Anglo+Saxon+England


 * Anglo-Saxon England**
 * Jack Fetick**
 * Overview**

Anglo Saxon England Existed circa.450-1066. It set the foundation for the Kingdom of England, the English language, and the later Kingdom of Great Britain. The Anglo-Saxon Kingdom is characterized by the reign of Alfred the Great (871-899) and the invasion by the danish (circa. 800). When the Norman Invasion occured, the time of the Anglo-Saxons ended. But there legacy lives on all around England.


 * Early Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms**

Before the Danish Invasion, the Anglo-Saxons lived in 7 kingdoms called the Heptarchy. They would fight seperately and have there own wars. There was no king over all the kingdoms. In 800 c.e., the Danes invaded and conquered most of England. The only kingdom left was Wessex. There king died, his son died, his brother died, and so on until the youngest of the family became King. His name was Alfred.


 * Alfred the Great**

Alfred the Great was a great leader of England. He helped unite the Anglo-Saxon tribes into one nation, England. He used raiding battle tactics to surprise and drive the Danes away from England. Though he did not live enough to expel the Danes completely from England, he captured London and paved the way for his son and grandson to fight the Danes longer. Alfred was more than a good military leader, he also promoted use of the English Language and helped design towns in an organized layout.


 * Daily Life**

The Anglo-Saxons were mainly farmers and lived in a Monarchy. Originally, the were polytheistic pagan, though they did eventually convert to christianity. They spoke Old English (Until the Norman Invasion). The Anglo-Saxons also wrote in old English. One of their most famous stories, //Beowulf,// has been printed in many different languages and is one of the most famous stories of all time.


 * 2nd Viking Invasion**

Eventually, the Vikings invaded again. Ethelred was king at the time and when he died Sweyn of Denmark succeeded him. For awhile, the Monarchs of England switched between Ethelred's bloodlin and Sweyn's bloodline. Eventually Canute the Great came to power. He had a mighty Empire the span the North Sea. When Canute died, Harold Godwinson became. He passed the throne to Edward the Confessor. Who was King of England during the Norman Invasion.


 * Norman Invasion**

William the Conqueror was descended from both Canute and Ethelred. In 1066 he invaded England from Normandy. He landed and a battle ensued at Hastings. Eventually He conquered all of England and started the House of Normandy.


 * How the Anglo-Saxons affect us**

In the middle ages, the Anglo-Saxons paved the way for William the Conqueror (Norman Invasion of 800) and other leaders to bring England into a great age where it dominated most of the world. Today, the Anglo-Saxon impact is clear everywhere, they leave us with a major language and great myths and legends.



Citation List

"Barony of Vatavia the Height of Anglo-Saxon England: 900-1013." 15 April 2009 .

Martin Alex. Knights & Castles. Chanhassen: Two-Can, 2005.

"Anglo-Saxons." 16 April 2009 .