Hengist

Family: Saxons · Role: general · First appears: Book VI 10–11

Hengist, a Saxon general, first appears beside his brother Horsa when Vortigern accepted their military service, promising that “if you will engage with me in my wars, I will entertain you honourably in my kingdom, and bestow upon you lands and other possessions.” After they defeated the invading Picts, Vortigern rewarded Hengist with extensive lands in Lindesia and granted him ground for a fortress, where he built Kaercorrei. Hengist pledged continued faithfulness to Vortigern, and was also associated with worship of Mercury, Saturn, Jupiter, and Frea.

In Kent, Vortigern received Hengist’s daughter Rowen, while Hengist received the province in return. Hengist claimed the right to counsel Vortigern as his father and urged him to invite Hengist’s son Octa and Ebissa to take the northern parts of Britain. After Vortimer’s victories, Hengist’s forces left their families behind and returned to Germany; he later remained an enemy of Vortimer and was linked by kinship to Eosa, who went to Alclud with a large army.

In Book VIII, Hengist and the Saxons withdrew beyond the Humber and fortified the towns, then advanced toward Maisbeli against Aurelius Ambrosius. After Aurelius Ambrosius defeated the Saxon forces, Eldol captured Hengist in single combat, “for one of us should die before we parted.” Eldol beheaded him, and Aurelius Ambrosius ordered that Hengist be buried.