Gildas Flashcards
Who was Gildas?
A British Churchman
What did Gildas write and what was it about?
A ‘tract on ‘Concerning the Ruin and Conquest of Britain’. A long and fiery sermon alarmed at the dangerous spiritual, moral, and political situation his people were facing. He warned his countrymen about the dire emergency confronting them. If people followed the bible, God would restore their state.
When was it written?
Mid 6th centuary
Who was the first named British author in Britain and when did he write?
Pelagius - AD 360
What did St Jerome’s writings in 415 suggest about Britain? What didn’t he know about?
It was fertile in deposits and under barbarian assault. He did not know the state of the Christian church in Britain
What did Jerome’s writings also show?
Possibly that rebellion and resistance to roman authority was an ongoing feature of life in Britain.
In AD 480, Constantius wrote about the life of St Germanus of Auxerre to Britain. How is Britain depicted?
There are troubles with migrant forces, coupled with internal political dissension. Picts, Scots, and other groups invaded, robbed and ravaged British towns and settlements. There was famine, plague and widespread criminality.
Who was Ambrosius Aurelianus and what did he do?
Born into a privileged Roman family, he organised military resistance to the invaders.
What was the battle of Mons Badonicus?
It is probably a battle fought around AD 500. It is thought that the battle was significant and might have held back the Saxons for 50 years.
Was the life among Britains restored to the ‘Old days’ aft the battle of Mons Badonicus?
No - according to Gildas cities were desolate, no order or justice and few people remained faithful to the church and its teachings
How does Gildas see the approaching Saxons?
dogs, devils, Assyrians, gentes, foreigners.
Archaeological records show what happened to Germanic settlement at around 500AD
The pace of settlement slowed.
What did some churchman feel however
decaying infrastructure, corrupt politicians, rebellious society meant that the last days were imiment
What does DNA show happened to Britons when the Anglo Saxons arrived?
They may have been pushed into Wales, Cornwall and Scotland. However while cultural changes may have been imposed, the Britons were not necessarily displaced. Often migrnats interbred with the Britons
When does Bede place the arrival of the Anglo Saxons
During the reign of Emperor Marcian, AD 450 - 457.
