From early times Kent became accustomed to invasion and take-over by other nations. Its proximity to Europe made southern England a prime target and the fertile planes and valleys of Kent were no exception. The Romans built elaborate villas and public baths with central heating, and the wonderfully straight roads such as Watling Street, still in use today, some hardly changed. Vineyards flourished on the Kent hillsides long before Kent's famous hop gardens and orchards established the county as the Garden of England - the first cherry tree was planted at Teynham in 1533 by Henry VIII's fruiterer, Richard Harris.
Founded in AD 450 (the calculations for The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle were, at 449, one year out), this was the very earliest of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. Made up of a mixture of Germanic Jutes and Celtic Britons, the Jutes were originally used as mercenaries by the controlling British forces.
Like most of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, later Kentish folk descended from an equal mixture of both races, Briton and Jute, since the invaders were never numerous enough to entirely displace the general population of Britons. The name Kent is the bastardised Jutish version of the original Romano-British Cantiaci / Cantii (Post-Roman Ceint), and means Men of Kent.  
Hengest or Hengist (d. 488?) was a semi-legendary ruler of Kent in southeast England. His name is Anglo-Saxon for "stallion".The facts of his life are unknown, but according to Bede (writing nearly 300 years after the events in question), he and his brother Horsa were mercenaries for the British ruler Vortigern, hired to fight against the Picts. Following his victories over the Picts, Hengest invited more immigrants from Germany to settle on Great Britain and then rebelled against Vortigern because the Britons refused to make an agreed payment, establishing himself as king in Kent. Both Hengest and Horsa are described as being Jutes, and sons of a Jutish chief named Wihtgils.For the first century or so, the Jutes had joint rulers (with the lesser of them controlling the less important West Kent area); Hengist may have led them, but Horsa ruled alongside him until his death in battle with the British, and then Hengist's son Aesc took on the role until Hengist's death.The (eastern) capital was the Roman city of Durovernum Cantiacorum, called Cantwarabyrig (modern Canterbury, "fortress of the Men of Kent") by the Jutes. Modern Eastry was known as Eastorege, or "Eastern Region." Evidence points to Hengist having been an Anglian, who, during the period of the migration appear to have been overlords of the Jutes. Hengist was a comrade in arms of Hnæf of the Danes until the latter's death in Frisia.
The Saxons built over Roman remains, Norman upon Saxon - Rochester's Norman castle looks down on the diminutive cathedral, founded by the Saxons. Rebuilt centuries later by Bishop Gundulf, this small gem epitomises the sense of peace and harmony radiated by the wealth of medieval buildings in the Medway and Swale areas - Faversham alone has nearly 500 listed buildings. The same county that nourished the builders of the ancient timbered dwellings of such towns, and of the hall houses and clapboard cottages still gracing the peaceful villages, also saw the births and deaths of those who raised small armies to seek justice for their fellows.
 

THE CANTWARE (KENT)

Hengist & Horsa

Map of Kent

 Calm and tranquillity chime ill with remembrance of these Kentish men and Men of Kent - of Wat Tyler who roused the peasants and marched down Union Street into Maidstone in 1381 (Otterden Manor lost many of its manorial records when the peasants broke in), and of Jack Cade in 1450 - both died when government and royal promises were broken.
Jack Cade's Hole on the North Downs is said to have sheltered him before he was run down and killed at Heathfield. Sir Thomas Wyatt the Younger of Allington rebelled against Queen Mary's proposed marriage to Philip of Spain, and was beheaded for his pains. The Civil War did not spare Kent: Snoad Farmhouse at Otterden is believed to have been a Royalist safe house, but in the last Royalist uprising at Maidstone in 1648, the King's men were defeated by General Lord Fairfax who brought his army across the Medway, and up the High Street to Gabriel's Hill where this final battle was fought. The last armed rising to take place on English soil is said to have been the 1838 Courtenay Riots at Dunkirk.
Many suffered for their faith in Kent, including a priest who was burned in front of his own church door, and although Penenden Heath later became the place of execution, earlier burnings and hangings took place at Fairmeadow - a strange name for a place that saw such deeds. A plaque on Drake's Cork & Cask House nearby commemorates five such martyrs.

Royalty favoured this part of Kent - indeed Faversham uses the Royal Arms as its own, for both Elizabeth I and Charles II stayed here, James II was imprisoned here in 1688 - there is a memorial plaque on a house in Court Street - and King Stephen and Queen Matilda are buried in the Abbey. At nearby Ospringe, Henry III founded the Maison Dieu, now a museum, and Henry VIII honeymooned with Anne Boleyn at Shurland Hall on the Isle of Sheppey, only a few years later to be found in Rochester, awaiting his new bride Anne of Cleves.

Kent's rivers and estuaries, and the sea itself, have played a prominent part in its history, with Sir Francis Drake and Admiral Sir John Hawkins living and working in Chatham, where the young Nelson also began his naval career - the Victory was launched here in 1865. The 17th century Royal Dockyard at Blue Town, Sheerness, where warships were taken for careening, had an exciting and famous career before it closed in 1960: Charles II's visit in 1665 was followed two years later by less welcome visitors, the Dutch raiders, ending in the peace treaty of July 1667. Blue Town is now a conservation area with many listed buildings - one, much visited by architectural students, is of cast-iron framing, for its time rather avant-garde, and a forerunner of the American skyscrapers. Blue Town is so-called because workers built their cottages from the 6ft pieces of wood they were allowed to take home; these were then painted blue with paint 'liberated' from the dockyard. A cottage in Rose Street has been preserved in 19th century style, and doubles as the Sheerness Heritage Centre.

Geoffrey Chaucer wrote "The Canterbury Tales" between 1387 and 1400. He originally planned a collection of stories told by thirty travellers on the Pilgrims Way to Canterbury, each telling two stories going, and two returning from their worship at the tomb of Thomas Becket in Canterbury Cathedral in Kent, England. Written before the days of the printing press, authors will recognise the enormity of this task and the work, cut short by Chaucer's death in 1400, has been passed down by manuscript and so the order of the stories is uncertain.

The great significance of "The Canterbury Tales" is that Chaucer wrote the first book of poetry in English. Earlier, English was the language of the low class and Italian and Latin were used by authors addressing the educated classes. This innovation legitimised English and his lead was followed by later writers in England. The tales also provide a tapestry of medieval social life. They link the various strata of society, from nobles to thieves in a panorama which is unique. The stories are presented as a continuous narrative showing the linkages between all aspects of life at the time, and the variations of human temperament and behaviour. The Pilgrims Way itself ran as a trackway from Winchester in Hampshire to Canterbury in Kent, a distance of 120 miles; two thirds of it is still identifiable today. One of the museums in Canterbury is dedicated to "The Canterbury Tales" and visitors can, with headsets, listen to five of the tales. Additional aids enhance the experience and a tour takes about 45 minutes. It is a fascinating and informative entertainment.

According to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, Hengist and his son Oisc take the kingdom, but Oisc may actually be an infant at this time and his title is simply to confirm his position as the later founder of the Oiscingas, the house of the Anglian/Jutish kings of Kent. If this is correct then it is not until c.470 that he becomes a warrior.

This is the last recorded entry for the Cantware in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle until 565. The battles against the Britons move further westwards as they lose the south coast to the Suth Seaxe, and Londinium to the Middel Seaxe and their Suther-ge, and the Thames Valley and Ciltern Saetan. It is also possible that the Cantware are involved in the Mons Badonicus defeat of circa 496 and are so weakened that they are simply unable to mount any further grabs for territory for a generation or more.

Also, the influx of Saxon fighters may have slackened since 460, when prospects for soldiers of fortune may have seemed better in the remnants of Roman Gaul, coupled with the Britons apparently starting to gain the upper hand.

Some modern sources say Suaebhard is joint king of Kent in 686 whilst others say he becomes king of West Kent in 688. From 688 he rules jointly with two natives of Kent - Oswine and then Wihtred. He signs his last charter in 692 but may remain king up to 694. His fate is unknown, suggesting a peaceful death.