Horsa (Sachsen) of Kent (abt. 430 - 455)

Born about 0430 in Sachsen, Germany

Ancestors

Died 0455 at about age 25 in Aylesford, Kent, England near Maidstone.

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Horsa (Sachsen) of Kent was a member of aristocracy in ancient Europe. Join: Medieval Project Discuss: medieval

Biography

Horsa and his brother Hengist (or Hengest), with three warships were supposedly the first Anglo-Saxons leaders to arrive in what is now England, in the mid-fifth century, at the invitation of Vortigern, King of the Britons, to assist him in fighting the Scots and Picts. At some point, they turned against the Britons instead.

There are no existing records contemporary with these events; the earliest currently available that names Horsa was written about 300 years later. Consequently there is continual discussion over whether Hengist and Horsa, actually existed, and which parts of the story may be factual and which legendary.^[1]

Early Sources

It is Bede, in the Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum (Ecclesiastical History of the English People) completed in about 731, who states that "the first commanders are said to have been the two brothers Hengist and Horsa"^[2] (Duces fuisse perhibentur eorum primi duo fratres Hengist et Horsa), the sons of Wihtgils, son of Witta, son of Wecta, son of Woden. (Erant autem filii Uictgilsi, cuius pater Uitta, cuius pater Uecta, cuius pater Uoden).

Nennius' work Historia Brittonum, written in the 8th century further elaborated on the story, stating that they were exiled from Germany,^[3] and he first introduces the story of Hengist (at this stage unnamed) beautiful daughter, who arrived later in a group of 16 vessels, and so bewitched Vortigern that he exchanged Kent for her.^[4]

Bede goes on to say that "Horsa was afterwards slain in battle by the Britons, and a monument, bearing his name, is still in existence in the eastern parts of Kent."^[5]

It is the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, that dates this event to 455 and that it happened at Aylesford.

Later Bede notes that Hengist was the father of Oeric, and that Oeric accompanied Hengist upon his invitation by Vortigern.

See the Wikipedia article Hengest and Horsa for further information.

Sources

1. ↑ Venning, p. 12
2. ↑ Bede, p. 30
3. ↑ Nennius, section 31
4. ↑ Section 37
5. ↑ Bede, Chap. XV, p. 30

• Bede, Ecclesiastical History of England, rev. trans. A.M. Sellar, London: George Bell & Sons, 1907. Retrieved from https://archive.org/stream/ecclesiasticalhrevbedeuoft#page/n5/mode/2up

• Giles, J.A. (ed.). (1906). Old English chronicles, London: George Bell & Sons. Retrieved from https://archive.org/stream/oldenglishchroni00gileuoft#page/n4/mode/1up

• Venning, T. (2013). The Kings & Queens of Anglo-Saxon England, Stoud, Glos.: Amberley.