Note 101 — Chapter II · THE ROMAN PROVINCE IN SCOTLAND.
Reading edition
This account of the usurpation of Constantine, and its consequences, is taken from Zosimus and Olympiodorus, two contemporary historians. The opinion generally entertained that the Roman troops returned to Britain after the year 410 rests upon no direct authority, and is opposed to the testimony of those contemporary historians. Mr. Bruce, in his Roman Wall, makes the pertinent remark (43): ‘The series of coins found in the stations of the north of England, and in the camps and Roman cities of the south, extends from the earlier reigns of the Empire down to the times of Arcadius and Honorius, and then ceases. Any legion coming later must have been destitute of treasure.’
The mistake has arisen from the false chronology of the invasions of the Scots and Picts, and of the assistance of the Romans in repelling them, applied to the narrative of Gildas. No dates are given in the work of Gildas; but if the mind is disabused of preconceived conceptions in this respect, it is impossible to compare Gildas’s narrative with the notices of the legion sent by Stilicho, and of the army which elected Constantine, the attack which followed, and the repelling of the invaders by the provincial Britons, without seeing the absolute identity of the events.
The following comparison will show this more clearly:—
Roman and Greek Authors. Narrative of Gildas.
383 Maximus revolts. Revolt of Maximus, who withdraws the army with the youth from Britain.
387 Withdraws Roman army from Britain.
396 A legion sent by Stilicho, who drive back Picts and Scots, and garrison wall. First devastation of Picts and Scots. Britons apply for assistance. A legion sent, who build northern wall.
402 Legion withdrawn. Legion withdrawn.
Second devastation of Picts and Scots.
Britons again apply for assistance.
406 A Roman army in Britain — stationed ‘per lineam valli.’ Roman troops sent, who fortify southern wall.
407 Constantine withdraws Roman army. Roman troops withdrawn, ‘never to return.’
Picts seize up to wall.
Break through wall and ravage.
409 Gerontius invites Barbarians. Honorius frees province. Provincials take courage and repel them.
Provincials raise and repel invaders. Vortigern invites Saxons.