‘Ophelia’, Hamlet’s lover in the play by William Shakespeare, as imagined by Czech-Austrian artist Gabriel von Max (1840-1915). Hengist’s effortlessly manipulative daughter Rowena figures prominently in Nennius’s ninth-century ‘Historia Brittonum’ (History of the Britons), though whether she belongs to fact or fiction is debated. Her husband King Vortigern is mentioned by name as a fifth-century British king by St Bede in his ‘History of the English Church and People’ (AD 731), along with Rowena’s father Hengist.
Part 1 of 2
THEY [the British] sent a letter to Rome entreating help — which they called the Groans of the Britons;* and in which they said, ‘The barbarians chase us into the sea, the sea throws us back upon the barbarians, and we have only the hard choice left us of perishing by the sword, or perishing by the waves.’ But, the Romans could not help them, for they had enough to do to defend themselves against their own enemies.
At last, the Britons resolved to make peace with the Saxons, and to invite the Saxons to come into their country, and help them to keep out the Picts and Scots. It was a British Prince named Vortigern who took this resolution, and who made a treaty of friendship with Hengist and Horsa, two Saxon chiefs. Hengist and Horsa drove out the Picts and Scots; and Vortigern, being grateful to them for that service, made no opposition to their settling themselves in the Isle of Thanet, or to their inviting over more of their countrymen to join them.
It was addressed to Flavius Aetius in or after his third one-year term as Consul in 446, and before his fourth in 454. The Western Emperor was Valentinian III. Would-be Emperor Constantine III has removed most Roman troops from Britain in 407 to support his futile bid.
Précis
In the middle of the fifth century, Saxons began harassing Roman Britain, and despite desperate appeals no help came from Rome. However, one British chieftain, Vortigern, allied with the Saxons against the Picts and the Scots. He gave the Saxon warlords Hengist and Horsa land in Kent in return, and encouraged them to bring over more of their people. (59 / 60 words)
Part Two
‘Dear King! Be favourable to them, as you loved that Saxon girl who gave you the golden goblet of wine at the feast!’ Julia Cameron’s early photographic study (1874) shows another legendary British king and his femme fatale, King Arthur and Queen Guinevere, at their last parting.
BUT Hengist had a beautiful daughter named Rowena; and when, at a feast, she filled a golden goblet to the brim with wine, and gave it to Vortigern, saying in a sweet voice, ‘Dear King, thy health!’ the King fell in love with her.
My opinion is, that the cunning Hengist meant him to do so, in order that the Saxons might have greater influence with him; and that the fair Rowena came to that feast, golden goblet and all, on purpose.
At any rate, they were married; and, long afterwards, whenever the King was angry with the Saxons, or jealous of their encroachments, Rowena would put her beautiful arms round his neck, and softly say, ‘Dear King, they are my people! Be favourable to them, as you loved that Saxon girl who gave you the golden goblet of wine at the feast!’
And, really, I don’t see how the King could help himself.
Précis
According to legend, Saxon warlord Hengist had a beautiful daughter named Rowena, whom he encouraged to use her charms on Vortigern. As planned, the King took Rowena as his Queen, and ever afterwards could easily be persuaded to let the Saxons have their own way, until they came to control the country. (52 / 60 words)
