Vortigern
a British prince who flourished in the 5th century. According to Gildas, Bede, Ethelwerd, and the "Old English Chronicle," he invited Hengist and Horsa to assist him against his enemies the Picts and Scots. Nennius, on the other hand, represents the German chiefs as exiles who went to the island unasked. Whichever form of the story be true, it seems certain that after a short time the newcomers, re-enforced by fresh bands of their countrymen, turned against Vortigern and wrested from him the Kentish territory. Nennius is the first to bring "the beautiful daughter of Hengist" on the scene. He does not, however, name her. This is first done by Geoffrey of Monmouth (12th century), who in the main follows and expands the version of Nennius. Geoffrey calls her Rowena, or, according to some MSS., Ronwen and Ronwenna; and he is the first to tell the familiar legend of the lady making a low curtsy to Vortigern and saying, as she offered him a cup of wine, "Lauerd King, wacht heil," and how the "devil" made him so enamored of the lovely pagan that he married her that same night.
There is something like unanimity in the chroniclers regarding Vortigern's charers regarding yo acter. He was at once tyrannical and lascivious; and monkish indignation (as expressed in the legend of St. Germanus) affirms that he was finally destroyed by fire from heaven. It is to be presumed that Vortigern came to a violent end in conflict with the heathen adventurers who had established themselves in his dominions.