Portal:Anglo-Saxon England

Anglo-Saxon England Anglo-Saxon England or Early Medieval England covers the period from the end of Roman Britain in the 5th century until the Norman Conquest in 1066. It 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 from mainland northwestern Europe after the Roman Empire's withdrawal from Britain 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 Battle of Hastings occurred on 14 October 1066 during the Norman conquest of England, between the Norman-French army of Duke William II of Normandy and the English army under King Harold II. It took place at Senlac Hill, approximately 10 km (61⁄4 miles) northwest of Hastings, close to the present-day town of Battle, East Sussex, and was a decisive Norman victory. Harold II was killed in the battle—legend has it that he was shot through the eye with an arrow. He was the last English king to die in battle on English soil until Richard III was killed at the Battle of Bosworth Field. The battle marked the last successful foreign invasion of the British Isles. Although there was further English resistance, this battle is seen as the point at which William gained control of England, becoming its first Norman ruler as King William I. The famous Bayeux Tapestry depicts the events before and during the battle. Battle Abbey marks the site where it is believed that the battle was fought. Founded by King William "the Conqueror" (as he became known), it serves as a memorial to the dead and may have been an act of penance for the bloodshed. The site is open to the public and is the location of annual re-enactments of the battle.(more...) 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 Anglo-Saxon runes The Anglo-Saxon runes (also Anglo-Frisian), also known as futhorc (or fuþorc) were used probably from the 5th century. Selected biography Augustine of Canterbury (circa first third of the 6th century – probably 26 May 604) was a Benedictine monk who became the first Archbishop of Canterbury in the year 597. He is considered the "Apostle to the English" and a founder of the English Church. Augustine was the prior of a monastery in Rome when Pope Gregory the Great chose him in 595 to lead a mission, usually known as the Gregorian mission, to Britain to Christianize King Æthelberht and his Kingdom of Kent from their native Anglo-Saxon paganism. Before reaching Kent the missionaries had considered turning back but Gregory urged them on and, in 597, Augustine landed on the Isle of Thanet and proceeded to Æthelberht's main town of Canterbury. King Æthelberht converted to Christianity and allowed the missionaries to preach freely, giving them land to found a monastery outside the city walls. Augustine was consecrated as a bishop and converted many of the king's subjects, including thousands during a mass baptism on Christmas Day in 597. Pope Gregory sent more missionaries in 601, along with encouraging letters and gifts for the churches, although attempts to persuade the native Celtic bishops to submit to Augustine's authority failed. Augustine also arranged the consecration of his successor, Laurence of Canterbury. The archbishop probably died in 604 and was soon revered as a saint. (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. R. R. Tolkien Events Gregorian mission Battle of Hastings Places Nico Ditch Books and documents Anglo-Saxon Chronicle Hemming's Cartulary Liber Eliensis Ormulum St Cuthbert Gospel Related portals WikiProjects  •  • Associated Wikimedia The following Wikimedia Foundation sister projects provide more on this subject: Commons Free media repository Wikibooks Free textbooks and manuals Wikidata Free knowledge base Wikinews Free-content news Wikiquote Collection of quotations Wikisource Free-content library Wikiversity Free learning tools Wiktionary Dictionary and thesaurus