Anglo Saxon History

Anglo Saxons were distinct Germanic tribes of Angles, Jutes, and Saxons who inhabited northern Europe during the reign of the Roman Empire.

They later emigrated to Britain and subdued the local populations, having established their own kingdoms in the region.

The Anglo Saxon People

Over time, this led to the birth of an Anglo-Saxon aristocracy and a consolidated kingdom uniting all the Anglo-Saxon territories.

From their arrival in England in the 5th century to the Norman Conquest in 11th century, Anglo Saxons remained the dominant power in the region.

Norman Conquest Europe Medieval Times Bayeux Tapestry

Emigration from Northern Europe

By the beginning of the 5th century, the Huns and Slavs were migrating to Eastern European territories.

This put pressure on the Germanic tribes in Northern Europe who were forced to emigrate, failing to stop the onslaught of these tribes.

This was what triggered the movement of the Angles, Saxons and Jutes from northern Europe to England.

Anglo Saxon History

This was also a time when Roman forces from Britain withdrew, leaving the region open to attacks from outside. So Angles Jutes and Saxons were able to land a vast number of populations on British shores without any hindrance.

roman soldier g15d46668e 640

Establishment in England

Following the arrival of the earliest Angles and Saxons, they were asked by the local Briton population to help guard them against the Picts and Scots who inhabited the northern part of the British Isles.

The Briton ruler of Kent was among the first to invite them to his lands. In time, Anglo-Saxons successfully warded off the Celtic threat from the north, then went on to take over the Kent territory itself.

Bretons Celtic People

The more Anglo-Saxon population followed in waves during the 6th and 7th centuries, leading to the establishment of Saxon and Angle kingdoms in all regions of Britain. By the 8th century, there were a total of 7 kingdoms of the Angles and Saxons.

Anglo Saxon Kingdoms Map

Unified England under Anglo-Saxons

With the emergence of individual Anglo-Saxon kingdoms in England, the struggle began for expansion of power and unification of the region into a single kingdom.

Northumbrian rulers were among the first to succeed in establishing hegemony over most of England in the 7th century. In the 8th century, Mercian rulers effectively ruled over entire England.

Who Were The Anglo Saxons Alfred The Great

Unified England was more firmly consolidated when the Saxon rulers of Wessex succeeded in subduing all English territories in the 9th century.

Viking Threat and End of Anglo-Saxon Rule

Vikings began posing a serious threat to Anglo-Saxon rulers of England beginning in the 9th century. By the late 9th century, a large Viking army had successfully taken over many parts of England before its defeat by Alfred the Great.

Viking Longboats viking raids with sail

The 10th century saw a clearer emergence of an Anglo-Saxon identity in the face of Viking threat.

Viking-Raider-Axe-Longboat

Despite this, Danish Vikings continued raiding English territories. They were successful in removing Anglo-Saxon rule in the 11th century before it was resumed by the mid of the century again.

However, the Normans conquered England in 1066, definitively ending the Anglo-Saxon rule from England.

William The Conqueror Famous Medieval Kings Battle of Hastings

The Anglo-Saxon nobility was effectively replaced by a new Norman-French nobility. Although the Anglo-Saxon rule in England ended, their culture and legacy left a permanent mark on the region.

Norman Nobility

 Norman Nobility