If you’re having a hard time keep all the various places and kingdoms straight, especially after this post, then keep reading.
Here’s what I’m covering in this post:
- Places
- Who are these people?
- But WTF is the difference between Briton, Britain, the British, Brittany, etc.???
I’m about to throw a shit-ton of history at you.
Also, I’m summing up about 700 years worth Empires and migrations and languages, so… Yeah.
I’m happy to discuss my gross inaccuracies more in-depth elsewhere.
Places
Let’s start at the regional level. These collected islands are the British Islands.
The two main islands are Eire (what is now Ireland), and Britain.
They’re surrounded by a bunch of smaller islands, such as Man, the Orkneys, Jersey, and approximately 5,928 others with various states of habitableness.
Eire (Ireland)
On Eire, you mostly have the Irish kingdoms, but on the Northern bit you have the Dal Riata kingdoms.
Britain
On Britain, you have more of the Dal Riata kingdoms in the Northwest. In the Northeast, are the Pictish kingdoms. The rest of the Island was essentially split between the Britons in the west, and the Germanic kingdoms in the east, led by the Angles and Saxons.
All of the islands are made up of smaller kingdoms, principalities, and duchies, etc.; each led by a King, Prince, or Duke. Kingdoms, duchies, etc., are about the size of a modern-day county.
At the start of the story, only Briton has a High King to unite all the smaller British Kingdoms.
People
So who the fuck are all these Britons and Angles and shit, and what’s the difference between them?
Let’s step back to the Roman Empire:
Besides the Romans, there were a few other groups vying for power (or, in some cases, Roman favor). This included the Celtic and Germanic tribes.
The Celts
By the time the Romans got started, the Celts settled mostly in Western Europe: mostly in modern-day France, Spain, Ireland, and the UK. They were a bunch of tribes with related languages and customs—but each major tribe (e.g., the Irish) was still separate from its neighbors (e.g., the Dal Riata).
Many Celts were conquered by the Romans, and then left to their own devices when the Roman Empire fell.
The Britons, Dal Riata, Irish, and Picts are all different Celtic tribes. Other Celtic groups include the Normans and the Franks.
(Side note: I’m lumping the Welsh, Manx, Cornish, and a few others under the Britons. I love you, Wales, but your language doesn’t have enough vowels for me.)
The Germans
I mean the OG Germans, not the present-day Germans with their delightful efficiencies and schnitzels.
The Germanic peoples were also a bunch of tribes with related languages and customs.
During the Roman Empire, the German tribes were mostly in what is modern-day Germany, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands.
Unlike the Celts, the Germans weren’t so easily conquered. In fact, they played a large role in bringing down the Empire: You may remember the Visigoths from 9th grade history, and the Goths from a 90s mall.
Anywho, once the Empire fell a plucky pair of tribes led an arms race to see who could conquer more of Britain. These were the Angles and Saxons.
But WTF is the difference between Briton, Britain, the British, Brittany, etc.???
OK, so.
Britons
A Celtic tribe. Conquered by the Romans. Shuffled around by the Angles & Saxons. By the time Constantine shows up, they band together to form one large kingdom.
British
For the purposes of this story:
adjective; of or relating to the Britons, their Kingdom, or their language.
Britannia
The Roman and Greek name for this island. Named for the Britons, who the Romans conquered.
Britain (also, Great Britain)
The same fucking island.
The British (modern definition)
Of or relating to someone who is from Great Britain or the United Kingdom.
For example, HRM Queen Elizabeth II’s corgis.
England
One of the modern-day countries within the United Kingdom. The name comes from the Anglo-Saxons (who have been trying to conquer all the things since about the mid-500s).
British Isles
These fucking islands.
Brittany
A region in France where a bunch of Britons settled a long time ago.
Britney
Spears.
Duh.
Further Reading
You made it! Yay!
