The Massacre of Stonehenge Part 1

The Gododin is thought to be an ancient song that is so fragmented that it has baffled many that have tried to translate it. As a translator of difficult text myself I have a deep appreciation and insight into the labor involved in such a task. Edward Davies spent an enormous amount of time and energy in translating both the Gododin and other Druid songs that told the story of the Feast of the Long Knives. This was not an easy task because the true names of individuals and place locations is not openly given. This is most probably due to the fact that the author of the Gododin was a Saxon prisoner when he wrote most of it. He had to be very careful what he said and how he said it. The author of this manuscript is supposedly the Druid Aneirin who witnessed and survived the massacre.

Edward Davies determined that the Gododin was not one single song but a compilation of many short songs. He compared all known translations and made a vocabulary list of all difficult words and researched them. When he discovered that the events of the massacre described in the Gododin happened at Stonehenge he combed through the available sources to find out more to give context to the verses. Then he gave his translation along with notes that helped the reader understand the context of the full story. Today we know even more and I’ve tried to retell this story giving my own notes as appropriate.

This story sings of the death blow of the Druid religion that took place at Stonehenge in 472 CE. May it sent shivers down your spine as it has sent down mine and may we always remember!

The Britain’s were strongly beset on all sides by the Picts, Scotts and Saxons. The Chieftains of the Clans elected Vortigern as High King of all Britain. When Hengist, the Saxon, and his brother Horsa arrived with their armies Vortigern sought peaceful negotiations. As sacred custom each side would talk before beginning open hostilities. Hengist and his brother agreed to help Vortigern fight the Picts and Scots in exchange for permission to live with their people on the small island of Thanet.

Hengist persuaded Vortigern that he needed more Saxons to help fight and Hengist was authorized to send back to his homeland for more Saxons. As more Saxons came they included Hengist’s beautiful daughter Rowena. Vortigern asked to marry Rowen and Hengist agreed on condition that he be made a noble and given some land to rule. Vortigern replied that he couldn’t make Hengist a noble but he could give him the kingdom of Kent and it was agreed without consulting the current owner of the kingdom of Kent.

The Saxons were strong warriors and easily defeated Vortigern’s enemies. But more and more Saxons continued to come to Britain and the Britons became alarmed and told Vortigern that the Saxons had to go back home because they were becoming more numerous than the Britions! Because of his love for Rowena Vortigern refused to do this and in anger the Chieftains elected Vortimer, Vortigern’s son, as the new High King of Britain because he vowed to drive the Saxons out of Britain.

Vortimer and his champion warriors succeeded in driving the Saxons back to their island. But soon after that Vortimer was poisoned by Rowena who had put a fatal poison in his wine. Vortigern was reelected as High King of Britain against the complaints of the champions and loyal followers of Vortimer who had driven the Saxons out of Britain. Hengist returned with an army of 300,000 men.

Vortigern met Hengist under a flag of truce and Hengist stated his fight was with Vortimer and not Vortigern, pretending that he didn’t know of the death of Vortimer at his daughter’s hand. According to sacred custom Hengist suggested they meet to talk about it at the great feast of Beltaine that would take place at Stonehenge on the 1st of May. Both would bring their nobles and greatest warriors and both would come unarmed and in peace. Both agreed to bring 360 of their finest warriors and leaders to discuss what to do.

But secretly Vortigern colluded with Hengist to betray his own people. Hengist would secretly bring weapons to the feast and kill the loyal champions of the dead Vortimer that were giving Vortigern so much trouble. These champions and heroes were to wear purple robes so they could be more easily identified. The other nobles would be ransomed back by their families and Vortigern and Hengist would divide the spoils. This was the unholy plan that was agreed upon.

Stonehenge was not just the circle of standing stones that we see today. It was a fortified enclosure of wooden walls and an entire community lived inside it. While the temple itself was open to the sky the living quarters were not. Within this community lived Bards, Ovates and Druids and this Beltaine celebration was the most important observance of the entire year! The Druids, Ovates and Bards came from all over to celebrate this most holy festival. In addition the local population joined the festivities as well. In all there were several thousand people that would be at this festival which would take place during several days.

The rest of Hengist’s army of 300,000 would remain near the river Avon. The meeting itself would take place on the curcus, a long raised area about a half mile from the temple itself. As an honor and perhaps to keep him away from the negotiations Eidol was nominated to be in charge of the feast keeping the entire company supplied with food and drink. He was the Knight of the Enclosure or President of the Circle. Apparently he was also a Druid High Priest.

This sets the stage for what was to follow. There was a long protected avenue leading to the temple that went through the living quarters of the Bards. The Bards were to be entertainers at the feast.