Hengest

Role: leader · First appears: A.D. 449–556

In 449, Hengest came to Britain at Ipwinesfleet with his brother Horsa, invited by Wurtgern, king of the Britons, to assist him; they later fought against the Britons. In 455, Hengest and Horsa fought Wurtgern’s forces at Aylesford, where Horsa was slain. Hengest then took the kingdom with his son Esc.

In 457, Hengest and Esc fought the Britons at Crayford, slew four thousand men, and drove them from Kent. That year, they also fought the Welsh near Wippedfleet, where twelve Welsh leaders and a thane named Wipped were slain.

Relationship record

Life events

• 449 · Hengest and Horsa came to Britain at Wurtgern’s invitation and later fought against the Britons.(A.D. 449–556 · 📍 Ipwinesfleet)
  • With: Horsa Wurtgern
  • “invited by Wurtgern, king of the Britons to his assistance, landed in Britain in a place that is called Ipwinesfleet; first of all to support the Britons, but they afterwards fought against them.”
• 455 · Hengest and Horsa fought Wurtgern’s forces, and Horsa was slain.(A.D. 449–556 · 📍 Aylesford)
  • With: Horsa Wurtgern
  • “This year Hengest and Horsa fought with Wurtgern the king on the spot that is called Aylesford. His brother Horsa being there slain”
• 455 · Hengest took the kingdom with his son Esc.(A.D. 449–556)
  • With: Esc
  • “Hengest afterwards took to the kingdom with his son Esc.”
• 457 · Hengest and Esc fought the Britons, slew four thousand, and drove them from Kent.(A.D. 449–556 · 📍 Crayford)
  • With: Esc
  • “This year Hengest and Esc fought with the Britons on the spot that is called Crayford, and there slew four thousand men. The Britons then forsook the land of Kent, and in great consternation fled to London.”
• 457 · Hengest and Esc fought the Welsh; Wipped and twelve Welsh leaders were slain.(A.D. 449–556 · 📍 Wippedfleet)
  • With: Esc Wipped
  • “This year Hengest and Esc fought with the Welsh, nigh Wippedfleet; and there slew twelve leaders, all Welsh. On their side a thane was there slain, whose name was Wipped.”

A.D. 449–556

• siblings with Horsa “Their leaders were two brothers, Hengest and Horsa;”
• parent: Wihtgils “who were the sons of Wihtgils;”
• enemies with Wurtgern “This year Hengest and Horsa fought with Wurtgern the king on the spot that is called Aylesford.”
• with Wurtgern (interaction) “invited by Wurtgern, king of the Britons to his assistance,”
• with Horsa (Horsa is reported slain; the passage does not name his killer.) “His brother Horsa being there slain, Hengest afterwards took to the kingdom with his son Esc.”
• enemies with Horsa (Horsa is explicitly Hengest's brother; his death occurs in the battle.) “This year Hengest and Horsa fought with Wurtgern the king on the spot that is called Aylesford. His brother Horsa being there slain,”
• with Esc (Joint succession/government.) “Hengest afterwards took to the kingdom with his son Esc.”
• child: Esc “Hengest afterwards took to the kingdom with his son Esc.”
• allies with Esc “This year Hengest and Esc fought with the Britons on the spot that is called Crayford,”

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Extracted from the original text of The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. Made with Rho MD.