King Vortigern decided upon a risky strategy to keep Britain safe. In Northern Britain, he hired Saxon mercenaries (from Northern Germany) to fight the Picts (from Scotland). He may also have employed other Picts (from Scotland), led by a man named Cunedda, to fight the Irish in Wales. This was an old Roman trick which had worked well in the past. Vortigern paid these foreigners with land and the Saxon leaders, Hengest and Horsa, settled with their people in Cantium (now called Kent). This was very unpopular with the Romano-British. Vortigern's two sons, Vortimer and Catigern, even fought a war with him because of it. Many people in Britain then joined a group who didn't want Vortigern as their King. A monk named Gildas wrote that they chose a man named Ambrosius as their leader. A civil war broke out in Britain. Ambrosius's followers defeated Vortigern's army. Vortigern hid in one of his castles but it was set on fire and he burnt to death!

Click to find out: How the Saxons managed to stay in Britain.