Horsa

Horse, Horsus

A Saxon leader and a brother of Hengist welcomed into Britain by the King Vortigern.

Bede, the first to mention Horsa, traces the brothers’ decent from a Saxon god, and names their father as Wihtgils.

Horsa led part of the Saxon army in Britain. He was killed fighting one of Vortigern’s sons (Vortimer, Catigern, or Vortiger) during Vortimer’s war against Hengist (some say a cousin of Vortigern), but managed to mortally wound his killer.

The site of Horsa’s death is variously given as Episford or Æglestherp. His memorial was thought to have been a flint heap near Horsted in Kent.