The Loser Ruler Whose Mercenaries Turned on Him
The recent Wagner Group mutiny in Russia is hardly the first time a ruler hired mercenaries, only to have them turn on him. Throughout much of the fourth century, Saxon raiders devastated the Roman province of Britain. Then, in one of history’s worst “it takes a thief to catch a thief” brainstorms, the Romano-Britons struck a deal to hire the Saxons as mercenaries, and settle them on British soil. In exchange, the Saxons promised to defend Britain from other barbarians. Once they had settled in, however, the Saxons complained that the Romano-Britons had skimped on the monthly supplies promised them.
A conference to resolve the dispute was arranged between native nobles led by a Vortigern, and the Saxons led by two chieftains named Hengist and Horsa. However, the Saxons’ idea of dispute resolution was to suddenly murder the Britons mid-conference. Only Vortigern, who went down as the biggest loser in Romano-Briton history, was spared. The Saxons declared the treaty void because the locals had failed to live up to its terms, and launched a massive onslaught against Britain. Vortigern, reduced to their puppet, was forced to sign a new treaty that ceded them southeastern England.
