Anglo Saxons

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

• Who were the Anglo Saxons?
• Where did they originate?
• History of the Anglo Saxons
• The Celts and the Saxons
• Wessex and the Anglo Saxons