Octa

Family: Saxons · Role: son of Hengist · First appears: Book VI 12–14

Octa, son of Hengist, came to Britain with his brother Ebissa and Cherdich, bringing three hundred ships filled with soldiers. Vortigern received them and granted Octa and Ebissa territories in the northern parts of Britain, by the wall between Deira and Albania: “Immediately upon the receipt of this message, came Octa, Ebissa, and Cherdich, with three hundred ships filled with soldiers, who were all kindly received by Vortigern, and had ample presents made them.”

At York, Aurelius Ambrosius besieged Octa, who surrendered with the principal nobility and begged mercy for himself and his followers. Aurelius accepted Eldad’s counsel, spared them, granted Octa’s people land bordering upon Scotland, and made a covenant with them. Octa later acted with his kinsman Eosa against Uther Pendragon, breaking that treaty and raising disturbances in the northern provinces.

Uther Pendragon defeated the Saxons, captured Octa and Eosa, and ordered them imprisoned in London. They escaped to Germany, gathered forces, and returned with a great fleet to devastate Albania; after the British army, whose command was committed to Lot, opposed them, Octa and Eosa were killed at Verulam, and the Saxons were defeated.