Vortigern

5th-century ruler in Sub-Roman Britain Fictional character VortigernMatter of Britain characterVortigern and Rowena by William HarveyFirst appearance"De Excidio et Conquestu Britanniae"'Historia Brittonum'6th–9th century traditionsLast appearance'Historia Regum Britanniae'12th centuryCreated byEarly British chroniclersBased onPossible historical British rulerPortrayed byJude Law (King Arthur: Legend of the Sword)In-universe informationOccupationKing, warlord, ruler of BritainFamily Vortimer (son) Catigern (son, in some traditions) SpouseRowena (in later legends)RelativesHengist (father-in-law in some versions)ReligionChristianity (nominally) Vortigern (/ˈvɔːrtɪdʒɜːrn/ or /-ɡɜːrn/; Old Welsh: Guorthigirn, Guorthegern; Welsh: Gwrtheyrn; Old English: Wyrtgeorn; Old Breton: Gurdiern, Gurthiern; Scottish: Vortigern; Irish: Foirtchern; Latin: Vortigernus, Vertigernus, Uuertigernus, etc.), also spelt Vortiger, Vortigan, Voertigern and Vortigen, was a 5th-century warlord in Britain, known perhaps as a king of the Britons or at least connoted as such in the writings of Bede. His existence is contested by scholars and information about him is obscure. He also appears in some manu