Biographical Outlines.

by Anonymous.

JULIUS CaeSAR.

B.C. 10044.

THIS greatest of the Roman generals, and afterwards the first Roman emperor, having subdued the whole of Gaul, beyond and on this side the Alps (now France, Switzerland, and part of Italy), invaded Britain, and landing near Deal, defeated the Britons and obliged them to pay tribute, B.C. 55. The next year he led a second and larger army to Britain, and having conquered the British tribes in several battles, he took possession of the southern provinces, and paved the way for the total occupation of Britain by the Romans.

CARACTACUS.

Died A.D. 43.

A brave British general (son of a native king, Cun.o.bolin) who resisted the Romans when, under the Emperor Claudius, they extended their conquests in Britain. Taken prisoner to Rome, and led in triumph, he expressed his surprise that a nation possessed of such magnificence could covet his humble cottage in Britain.

PAULINUS.

Died A.D. 59.

A Roman general sent to Britain under the Emperor Nero. He attacked and destroyed the Druids in the island of Anglesea, and so roused the Britains that, under their queen, Boadicea, they defeated the Romans with great slaughter, and burned London.

BOADICEA.

Died A.D. 61.

Queen of the Iceni, who occupied Norfolk and the valley of the great Ouse. She and her daughter being shamefully and cruelly treated by the Romans, under Paulinus, attacked and defeated them and burned London.

She was, however, soon after defeated by them in Ess.e.x, and eighty thousand Britons were slain, when in despair she poisoned herself.

AGRICOLA.

Died A.D. 78.

A Roman general under the Emperor Vespasian, conquered most of Britain and part of Scotland (called Caledonia). He taught the Britons Roman arts and customs, made roads, and built two walls to keep out the unsubdued tribes in the far north. His sailors sailed round Great Britain, and so discovered it to be an island.

SAINT ALBAN.

Died A.D. 303.

A British officer of the Roman army, who became the first Christian martyr in England at Verulam, now called St. Albans.

CONSTANTINE THE GREAT.

Born A.D. 309.-Died A.D. 337.

The first Christian Roman emperor. The son of the Emperor Constantius, who came over to Britain, had married a British princess, and died at York A.D. 309; where Constantine a.s.sumed the rank of emperor. He is said by some historians to have been born in England. He greatly promoted Christianity.

HENGIST AND HORSA.

A.D. 449.

Two Saxon chiefs, who came over at the invitation of the Britons, under their chief, Vortigern, to help them drive back the Picts and Scots, who, coming from the north, invaded the country when the Romans abandoned Britain.

KING ARTHUR.

Reigned 508533.

When the Romans left Britain, A.D. 409, the country split up into princ.i.p.alities and petty kingdoms, under chiefs. Vortigern brought in the Saxons to help him reign, and they took possession of most of southern England. King Arthur is said to have stemmed the invasion and conquered them in twelve pitched battles, and to have formed a league of chiefs reaching from Somersetshire to the Frith of Forth. Beautiful legends have been written about this league and the chiefs who joined in it. Arthur's reign lasted twenty-five years.

GILDAS THE WISE.

A.D. 570.