Who were the Anglo Saxons?
We have all heard of the Anglo Saxons but exactly who
were they? We have to go back to the Romans in England to
understand! The Roman Empire was declining by 410 AD, Rome
itself was under attack by the Goths! The Romans, who were
based in England, left the country to fight in their homeland.
Law and civilisation broke down in England! The indigenous
population of Southern England were the Celts. And they were
under attack form various forces - the Scots, the Welsh and
the Vikings! They arranged for foreign mercenaries from Europe
to fight off these invaders. These mercenaries were paid with
land, The families of the mercenaries, many from Germany, also
came to England. They were the Saxons! The Saxons began taking
over from the Celts, who were driven from South England to the
West and North of England. These Saxons intermarried
with the Celts. Some Saxons brought their families to
England from their land in Germany. The Anglo-Saxons were born
and their land base was Wessex, England!
The Anglo Saxons
in Wessex
The Anglo Saxons
settled in Wessex and at first consisted of warring lords
each fighting for their own piece of England. This period
and time in English history is referred to the Dark Ages.
There is a misconception that the Anglo Saxons of Wessex and
the Dark Ages were primitive, uncivilised and Barbarians.
Not true. The name 'Dark Ages' refers to the lack of written
information about the period. The Dark Ages saw the
emergence of the Christian religion in England. The term
Middle Ages is
commonly used to describe the time in England from the
Battle of Hastings in 1066 up to the Renaissance period and
the 1600's.
Facts and information about the history and kings of
the Anglo Saxons provides the background to the English who fell
to the French at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. There were
various claims to the throne of England prior to the Battle
of Hastings. All of these claims to the English throne are
detailed via the
sitemap.
Anglo Saxons
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Who were the Anglo
Saxons?
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Where did they
originate?
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History of the
Anglo Saxons
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The Celts and the
Saxons
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Wessex and the
Anglo Saxons
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