Aurelius Ambrosius

Born in 433, he is the second son of High King Constantin. Forced to flee for his life with his younger brother, he travels to Brittany to his uncle, King Andronius. Alas, Andronius dies before they arrive and so he grows up under the tutelage of Andronius’ son, King Budec. He learns the trades of war from the numerous battles that ravage Western Europe as the great Roman Empire slowly falls apart. He learns the value of movement from the Huns and the power of heavy cavalry from the Alans and the Aquitainians. His cousin, King Budec, teaches him diplomacy.

As more and more Britons flee Vortigern’s tyranny to Brittany, many ask why Aurelius does not claim his birthright? Aurelius replies that the time is not right, that the Britons who have stayed have chosen Vortimer as their champion, and for Aurelius to return now would only split the ranks of those who would oppose Vortigern and the Saxons.

One of the Briton exiles is a Dumnonii nobleman named Gorlois, who befriends Aurelius.They become battle comrades and Aurelius comes to rely Gorlois as his confidant and right-hand man, a brother in all but blood. To Aurelius’ chagrin, Gorlois and Uther take a dislike to one another.

Vortimer dies in 462. When the Saxons massacre the Britons at the Night of Long Knives and take over the island in 463, the time has come for Aurelius to take back his father’s throne and deliver his people from the Saxon yoke. He prepares to return to Britain, gathering ships, allies and mercenaries on the continent.

When he is ready in 466, Gorlois supplies the remaining ships, and Aurelius invades with 10,000 soldiers conducting a multi-year campaign to defeat Vortigern. He then turns to the Saxons. While Hengest is defeated, captured and executed, still more Saxons arrive to Britain.

Unfortunately, he dies by poison in 480, before he manages to drive the Saxons from Britain’s shores.