Celtic Studies

After the departure of the Romans, the earlier tribal groupings in North Britain were forced to adapt to their changing circumstances. Their first task for the Britons after the Romans left was defence and the establishment of stable government. In this they appear to have been successful, there is no hint of anarchy, and so this has led many to argue that there was a high degree of continuity after the Romans left, particularly in Britannia Superior. This is supported by the fact that, in 550, Procopius says that Britain continued to be ruled by 'tyrants', by which he meant members of the native British aristocracy.
This is compounded by the fact that Ninius wrote large numbers of genealogies in the post-Roman period and many of the names within the important families of the men of the north, appear to have be Romanised, thus demonstrating the continued cultural influence of the Romans after 400. One such example can be seen in the names of Cunedda of Gododdin's father, grandfather and great-grandfather, who were called; Aetern, Paternpeisrot and Tacit. …