It began with Cassivalanus, the first recorded king to have commanded the submission of most,

if not all of the British tribes, and who fought valiantly against Caesar and his legions.

And although the hegemony under Cassivalanus didn't last, it presented a tantalizing new possibility.

Unity.

A century later, the Romans returned.

In this time, they stayed.

And for nearly four centuries, England, Wales, and parts of Scotland all experienced rule under a single government.

The concept of Britannia as a single unified province, which was alien in those early days,

was now part of the collective consciousness.

So much so that even after Rome withdrew, we're told of how the Britons organized for a time under a single ruler.

Fortigurren.

And according to legend, it was his rule that brought two Anglo-Saxon brothers to our shores to fight for the Britons,

Hingist and Horser.

And they did as they were asked for a time.

But as is the way with mercenaries, once you stop paying, conflicts can arise.

We're told that the brothers turned on their employers and ravaged much of southern Britain.

And it was at this point that the Britons discovered they were not as weak as they believed they were.

They fought back.

Wars raged, and at baton hill, the Britons had last found their victory.

The Anglo-Saxons were defeated.

But the way had been opened.

And climate change combined with tremendous amounts of unrest on the continent,

...