During the fourth century Britain went through political turmoil, but it would be a distortion to imply that she was somehow especially badly off. A series of usurpations meant the garrison was systematically denuded, and was used to support the imperial ambitions of men like Magnentius (350-53) and Magnus Maximus (383-88). There is little evidence that this disrupted normal life in Roman Britain. Indeed, the problems were probably less than in other parts of the Roman world. The various pretenders conducted their fighting in Gaul, not in Britain, and they posed as restorers of Rome, not destroyers. Much of their support came from those who wanted to see Roman values reinforced, not wiped away, even though they did a great deal of damage to Britain’s defences. The barbarian incursions that wrought havoc in Britain, like that of 367, are notorious events in the historical record. However, these events were far less damaging than uprisings across the Rhine or in the East, and rebellions led by usurpers. Theodosius I (379-95) had first to deal with a Gothic invasion in the eastern provinces, followed by a war with the British usurper, Magnus Maximus, and then another rebel, Eugenius. In 406, the Vandals led an invasion across the Rhine to devastate Gaul. The complicated events and loyalties of the rebellion of another British usurper, Constantine III (407-11), left Honorius entirely unable to provide any more resources to support Britain [250].
After 410, Britain was formally on her own, but the population was still Romano-British, and it would be another two or three generations before living memory of the Roman province would disappear. The migration of Anglo-Saxons, which had begun when mercenaries were absorbed into the garrison, was important, but involved very small numbers of people. Most of the population was Romano-British, or at least of Romano-British descent. Making sense of what happened is complicated by the very limited archaeological evidence. In a practical sense, the separation made little difference in the immediate short-term. All Honorius had said was that Britain must now defend herself, but this meant no more imperial taxes to pay for troops. It was this lack of funding that made the critical difference, because it totally disrupted the complex cash-based cycle of wages, trade and taxation, and ended patronage through office.
Pelagius was a Briton, but almost all of the significant events of the heresy that he led took place on the Continent. Pelagius rejected the Augustinian view that God had chosen his elect for heaven, and that no amount of good works could undo this predestination. His own beliefs, in an echo of paganism, suggested that men could choose to do good, thereby intervening in divine judgment to decide their own fate.‘ This heretical view caused a ruction in the church, and was popular in Britain.
World History
