (Wight) dies. Ceolwulf ascends the throne. Bishop Augustine
arrives in Kent, on a mission from Pope Gregory in Rome to convert the heathen Saxons.
He is also charged with bringing the “heretical” British church (which maintains it’s own
independent hierarchy of Bishops and calculates the date of Easter differently than does
the church at Rome) under the authority of Rome. Augustine lands in Kent and is
welcomed by King Aethelbert whose Frankish Queen is already a Christian practicing at
her church of St. Martin's, Canterbury. Augustine converts Aethelbert and his court to
Christianity and founds a monastery at Canterbury. Commencement of the erection of a
monastery at St. Augustine's, Canterbury, built from the Roman ruins of the old city. Also
in this year, St. Columba of Iona dies.

598 - King Cynan of Gododdin, who has been named the new Dux Britanniarum by High
King Arthur II, leads the Northern British armies to fight Bernicia at the Battle of
Catterick. The British are victorious, and soon afterward lay siege to the Bernician King
Aethelfrith at his stronghold of Bamburgh. High King Arthur II brings his mobile forces
to join the assault, and Bamburgh falls. Aethelfrith is killed, and the Kingdom of Bernicia
is eliminated from the map of Britain. The lands are divided between the High King and
the kings of Gododdin, Elmet, Strathclyde and Rheged. The High King’s portion is
named the province of Bryneich and Eborac. Battle of Dun Bolg in which Brandub mac
Echach, King of Leinster, was killed by Aed mac Ainmerech, the Ui Neill High King.

600—High King Arthur II dies. Crown Prince Cadwaladyr ascends to the throne. Crown
Prince Hywel is installed as King of Gwynedd.

 

[Tom_B]

A much better map than the one in the recent film version of Tristan and Isolde.

 

[robertp6165]

Here is the second map for Part Two...showing the situation in 590 A.D.

 

[robertp6165]

Here is the third map for Part Two, showing the situation in 600 A.D.

 

[robertp6165]

PART THREE: 600-700 A.D. (From the accession of High King Cadwaladyr to the accession of High King Arthur III).

601--King Aelle II of Sussex dies, and Aethelwulf ascends the throne. Like his father, he
has converted to Christianity and on his succession he accepts the British High King as
his overlord.

602--St. Augustine of Canterbury meets with the Welsh Bishops at Aust near Chepstow.
He accuses them of acting contrary to Church teachings, failing to keep Easter at the
prescribed Roman time and not administering baptism according to the Roman rite. He
also insists that they look to Canterbury as their spiritual centre. The Welsh tactfully
decline. Augustine is proclaimed Archbishop of Canterbury and commences the erection
of his stone-built Cathedral.

604 - The Welsh Bishops meet for a second time with St. Augustine of Canterbury. He
neglects to rise to greet them, lectures them again and insists they submit to him. The
Welsh send him packing and refuse to recognise the authority of a church under such a
disrespectful bishop. Death of King Sledda of Essex. He is succeeded by his son, Saebert.
King Saebert is persuaded to convert to Christianity through the intervention of his uncle,
King Aethelbert of Kent. The See of Essex is founded. King Aethelric of Deira dies, and
Edwin ascends the throne. The joint High-Kings of Tara, Coman Rimid and Aed Slaine,
and Aed Roin, King of Ui Failgi, are assassinated.

605--Death of Bishop Augustine of Canterbury. He is buried in St. Augustine's Abbey,
Canterbury and later revered as a saint. He is succeeded by St. Laurence of Canterbury.

c. 608--Aeddan son of Gabran of Dalriada dies, ascension of his son Eochaid Find as king
may have preceeded his death.

611--King Ceolwulf of Wessex (Wight) dies. Cynegils ascends the throne.

613--The stone Abbey Church at St. Augustine's Abbey, Canterbury is completed and
dedicated to St. Peter and St. Paul.

616--Death of Kings Aethelbert of Kent and Saebert of Essex. The former is succeeded
by his pagan son, Eadbald, who promptly marries his step-mother, in accordance with
pre-Christian custom. However, before the end of the year, Eadbald is persuaded to
convert to Christianity by St. Laurence, Archbishop of Canterbury. In Essex, Saebert's
realm is divided among his sons, Sexred, Saeward and Sexbald, who also throw out the
Christian missionaries and return to paganism.

617--Joint Kings Sexred, Saeward, and Sexbald of Essex all die this year, and the
kingship of Essex falls to Sigebehrt I. Also in this year, King Raedwald of East Anglia
dies, and is succeeded by Eni.

617--King Cynegils of Wessex forges an alliance with King Eadbald of Kent and King
Sigebehrt of Essex. The allies attack King Aethelwulf of Sussex, who they regard as a
traitor because he has accepted the overlordship of the British High King, and their
combined armies defeat Aethelwulf's forces in battle. Aethelwulf and the survivors of his
force take refuge in the old Roman Saxon Shore fortress at Pevensey, where they are
besieged. However, Aethelwulf manages to get a message off to High King Cadwaladyr,
requesting assistance. Cadwaladyr arrives with the British mobile cavalry force (as well
as the armies of the kings of Dumnonina, Dobunnia, and Calchvynydd). The British raise
the siege and scatter the Saxon/Jutish allies. Cadwaladyr follows up with a punitive raid
which ravages large sections of Kent and Essex. King Eadbald of Kent and Sigebehrt of
Essex sue for peace, and a treaty is signed on Christmas Day, A.D. 617. The King of
Essex and the King of Kent both acknowledge the British High King as overlord, and
Sigebehrt of Essex converts to Christianity. Cynegils of Wessex flees back to the Isle of
Wight.

617--King Edwin of Deira invades Elmet. King Ceretic of Elmet is killed in the fighting,
and Elmet is ravaged. The Dux Brittaniarum (King Cynan of Gododdin) rallies the
northern British armies, and invades Deira. However, the northern British armies are
defeated by Edwin at Eborac (York) and forced to retreat, with King Cynan being killed
in the battle. Deira absorbs Elmet.

618-619--King Cynegils of Wessex (Wight) makes repeated incursions into Dwrn
Gwarae and Caer Gwinntguic, burning, looting, and plundering. High King Cadwaladyr
is kept busy campaigning against these raiders, and as a result is unable to intervene in the
events transpiring in the north of the kingdom, or at least not immediately. Finally, in the
autumn of the year A.D. 619, Cadwaladyr manages to catch Cynegils and his Saxon
raiders before they can flee to their ships. Cynegils is killed, and most of his army is
slaughtered. Wessex (Wight) experiences a period of civil war as various members of the
royal family try to take the kingship, and will not be a problem for several years.

618-619--With the British northern armies in disarray following the defeat at Eborac,
Edwin follows up with campaigns against Gododdin, Strathclyde, and Rheged, taking
land from all three kingdoms. However, he is unable to decisively defeat any of them as
he earlier did with Elmet. Finally, in 620, he invades and over-runs the High King's
province of Eborac. Deira is now the largest kingdom on the island.

618--King Eni of East Anglia dies, and is succeeded by Eorpwald.

619--Death of St. Laurence of Canterbury. He is succeeded by Mellitus.

620-625--In response to the aggression of King Edwin, High King Cadwaladyr decides to
eliminate the threat posed by Deira. Accordingly, he has taken several actions. First, he
has appointed King Neithon of Strathclyde as the new Dux Brittaniarum, and ordered him
to reorganize the northern British armies. Second, Cadwaladyr himself leads the mobile
cavalry force northward. Third, he calls on his vassals, the kings of East Anglia, Middle
Anglia and Lindsay to send troops to join the British armies, which they do. In repeated
campaigns over the next several years, the combined armies invade Edwin's realm from
the north and the south, forcing Edwin back into the interior of Deira. In the final
campaign (A.D. 625), the armies converge on Edwin's capital of Eborac (York). Edwin is
heavily outnumbered, and retreats to his citadel, where he is besieged and eventually
forced to surrender. In contrast to former practice, High King Cadwaladyr shows mercy
to his defeated foe, offering him the choice of converting to Christianity and accepting the
British High King as overlord, or exile. Edwin chooses exile, and flees to the court of
King Eadbald of Kent. Part of the conquered Deiran territory is given to the Kings of
Strathclyde, Gododdin and Rheged, while High King Cadwaladyr takes Elmet and a part
of the old kingdom of Eborac for his own. Angles living in these areas are given the
same option given to King Edwin...convert to Christianity and accept the British High
King as overlord, or leave. Most convert and stay, while the rest go with King Edwin
into exile. The Kingdom of Deira (now much much reduced in size) is given to Sigebert,
brother of King Eorpwald of East Anglia, who accepts High King Cadwaladyr as
overlord.

624--Death of Archbishop Mellitus of Canterbury. He is succeeded by Justus.

625-700--Period of relative peace and prosperity in Britannia. High Kings Cadwaladyr,
Hywel, Rhodri, and Arthur III, following the example of their illustrious ancestor, Arthur
I, use this period to rebuild and strengthen their kingdom. Areas ravaged by the recent
wars are resettled, many towns are re-occupied, and new towns founded. Also during this
time, dynastic marriages will merge the small kingdoms in what is, in OTL, Wales. By
the end of the period only Dyfed, Powys, Gwynedd and Pengwern will remain. High King
Cadwaladyr will sign new treaties with all of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms except Wessex
(Wight) in the years immediately following his victory over Deira which will make them
permanent vassals of the British High King, who will now have the right to approve or
disapprove the succession in each kingdom.

626--King Edwin, the exiled ruler of Deira, is converted to Christianity by St. Justus at
the court of King Eadbald of Kent.

627--A son is born to Crown Prince Hywel. The boy is named Rhodri ap Hywel of the
House of Ambrosius. Death of Archbishop Justus of Canterbury. He is succeeded by
Honorius. In Ireland, King Failbe Fland of Cashel defeats Guaire Aidni of Connacht at
the Battle of Carn Feradaid.

628--King Eorpwald of East Anglia dies, and is succeeded by Ricbert. Pope Honorius
addresses the Irish over the Easter Controversy.

630-631--Southern Ireland conforms to Roman church practices at the Synod of Mag
Lene but sends a mission to Rome over the Easter calculations the following year.

631--King Ricbert of East Anglia dies, and is succeeded by Egric.

633--Edwin, former king of Deira, dies in Kent. Faelan mac Colman becomes King of
Leinster; he is an ancestor of the Ui Dunalige dynasty.

634--King Sigebert of Deira dies childless. With the approval of High King Cadwaladyr,
Osric, kinsman of the defeated King Edwin and senior surviving member of the Deiran
royal house, is permitted to take the throne. However, Osric dies later that same year, and
is succeeded by his son Oswine. Both Osric and Oswine have converted to Christianity in
Kent, and they both swear allegiance to the British High King as overlord as a condition
of being allowed to return to the throne of Deira.

635--King Egric of East Anglia dies, and is succeeded by Anna (nephew of Raedwald).

637--High King Domnall mac Aedo of the Ui Neill defeated a combined army from the
Ulaid and Dalriada at the Battle of Mag Rath. Congal Cloe, King of Ulster and rival for
the Kingship of Tara is killed, Domnall Brecc of Dalriada escapes.

640--High King Cadwaladyr invites Archbishop Honorius to visit him at his court, and
Honorius accepts. They discuss the religious divisions on the island (the Roman Church
vs. the British Church vs. pagan and Pelagian remnants) and agree that something must
be done to resolve them. High King Cadwaladyr agrees to call a Synod for the following
year to discuss these issues. Also in this year, Pope-elect John IV writes to the Irish about
the Easter Controversy and Pelagianism. Also in this year, the King of Middle Anglia dies
without heirs. The closest male claimant is King Biscop of Lindsay, and the two
kingdoms are joined. Also in this year, King Eadbald of Kent dies, and is succeeded by
Earconbert.

641--At the behest of High King Cadwaladyr, the Synod of Durocobrivis is held at the
capitol of the Kingdom of Calchvynydd. Archbishop Honorius of Canterbury confronts
the assembled Bishops of the British Celtic Church, as well as a delegation from the Irish
monastery at Iona. High King Cadwaladyr listens to the arguments of all sides, and makes
a decision that satisfies nobody completely. He agrees that the British church should
adopt the Roman method of calculating the date of Easter and the Roman method of
Baptism, bringing the British Church into line with the practice of most of Christendom.
Furthermore, the British church will accept the nominal overlordship of the Pope in
Rome. However, he rules that the British Church will not accept the overlordship of the
Archbishop of Canterbury. Honorius is not happy, but is glad to have the concessions
regarding procedural matters, and grudgingly accepts the compromise.

642 -King Owen of Strathclyde halts Scottish expansion by killing King Domnal Brecc of
Dalriada at the Battle of Strathcarron. Also in this year, King Aethelwulf of Sussex dies,
and is succeeded by his son Ecgbert. Domnall mac Aedo 'King of Ireland' dies.

643--Cenwalh, son of Cynegils of Wessex, finally wins the struggle for power over
Wessex (Wight) and is crowned king.

c.645 - Gwynedd and much of Wales is in the grasp of famine. King Biscop of Lindsay
dies, and he is succeeded by his son, who rules as King Bede.

649--Diarmait mac Aedo Slaine was defeated by Guaire Aidni, King of Connacht at the
Battle of Carn Conaill.

650--Crown Prince Rhodri is married to a fair maiden named Hildegard, the only child
and heiress of King Bede of Lindsay.

651--High King Cadwaladyr dies. Crown Prince Hywel ascends the throne. Prince
Rhodri is installed as King of Gwynedd. King Oswine of Deira dies childless later that
same year. There being no remaining male heirs of the House of Deira, the kingdom is
given by High King Hywel to Aethelhere, brother of King Anna of East Anglia.

653--King Sigebehrt I of Essex dies. He is succeeded by Sigebehrt II.

654--King Anna of East Anglia dies and is succeeded by his brother, Aethelwold.

655--Death of Archbishop Honorius of Canterbury. He is succeeded by Deusdedit. Also
in this year, a son is born to Crown Prince Rhodri. The new prince is named Arthur ap
Rhodri of the House of Ambrosius.

655-664 - Plague devastates Gwynedd.

660--High King Hywel dies, and is succeeded by Crown Prince Rhodri. The new Crown
Prince Arthur is installed as King of Gwynedd. Also in this year, King Sigebehrt II of
Essex dies, and is succeeded by Swithhelm.

664--King Aethelwold of East Anglia dies. He is succeeded by Ealdwulf. Also in this
year, King Earconbert of Kent dies, and is succeeded by Ecgbert.

664-668--A Great Plague in Ireland and Britain.

665--King Swithhelm of Essex dies. He is succeeded by Sebbi. Also in this year, King
Ecgbert of Sussex dies and is succeeded by Walda.

669-690--Theodore of Tarsus, Archbishop of Canterbury.

c. 668-730--Irish government gradually changes from tribal to dynastic.

670--King Bede of Lindsay dies. High King Rhodri inherits the kingdom, which
becomes a personal land of the High King. King Aethehere of Deira dies. He is
succeeded by his son, Beorna. As did his father before him, he swears allegiance to the
British High King as overlord.

c. 670-690--Irish primacy is established at Armagh and the first works on St. Patrick are
written.

672--Archbishop Theodore of Canterbury writes to High King Rhodri, protesting against
the irregular practices of the Celtic church in Britannia, which have persisted despite the
ruling of High King Cadwaladyr at the Synod of Durocobrivis in 641. Rhodri calls the
Synod of Caerfawydd (OTL Hereford), in the Kingdom of Caer Gloui, where Archbishop
Theodore confronts the British Bishops and demands their adherence to the agreement
reached at the Synod of Durocobrivis. The British Bishops flatly refuse these demands,
and unlike his father, High King Rhodri declines to intervene and issue a summary ruling.
Both sides angrily storm out of the meeting, and an effective schism is thus made
between the Roman and British churches from that day forward.

672-688--Cenwalh of Wessex (Wight) dies childless in A.D. 672. Another struggle for
power ensues between his queen, Seaxburh, and various male descendants of previous
kings Ceolwulf and Caewlin and Cyengils. The struggle will go on until A.D. 688, and
will bring to power, in succession....Seaxburh (672-674); Cenfus, (line of Ceolwulf, 674);
Aescwine (son of Cenfus, 674-676); Centwine (son of Cynegils, 676-685); and Caedwalla
(line of Ceawlin, 685-688).

673--King Ecgbert of Kent dies, and is succeeded by Hlothere.

675-695--The Baile Chuind, the first king list of Tara, is composed during the reign of
Finsnechtae Fledach.

683-685--Plague ravages Ireland for three years.

685-690--King Hlothere of Kent dies in A.D. 685. Kent experiences a brief period of
civil war while various claimants to the throne vie for control.

685--King Walda of Sussex dies and is succeeded by Berhthun.

688--King Caedwalla of Wessex (Wight) dies. He is succeeded by Ine, who will rule
over a relatively peaceful kingdom until A.D. 726.

690--Wihtraed ascends the throne of Kent, ending the period of civil war and
re-establishing the dynasty of Hengest on the throne. Also in this year, Ine of Wessex
(Wight) is converted to Christianity by a British monk named Cynan, who is acting as
ambassador at Ine's court from High King Rhodri. Ine also accepts the British High King
as overlord following his conversion. All Anglo-Saxon kingdoms in Britannia are now
Christian, and vassals of the British High King.

695--King Sebbi of Essex dies. He is succeeded by Sigeheard.

698--Death of High King Rhodri. Crown Prince Arthur succeeds to the throne as Arthur
III. In Ireland, dynastic conflicts in the Airgialla lead to the battle of Telech Garraisc in
Fernmag (Co. Monaghan). King Conchobar Machae of the Airthir and King Aed Airdd of
the Dal nAraidi are killed.

698-700--Three years of famine and plague in Ireland, rumors of cannibalism spread.

699--Cattle palgue in Britain which spreads to Ireland at Tethbae in 700.

 

[robertp6165]

Here is the second map for Part Three, showing the situation in 630 A.D.

 

[robertp6165]

And here is the third map for Part III, showing the situation in 700 A.D.

 

[Glen]

The northern border seems surprisingly quiescent. Be nice to see what Dal Riata and the Picts are up to....

 

[Earling]

Seems a good timeline. The only thing I find odd is the fact that this Highking is having it almost all go his own way. The lack of people trying to usurp his position to benefit their petty kingdoms seems somewhat strange.

That and the fact no one seems to take steps to develop their own cavalry despite the obvious capabilities of such a force. If it cannot be developed at home couldn't mercanaries be brought across from the channel?

Obviously I suspect you want a Briton as overlord of the country and are such slanting the history to bring about that aim, but it feels as if the last century was too easy on the high king. (Admittedly people have good centuries in OTL as well ofcourse)

 

[robertp6165]

The northern border seems surprisingly quiescent. Be nice to see what Dal Riata and the Picts are up to....

I am planning an "additions and corrections" about that as soon as I can locate a good source for reliable information about that particular area. I have found a few king lists, but beyond that, not very much.

 

[robertp6165]

Seems a good timeline.

Thank you.

The only thing I find odd is the fact that this Highking is having it almost all go his own way. The lack of people trying to usurp his position to benefit their petty kingdoms seems somewhat strange.

Your criticisms are well-taken. I may do a "Britannia in 700 A.D." essay which will explain why that is in detail, among other things. But basically the reasoning goes as follows...

1) The example of Medraut and of Maelgwn of Gwynedd, who attempted to usurp the High King's throne in the wake of Medraut's revolt, has imprinted on everyone's mind what happens to petty kings who try to revolt against the High King. Maelgwn's kingdom was seized by the High King and his dynasty was dispossessed. The other petty kings don't desire to take the chance of that happening to them and to their dynasties.

2) Nothing succeeds like success, and the military success of the High Kings against the Anglo Saxon invaders would naturally tend to increase the loyalty of the petty kings to the High King.

3) Arthur's laws establishing primogeniture as the rule of succession for all British royal houses, forbidding petty kings from warring against each other, and fixing the boundaries of each kingdom, have protected the various petty kingdoms and ensured the continuation of the power of each dynasty. The petty kings realize this and likely don't wish to "rock the boat."

However, I have been thinking of doing an "Additions and Corrections" to introduce some rebellions into the timeline. For one thing, in my most recent revision of the timeline, I had Arthur I forcibly consolidate some of the kingdoms in Wales so as to increase their viability and defensibility. The dynasties ruling those kingdoms were dispossessed, and would, along with Maelgwn's dispossessed line, become a somewhat likely source of rebellion. I am thinking one or more of these dispossessed lines might flee to Ireland or Scotland and get allies there...or even ally themselves with some of the Anglo Saxon Kingdoms...and create problems for the High King.

That and the fact no one seems to take steps to develop their own cavalry despite the obvious capabilities of such a force. If it cannot be developed at home couldn't mercanaries be brought across from the channel?

That is true. However, in OTL the British kingdoms DID use cavalry, often quite successfully, against the Anglo-Saxons. For example, Cadwallon of Gywnedd (c. 625-638 A.D.), in alliance with Penda of Mercia, almost destroyed the Northumbrians at one point, and the Kings of Strathclyde and Gododdin defeated the Angles of Bernicia and Deira on several occasions and are known to have used cavalry. Yet despite many years of exposure to British armies using cavalry, the Anglo-Saxon armies remained virtually exclusively infantry-based throughout their entire history. Although the reasons for this are hard to pin down, I think there was probably a basic cultural aversion to the use of cavalry among the Anglo-Saxons which prevented them from developing it to any great degree.

Another reason why, in the ATL, the invaders don't respond to the British cavalry with cavalry of their own is the fact that the have been limited to small coastal enclaves most of the time. They don't have the resources necessary to build and maintain a large cavalry force, although probably we can assume that the invaders have incorporated cavalry into their armies to a small degree in the ATL, given the much more effective employment of it against them by the High Kings of the Britons.

But the thing that is making the British cavalry so effective in this timeline is not so much the fact that it is "cavalry" as the fact that it is basically a PROFESSIONAL force of cavalry. The High King's mobile cavalry force is composed of full-time paid soldiers whose standard of training and equipment is superior to anything the small Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms can bring forth. Since this is something they obviously can't duplicate, given their limited resources, the Anglo-Saxons instead tend to concentrate on their own strong suit, their infantry.

As for mercenaries, two problems. First, they cost money. Second, they can turn on you. The Anglo Saxons themselves started as mercenaries for the British. They know, all too well, what can happen when your mercenaries are stronger than you are.

Obviously I suspect you want a Briton as overlord of the country and are such slanting the history to bring about that aim...

Well, that was sort of the POINT of the timeline.

...but it feels as if the last century was too easy on the high king. (Admittedly people have good centuries in OTL as well ofcourse)

The last century was easy, I suppose, in that after the defeat of Edwin of Deira, they had 75 years of peace. But this followed a devastating defeat for the invaders. Now, the upcoming century is likely to be quite different. I am thinking High King Arthur III might not be a man of the mettle of his illustrious forebears...which could lead to some disastrous situations. And, by the end of the century, the VIKINGS are going to make their appearance...and the proverbial excrement will likely hit the proverbial air-circulating device when that happens. So stay tuned!

 

[robertp6165]

A much better map than the one in the recent film version of Tristan and Isolde.

Thank you. Although, since I haven't seen that one, I am not sure how much of a compliment your statement is. I am glad to see you back again...I missed your input on the last few segments of the Tawantinsuya timeline, as you know.

 

[robertp6165]

Hmmmm...given the number of votes in the poll for this timeline as the one to continue, I would have thought it would have elicited more comments than this. Oh well. Just more proof that polls don't really mean anything.

 

[G.Bone]

Eh. I used the same concept although with a "Stilcho Jr." and other stuff...

I think your efforts at the Hittite and Egyptian TL were ...a notch above...

 

[DTF955Baseballfan]

maybe people just don't want to flood your timeline with comments of "I like it."

Seems that would waste too much bandwidth, but if you insist...

I like it

 

[Thande]

Fascinating timeline, Robert.

 

[Glen]

Hmmmm...given the number of votes in the poll for this timeline as the one to continue, I would have thought it would have elicited more comments than this. Oh well. Just more proof that polls don't really mean anything.

Like it, BTW. Nice job.