B.C. Beginning of Roman raids on British Isles. A.D. Roman occupation of Britain. Eventually, many Celtic Britons become Romanized. B.C.-200 A.D. Germanic peoples move down from Scandinavia and spread over Central Europe in successive waves. Early 5th century.
Roman Empire collapses.
Rome sacked by Goths. A.D. First Germanic tribes arrive in England. These dialects are distantly related to Latin, but also have a sprinkling of Latin borrowings due to earlier cultural contact with the Romans on the continent. By 600 A.D., the Germanic speech of England comprises dialects of a language distinct from the continental Germanic languages. Supremacy passes from one kingdom to another in that order.