Ecclesiastical History of the English Nation Ecclesiastical History of the English Nation, Book I Chapter XI
by Venerable Bede
HOW DURING THE REIGN OF HONORIUS, GRATIAN AND CONSTANTINE WERE CREATED TYRANTS IN
BRITAIN; AND 500 AFTER THE FORMER WAS SLAIN IN BRITAIN, AND THE LATTER IN GAUL
IN the year 407, Honorius, the younger Son of Theodosius and the fortyfourth from
Augustus, being emperor, two years before the invasion of Rome by Alaric, king of the
Goths, when the nations of the Alani, Suevi, Vandals, and many others with them, having
defeated the Franks and passed the Rhine, ravaged all Gaul, Gratianus Municeps was set up
as tyrant and killed. In his place, Constantine, one of the meanest soldiers, only for his
name's sake, and without any worth to recommend him, was chosen emperor. As soon as he had
taken upon him the command, he passed over into France, where being often imposed upon by
the barbarians with faithless treaties, he caused much injury to the Commonwealth.
Whereupon Count Constantius by the command of Honorius, marching into Gaul with an army,
besieged him in the City of Arles, and put him to death. His son Constans, whom of a monk
he had created Caesar, was also put to death by his own Count Gerontius, at Vienne.
Rome was taken by the Goths, in the year from its foundation, 1164. Then the Romans
ceased to rule in Britain, almost 470 years after Caius Julius Caesar entered the island.
They resided within the rampart, which, as we have mentioned, Severus made across the
island, on the south side of it, as the cities, temples, bridges, and paved roads there
made, testify to this day; but they had a right of dominion over the farther parts of
Britain, as also over the islands that are beyond Britain.
