The World Turned Upside Down

The world turned upside down! Rome had withdrawn its legions and military control. The towns, forts, barracks, and most importantly the maintenance of these were forever lost. Imagine what it would have been like to have 6,000 to 12,000 men leave the town (Viroconium Cornoviorum) where you had your business. Over night it would become a ghost town. Those remaining would most likely be the ones that Rome did not want to take, or perhaps those who were not required to go because of family ties or poor health. At any rate, the military and most of the governmental folks pulled out. Our Jones family (those not in the military) remained. What were we to do? The family leaders would be looked to for direction and leadership. Those who had become more "Roman" , but for whatever reason, remained behind, were seen as leaders. Someone take charge! The family leaders would turn to what they knew, to the Celtic ways. Roman influence and knowledge would remain among those "Romanized". [You can understand that anyone with Roman connections or background would be looked upon for leadership.]

This time in our Jones family history is the least documented of any period. Very little is written, and very little is really known about this time frame. [After the Roman withdrawal.] Those writing the history books had left, and those remaining did not write or record their history. Oral tradition, written down centuries later suggest that the areas occupied by Rome broke apart into multiple smaller sections. The most northern part seems to have clustered together forming "The Men of The North". This area was to become known as Strathcyde. Legend places Coel Hen [Old King Coel] at the head of this area south of Hadrian's Wall. This area came under fierce attack from the Picts.

The southwestern part of the island, centered at Cornwall and Devon, developed its own identity.
This area would even develop its own separate Brythronic language called Cornish.

The southeastern part (centered at Kent) seems to have come under the leadership of Vortigern, the direct descendant of Beli Mawr.