Portal:Anglo-Saxon England

Anglo-Saxon England Anglo-Saxon England or Early Medieval England, existing from the 5th to the 11th centuries from soon after the end of Roman Britain until the Norman Conquest in 1066, consisted of various Anglo-Saxon kingdoms until 927, when it was united as the Kingdom of England by King Æthelstan (r. 927–939). It became part of the short-lived North Sea Empire of Cnut, a personal union between England, Denmark and Norway in the 11th century. The Anglo-Saxons migrated to Britain (Pretanī, Prydain) from mainland northwestern Europe after the Roman Empire withdrawal from the isle at the beginning of the 5th century. Anglo-Saxon history thus begins during the period of sub-Roman Britain following the end of Roman control, and traces the establishment of Anglo-Saxon kingdoms in the 5th and 6th centuries (conventionally identified as seven main kingdoms: Northumbria, Mercia, East Anglia, Essex, Kent, Sussex, and Wessex); their Christianisation during the 7th century; the threat of Viking invasions and Danish settlers; the gradual unification of England under the Wessex hegemony during the 9th and 10th centuries; and ending with the Norman Conquest of England by William the Conqueror in 1066. The Normans persecuted the Anglo-Saxons and overthrew their ruling class to substitute their own leaders to oversee and rule England. However, Anglo-Saxon identity survived beyond the Norman Conquest, came to be known as Englishry under Norman rule, and through social and cultural integration with Romano-British Celts, Danes and Normans became the modern English people. (Full article...) Selected article The East Angles were initially ruled (from the 6th century until 749) by members of the Wuffingas dynasty, named after Wuffa, whose name means 'descendants of the wolf'. The last king was Guthrum II, who ruled in the 10th century. After 749 East Anglia was ruled by kings whose genealogy is not known, or by sub-kings who were under the control of the kings of Mercia. East Anglia briefly recovered its independence after the death of Offa of Mercia in 796, but Mercian hegemony was soon restored by his successor, Coenwulf. Between 826 and 869, following an East Anglian revolt in which the Mercian king, Beornwulf, was killed, the East Angles again regained their independence. In 869 a Danish army defeated and killed the last native East Anglian king, Edmund the Martyr. The kingdom then fell into the hands of the Danes and eventually formed part of the Danelaw. In 918 the East Anglian Danes accepted the overlordship of Edward the Elder of Wessex. East Anglia then became part of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of England. (more about the kings of East Anglia...) Did you know? Did you know... ...that in Anglo-Saxon England, pregnant women were warned against eating food that was too salty or too sweet, or other fatty foods, and were also cautioned not to drink strong alcohol or travel on horseback? ... the impressive ship burial at Sutton Hoo is not the only example in Anglo-Saxon England; another ship burial, including an impressive glass beaker and gold ring, was found at Snape. ...that the name Taplow of the burial mound at Taplow, comes from Old English Tæppas hláw ('Tæppa's mound'), so that the name of the man buried in the mound would seem to have been Tæppa? ...that the Ordinance Concerning the Dunsaete, which gave procedures for dealing with disputes between the English and the Welsh of Archenfield, stated that the English should only cross into the Welsh side, and vice versa, in the presence of an appointed man who had to make sure that the foreigner was safely escorted back to the crossing point? Subcategories Category puzzle Select [►] to view subcategories Anglo-Saxon England 5th century in England 6th century in England 7th century in England 8th century in England 9th century in England 10th century in England Anglo-Saxon literature Anglo-Saxon archaeology Anglo-Saxon art Christianity in Anglo-Saxon England Conflict in Anglo-Saxon England 11th century in England People executed under the Anglo-Saxons Fiction set in Anglo-Saxon England Hen Ogledd Anglo-Saxon kingdoms Anglo-Norse England Old English Anglo-Saxon paganism Anglo-Saxon people Peoples of Anglo-Saxon England Anglo-Saxon studies scholars Anglo-Saxon settlements Anglo-Saxon society Selected image The Devil's Dyke The Devil's Dyke (also called Reach Dyke or Devil's Ditch, once known as St Edmund's Ditch) is an earthwork near the village of Reach that is generally assumed to be an Anglo-Saxon earthwork. It is one of the largest and best surviving examples of its kind in England. Selected biography Saint Edith of Wilton (also known as Eadgyth, her name in Old English, or as Editha or Ediva, the Latin forms of her name) was an English nun, a daughter of the 10th century King Edgar of England, born at Kemsing, Kent, in 961. Following her death in 984, she became the patron saint of her community at Wilton Abbey and churches were dedicated to her in Wiltshire and in other parts of England. Her life was written by Goscelin, and her feast day is on 16 September. (more...) Things you can do Requested articles: Battle of York (867). Complete list of requested history articles... Expansion needed: Battle of Tettenhall • Æthelwold's Revolt • Battle of the Holme • Edward the Elder • Edmund I • Eadred • Eadwig • Edgar the Peaceful • Edmund Ironside • St. Brice's Day massacre • Battle of Assandun • Battle of Fulford • Tostig Godwinson • Edwin, Earl of Mercia Cleanup and/or improvement needed: Councils of Clovesho • Escomb Church • Alfred Jewel • Anglo-Saxon warfare • Mercia • Kent • Featured articles and lists People Events, places, books and documents Kings and earls Ælle of Sussex Æthelbald of Mercia Æthelberht of Kent Æthelred of Mercia Æthelred, Lord of the Mercians Æthelstan Æthelwold ætheling Aldfrith of Northumbria Anna of East Anglia Beorhtwulf of Mercia Cædwalla of Wessex Ceawlin of Wessex Coenred of Mercia Coenwulf of Mercia Eadbald of Kent Eardwulf of Northumbria Egbert of Wessex Ine of Wessex Offa of Mercia Penda of Mercia Siward, Earl of Northumbria Wiglaf of Mercia Wihtred of Kent Wulfhere of Mercia List of monarchs of East Anglia Bishops and archbishops Ælfheah of Canterbury Augustine of Canterbury Ealdred (bishop) Hygeberht Justus Laurence of Canterbury Mellitus Paulinus of York Robert of Jumièges Stigand Wilfrid List of members of the Gregorian mission Authors and poets Asser Cædmon Israel the Grammarian J. 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