The End of Roman Britain

Simon Esmonde Cleary considers a little-known anniversary - the death in 388 of an imperial usurper who became a link-man between the factual eclipse of Roman Britain and the legendary world of King Arthur.

By comparison with the invincible Armada of 1588 and the Glorious Revolution of 1688, the public commemoration of the death in 388 of Magnus Maximus has been muted. Yet it is an anniversary which should not be entirely forgotten as we learn more about the events which brought about the end of four hundred years of Roman rule in Britain.

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