Roman \"Abandonment\" of Britain: Fact or Fiction?

[Medicus matt]

As far as we know, there's no newly minted coinage coming into Britain after the first decade of the 5th century.
The complete collapse of a fiscal economy and an end to the large scale importation of goods associated with it are good archaeological proofs of the end of any sort of practical Imperial sponsorship/support involvment in the government of Britain.

Eothar? I thought Aetius sent him to 'New Britain' (ie Britanny)and, therefore, nothing to do with Britain?

And as for asking for aid from (a) Riothamus...it wouldn't be the first time that Rome had requested aid from an independant, rather than client, king. Enlisting foederati to help counter the threat presented by former foederati is the usual model for late 4th and 5th century warfare in the West. It's certainly no indication that the rulers(s) of Britain were under any sort of Imperial control or obligation.