History Of The Britons (Historia Brittonum) by Nennius
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23. Severus was the third emperor who passed the sea to Britain,
where, to protect the provinces recovered from barbaric incursions,
he ordered a wall and a rampart to be made between the Britons, the
Scots, and the Picts, extending across the island from sea to sea,
in length one hundred and thirty-three miles: and it is called in
the British language Gwal.* Moreover, he ordered it to be made
between the Britons, and the Picts and Scots; for the Scots from
the west, and the Picts from the north, unanimously made war
against the Britons; but were at peace among themselves. Not long
after Severus dies in Britain.
*Or, the Wall. One MS. here adds, "The above-mentioned Severus
constructed it of rude workmanship in length 132 miles; i.e. from
Penguaul, which village is called in Scottish Cenail, in English
Peneltun, to the mouth of the river Cluth and Cairpentaloch, where
this wall terminates; but it was of no avail. The emperor Carausius
afterwards rebuilt it, and fortified it with seven castles between
the two mouths: he built also a round house of polished stones on
the banks of the river Carun [Carron]: he likewise erected a
triumphal arch, on which he inscribed his own name in memory of
his victory.
24. The fourth was the emperor and tyrant, Carausius, who, incensed
at the murder of Severus, passed into Britain, and attended by the
leaders of the Roman people, severely avenged upon the chiefs and
rulers of the Britons, the cause of Severus.*
* This passage is corrupt, the meaning is briefly given in the
translation.
25. The fifth was Constantius the father of Constantine the Great.
He died in Britain; his sepulchre, as it appears by the inscription
on his tomb, is still seen near the city named Cair segont (near
Carnarvon). Upon the pavement of the above-mentioned city he sowed
three seeds of gold, silver and brass, that no poor person might
ever be found in it. It is also called Minmanton.*
* V.R. Mirmantum, Mirmantun, Minmanto, Minimantone. The Segontium
of Antoninus, situated on a small river named Seiont, near Carnarvon.
26. Maximianus[1] was the sixth emperor that ruled in Britain. It
was in his time that consuls[2] began, and that the appellation of
Caesar was discontinued: at this period also, St. Martin became
celebrated for his virtues and miracles, and held a conversation
with him.
[1] This is an inaccuracy of Nennius; Maximus and Maximianus were
one and the same person; or rather no such person as Maximianus
ever reigned in Britain.
[2] Geoffrey of Monmouth gives the title of consul to several
British generals who lived after this time. It is not unlikely
that the town, name, and dignity, still lingered in the provinces
after the Romans were gone, particularly as the cities of Britain
maintained for a time a species of independence.
27. The seventh emperor was Maximus. He withdrew from Britain
with all his military force, slew Gratian, the king of the Romans,
and obtained the sovereignty of all Europe. Unwilling to send
back his warlike companions to their wives, children, and possessions
in Britain, he conferred upon them numerous districts from the lake
on the summit of Mons Jovis, to the city called Cant Guic, and to
the western Tumulus, that is, to Cruc Occident.* These are the
Armoric Britons, and they remain there to the present day. In
consequence of their absence, Britain being overcome by foreign
nations, the lawful heirs were cast out, till God interposed with
his assistance. We are informed by the tradition of our ancestors
that seven emperors went into Britain, though the Romans affirm
there were nine.
* This district, in modern language, extended from the great St.
Bernard in Piedmont to Cantavic in Picardy, and from Picardy to
the western coast of France.
28. Thus, aggreeably to the account given by the Britons, the
Romans governed them four hundred and nine years.
After this, the Britons despised the authority of the Romans,
equally refusing to pay them tribute, or to receive their kings;
nor durst the Romans any longer attempt the government of a country,
the natives of which massacred their deputies.
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