The Origins and Development of the English Language

Chapter 5: The Old English Period, Part 2

John Algeo

Michael Cheng National Chengchi University

410 CE – Alaric I King of the Visigoths sacks Rome

449 Germanic Tribes invade Britain, driving out the native Celts.

Rome pulls its legions out of Britain to protect RomePicts and Scots raid BritainVortigern appeals to Germanic tribes on the continent for help449 the brothers Hengest and Horsa of the Jute tribe come to his aid and drive off the raiders

Britons seen as weak

Other tribes invited over by the Jutes

Angli

Saxons

Frisians

Germanic tribes drive off the Celtic Britons and take over their land

575 CE