Vortimer

Vortimer was around the middle of the 5th century, a legendary leader of the Britons against the Anglo-Saxon invasion.

Life

Vortimer was the eldest son of südbritannischen " King" (title disputed) Vortigern, who called the Saxons as mercenaries against hostile northern peoples to help. The Germans also came under the leadership of the brothers Hengest and Horsa, but soon turned against the British. The historicity Vortigerns by some historians (rather unjustifiably ) has been questioned, as should a fortiori the real existence of his questioning Vortimers, as it is in the best primary sources ( the Venerable Bede, Anglo-Saxon Chronicle ) is not called, but ascribed only in the Nennius Historia Brittonum appears.

After the presentation of Nennius took Vortimer (called Guorthemir ) after the expulsion of his father's leadership of the struggle of the Britons against the Saxons. In four battles he won considerable success. In the third battle fell on the British side Catigern, another son of Vortigern, on the Saxon side Horsa. This fight took place, according to Nennius at a Episford ( altbritisch Rithergabail ) mentioned place instead, the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle instead the Agælesþrep (probably today Aylesford ) calls. The latter source also dates the death of Horsa on 455 The fourth mentioned by Nennius battle occurred at the Britannic coast; the Saxons were defeated, fled to their ships and left (briefly) England. However, soon afterwards died Vortimer, and now Hengest could grasp with his people permanently fixed base in Kent and surrounding areas. In Nennius Vortimer appears as a brave and valiant leader of the British and, in contrast to his father described extremely positive.

The English historian Geoffrey of Monmouth added the report of Nennius in his imaginative, but historically highly unreliable Historia Regum Britanniae ( 1139 ) some more details added and can Vortimer by the poison of his stepmother Rowena, the daughter Hengists and wife Vortigerns, are killed.