Groans of the Britons

The Groans of the Britons (Latin: gemitus Britannorum)[1] is the final appeal made between 446 and 454[2] by the Britons to the Roman military for assistance against Pict and Scot raiders. The appeal is first referenced in Gildas' 6th-century De Excidio et Conquestu Britanniae;[3] Gildas' account was later repeated in chapter 13 of Bede's Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum.[4] According to Gildas, the message was addressed to "Agitius", who is generally identified with the general Flavius Aetius.[4] The collapsing Western Roman Empire had few military resources to spare during its decline, and the record is ambiguous on what the response to the appeal was, if any. According to Gildas and various later medieval sources,[which?] the failure of the Roman armies to secure Britain led the Britons to invite Anglo-Saxon mercenaries to the island, precipitating the Anglo-Saxon settlement of Britain.

  1. ^ In full Agitio ter consuli gemitus Britannorum
  2. ^ In Michael Lapidge and David Dumville, eds. Gildas: New Approaches (Studies in Celtic History 5) 1984, page 20.
  3. ^ Winterbottom, Michael; Gildas, Gildas (2002). The Ruin of Britain and Other Works. Phillimore. pp. 23–24. ISBN 9781860772023.
  4. ^ a b Bede (1994). The ecclesiastical history of the English people ; The greater chronicle ; Bede's letter to Egbert. Judith McClure, Roger Collins. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-282912-2. OCLC 29843795.