The British Celts fought the raiders and settlers from Germany as best they could. Over the next century, however, the aliens slowly squeezed them westwards until they were pushed out - by 570 - to the west of Gloucester.
Eventually, most of the Celts were driven into the mountainous regions far to the west, which the Saxons called "Wellas", or Wales, that is - "the land of the strangers". Some Celts went to Cornwall, where they later recognised the authority of the Saxon lords.
In the north, other Celts were pushed into the Lowlands, the southern part of what was later called Scotland. Some Celts remained in their own land and many of them became slaves of the Saxons. There is little left of the Celtic language or culture in Britain except the names of some rivers - the Thames, Mercia, Severn and Avon - and the two main cities, London and Leeds.
Eventually, most of the Celts were driven into the mountainous regions far to the west, which the Saxons called "Wellas", or Wales, that is - "the land of the strangers". Some Celts went to Cornwall, where they later recognised the authority of the Saxon lords.
In the north, other Celts were pushed into the Lowlands, the southern part of what was later called Scotland. Some Celts remained in their own land and many of them became slaves of the Saxons. There is little left of the Celtic language or culture in Britain except the names of some rivers - the Thames, Mercia, Severn and Avon - and the two main cities, London and Leeds.