What does it take to Reunite Britain?

jahenders

Banned
We don't really know a lot about the time to base a solid answer on. However, in general, we clearly need a single unifying force with substantial reach. Unfortunately, the "Romano-Brits" didn't have strong enough institutions independent of the Romans, so when the Romans left, they left most organization beyond the regional level with them. So, you're left with various tribes, with varying level of romanization, to decide what to do in the face of foreign invaders.
 
We don't really know a lot about the time to base a solid answer on. However, in general, we clearly need a single unifying force with substantial reach. Unfortunately, the "Romano-Brits" didn't have strong enough institutions independent of the Romans, so when the Romans left, they left most organization beyond the regional level with them. So, you're left with various tribes, with varying level of romanization, to decide what to do in the face of foreign invaders.

Indeed. We basically need enough Legions remaining with single authority most of the country recognises.
 
re-unify or unify?

What does it take to reunite Britain after the death of Riothamus?
I agree with jahenders -
Unfortunately, the "Romano-Brits" didn't have strong enough institutions independent of the Romans, so when the Romans left, they left most organization beyond the regional level with them. So, you're left with various tribes, with varying level of romanization, to decide what to do in the face of foreign invaders.
:)
We don't know how the Romano-British elites of the time viewed themselves - as Romans who lived in Britain, as (Romanised) Britons or as Romanised Trinovantes, Iceni etc. Once the 'Roman yoke' was lifted (or at least its tax burden and bureaucracy) the basic unit of government may have gone back to the civitate or tribal capital plus surrounds. I think some 'Dark Age' historians have commented that many of the early Anglo-Saxon kingdoms can be seen as successor states to the pre-Roman conquest tribal kingdoms or the civitates. (Essex=Trinovantian lands, Kent= Cantii etc.) This suggests they may have fought amongst each, hiring mercenaries that later took over the kingdoms for themselves or married into the British aristocracy.
:cool:

Gildas does see "Britons" as a race separate from the Saxons but the struggles in the 5th century may not simply have been British v invaders.

Worlds of Arthur by Guy Halsall is an interesting look at the period. There are of course lots of others, both popular or academic.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16132408-worlds-of-arthur
 

jahenders

Banned
TX.

As with most things, it was probably a mix. In some areas the leaders left by the Romans might have tried to continue in a "roman" fashion, while others reverted to tribal leaders.

Yes, one of the problems would be that some of these groups almost certainly fought against one another. Others simply stayed out of the fight, letting their unfortunate neighbors fall before doing anything.

I agree with jahenders -
:)
We don't know how the Romano-British elites of the time viewed themselves - as Romans who lived in Britain, as (Romanised) Britons or as Romanised Trinovantes, Iceni etc. Once the 'Roman yoke' was lifted (or at least its tax burden and bureaucracy) the basic unit of government may have gone back to the civitate or tribal capital plus surrounds. I think some 'Dark Age' historians have commented that many of the early Anglo-Saxon kingdoms can be seen as successor states to the pre-Roman conquest tribal kingdoms or the civitates. (Essex=Trinovantian lands, Kent= Cantii etc.) This suggests they may have fought amongst each, hiring mercenaries that later took over the kingdoms for themselves or married into the British aristocracy.
:cool:

Gildas does see "Britons" as a race separate from the Saxons but the struggles in the 5th century may not simply have been British v invaders.

Worlds of Arthur by Guy Halsall is an interesting look at the period. There are of course lots of others, both popular or academic.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16132408-worlds-of-arthur
 
Britain would need to be a lot more Romanized for the area not to descend and devolve back to the same tribal polities that existed when the Romans invaded. Or have one of the more Romanized Germanic tribes to invade and conquer sub-Roman Britain, like the Franks.
 
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