Groans of the Britons facts for kids
The Groans of the Britons was a desperate message. It was sent by the people of Britain to the Roman army. This happened between the years 446 and 454. The Britons needed help because fierce raiders, called the Picts and Scots, were attacking them.
This important message was first written about by a monk named Gildas. He wrote about it in his book, De Excidio et Conquestu Britanniae, around the 500s. Later, another famous historian, Bede, also wrote about it.
The message was sent to a powerful Roman general named "Agitius," who was likely Flavius Aetius. But the Western Roman Empire was very weak then. It didn't have many soldiers to send. We don't know for sure if the Romans even replied. Because the Romans couldn't help, the Britons invited Anglo-Saxon warriors to protect them. This decision led to the Anglo-Saxons settling in Britain.
The Urgent Message
The message from the Britons was recorded by Gildas. He wrote it down in his book, De Excidio et Conquestu Britanniae. Later, Bede included it in his own historical writings. It was a final, urgent plea for help.
The message was sent to a Roman general named "Agitius." Most historians believe this was Flavius Aetius. He was a very important military leader in the Western Roman Empire. During the 440s, Aetius was busy fighting battles in other parts of the Roman Empire, like Gaul (modern-day France) and Hispania (modern-day Spain).
Why the Britons Needed Help
The people of Britain were being attacked by raiders. These raiders were the Picts and Scots from northern Britain. The Roman armies had left Britain in 407. This meant the Britons were left to defend themselves. The raiders could travel far south, causing a lot of damage.
The message mentioned that Agitius was a consul for the third time. This helps us know when the message was sent. It was sometime between 446 and 454.
What the Message Said
Here is a part of the message the Britons sent:
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Agitio ter consuli, gemitus britannorum. [...] Repellunt barbari ad mare, repellit mare ad barbaros; inter haec duo genera funerum aut iugulamur aut mergimur. |
To Agitius [or Aetius], thrice consul: the groans of the Britons. [...] The barbarians drive us to the sea, the sea drives us to the barbarians; between these two means of death, we are either killed or drowned. |
| —Quoted in Gildas, De Excidio et Conquestu Britanniae. | —J. A. Giles's 1848 revision of T. Habington (1638) |
This shows how desperate the Britons were. They felt trapped between the attacking raiders and the sea. They faced death whether they stayed or tried to flee. Sadly, the Romans could not send help. The Britons had to find a way to protect themselves.
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