Anglo-Saxon England

I am currently working on an a-level history coursework piece and need primary sources for the topic "to what extent was Alfred the Great the most influential king in the unification of England from 871-975" I am struggling to find many useful primary sources especially to support my argument that Aethelstan was the most important factor. If anyone knows any good primary sources or ways to find them I would appreciate any help

I just saved Harold Godwinsons ass as Mercia in his fight against Harald Hardrade and William the bastard. After the fight, he was still a bastard lmaoo. Most fun I've had in a while but it was easy. England was SUPER unified. Ai was very good this time. England is super strong now with 11k troops and it hasn't even been a 60 years. All lead by the AI king with a loyal mercian me. As the title said, which England do you prefer?

This family tree chart shows the line of kings from the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Kent (455-871), from its founding to its fall. I had a lot of fun making this chart and would love to hear any feedback or suggestions for edits!

I have heard many terms referring to Anglo-Saxon social hierarchy but after putting some thought into it recently, realised that the way I viewed it is incorrect, could someone enlighten me on the social ''position'' of the following terms: Hlæford, Thegn, Ealdormann, Gesith, Dryhten and Eorl.

I always viewed it as somewhat simple, based on later medieval titles, and assumed their hierarchy would look something like this:

Cyning > Hlæford > Eorl > Ealdormann > Thegn, with Gesith being a rank of ''companion'', and Dryhten being a catchall term meaning ''Lord/Leader'', but I have realised that I am likely VERY incorrect about this, so would like to know what order each of those titles would be in, and how they interacted with one another if possible.

Was trying to do a 1066 game as an Anglo Saxon and keep them in power in England. After William won the war, I murdered him, but his son still formed English culture.

My wife is House Wessex and had a claim on England. I started a faction to install her, did the abduct gimmick and pressed demands, instantly winning the war.

Well that’s all great, except she not only switched to English culture, but switched all our children as well, including our heir. So now the Anglo-Saxon run is over, and I must restart and find a new strategy.

Hello, Does anyone have resources on Anglo-Saxon England? I have the Anglo-Saxon World by Higham and Ryan and the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. I am looking for the era 600-1066. I know it is a large timeline, but one of the things I am interested in is to compare the different "eras". I am particularly looking for these areas.

• Politics

• Culture

• Warfare

• Historical events

• Anything you might find cool about this era

• Thanks in advace

edit: Looking for all kinds of resources: Books, podcasts, videos, courses, etc

The feudal government itself represents states where the property is private, in contrast, tribal government represents states where the property belongs to the tribe.

In Anglo-Saxon there were two types of ownership of land, folkland and bookland. The folkland were inalienable possessions, they belonged to a kinsgroup and couldn't be sold or partitioned. In contrast, booklands were private property that could give or sold to any person. Almost all of Anglo-Saxon England were folklands, while the remaining bookland belonged to the Church. The whole reason why the kings of Wessex/England were chosen by the witenagemot was that the realm itself was folklands of the House of Wessex.

So, it is irrelevant how centralized the government might have been under Edward the Confessor, when every book about the subject begins in "William the Conquer introduced feudalism to England", which he did by depriving the folklands lands from the crying earldormen and redistributing them as bookland to this many companions, thus transforming.

I’m looking to start a gardening stall for Anglo Saxon living history, is there any good sources any of you know about for information on tools, plants and methods?

People like to learn about the history of the Welsh people who live in Wales and the history of Wales, but what about the history of the native Welsh who lived in Anglo Saxon England?

As you probably know, native Briton tribes lived all over Britain, but things changed after the Anglo Saxon settlement. People spoke a common Brittonic language with various dialects.

In my opinion, this aspect of history should be taught in schools in Wales because it's an important part of Welsh history, and it explains how Wales came to be and how the native Britons became 'the Welsh'. And how the Welsh language developed.

The history of Wales is barely taught in schools (I know times are changing), let alone the early history of the Welsh in England.

The Anglo Saxon invasion is taught in English primary schools, here'a an example

What happened to the Welsh tribes who lived in England?

From a 2022 DNA study- (Copied from report) First, we detect a substantial increase in continental northern European ancestry in (East) England during the Early Anglo-Saxon period, replacing approximately 75% of the local British ancestry .

This supports the idea of a large scare migration/ invasion into England around this time and would go to explain how (where we now call) England became Anglicised in such a short amount of time. And would go to explain the fate of the Britons/ Welsh who lived there.

Because of the association with racism/ white nationalism (particularly in the USA right now) and other political reasons, the idea of an Anglo Saxon invasion began to be denied in history studies and teachings.

Some historians promoted an idea that there was only a small Anglo Saxon migration- but that didn't explain the massive change in language and culture. This recent DNA results shows that a large number of migrants came at that time, which would explain the massive change in language and culture due to a change in power structure.

Law

One clue we have, is that in the laws of King Ine of Wessex (A.D 694), an Anglo-Saxon king, payment of ‘ ('blood money’ which was compensation paid to a person’s family if they were injured or killed) for an Anglo Saxon was 2 to 5 times higher than payment for a Welshman. So, in law in that area of England, a Welsh person’s life was worth less and there was a division between the English and native Welsh population, where the Welsh were discriminated against. Some historians believe this is an example of racial stratification.

This is an interesting page on this subject, various historians hypothesise what the intentions of this law was- to force the native Britons to assimilate and adopt an Anglo Saxon identity or to encourage them to leave for a native Briton/ Welsh controlled kingdoms?

Anglo Saxon Chronicle

The is a collection of annals in Old English that was compiled in the 9th century, chronicling the history of the Anglo Saxons. Some of it is taken from older texts so it may not be 100% accurate. The writing starts to be contemporary in the 7th century.

There are many entries detailing battles with the native Britons i.e the Welsh. They use Briton and Welsh interchangeably, but over time ‘the Britons’ just become ‘the Welsh’. As you probably know, ‘Welsh’ means foreigner, and later

It details the beginning of the Anglo Saxons coming to Britain and we get some idea of what was happening to the Briton/ Welsh natives in England.

I’ve compiled most of the entries that mention the Welsh/ native Britons.

They don’t record many of the Briton victories,

• A.D. 465. This year Hengest and Esc fought with the Welsh, nigh Wippedfleet; and there slew twelve leaders, all Welsh. On their side a thane was there slain, whose name was Wipped.

• A.D. 473. This year Hengest and Esc fought with the Welsh, and took immense Booty. And the Welsh fled from the English like fire.

• A.D. 477. This year came Ella to Britain, with his three sons, Cymen, and Wlenking, and Cissa, in three ships; landing at a place that is called Cymenshore. There they slew many of the Welsh; and some in flight they drove into the wood that is called Andred'sley.

• A.D. 485. This year Ella fought with the Welsh nigh Mecred's-Burnsted.

• A.D. 490. This year Ella and Cissa besieged the city of Andred, and slew all that were therein; nor was one Briten left there afterwards. (This is in reference to the Massacre of Pevensey in East Sussex)

• A.D. 495. This year came two leaders into Britain, Cerdic and Cynric his son, with five ships, at a place that is called Cerdic's-ore. And they fought with the Welsh the same day. Then succeeded Alfred, their brother, to the government. And then had elapsed of his age three and twenty winters, and three hundred and ninety-six winters from the time when his kindred first gained the land of Wessex from the Welsh.

• A.D. 499 They then sent to the Angles, and desired them to send more assistance. They described the worthlessness of the Britons, and the richness of the land.

• A.D. 501. This year Porta and his two sons, Beda and Mela, came into Britain, with two ships, at a place called Portsmouth. They soon landed, and slew on the spot a young Briton of very high rank.

• A.D. 508. This year Cerdic and Cynric slew a British king, whose name was Natanleod, and five thousand men with him. After this was the land named Netley, from him, as far as Charford.

• A.D. 514. This year came the West-Saxons into Britain, with three ships, at the place that is called Cerdic's-ore. And Stuff and Wihtgar fought with the Britons, and put them to flight.

• A.D. 519. This year Cerdic and Cynric undertook the government of the West-Saxons; the same year they fought with the Britons at a place now called Charford. From that day have reigned the children of the West-Saxon kings.

• A.D. 527. This year Cerdic and Cynric fought with the Britons in the place that is called Cerdic's-ley.

• A.D. 530. This year Cerdic and Cynric took the isle of Wight, and slew many men in Carisbrook.

• A.D. 552. This year Cynric fought with the Britons on the spot that is called Sarum, and put them to flight.

• A.D. 556. This year Cynric and Ceawlin fought with the Britons at Beranbury.

• A.D. 571. This year Cuthulf fought with the Britons at Bedford, and took four towns, Lenbury, Aylesbury, Benson, and Ensham. And this same year he died.

• A.D. 577. This year Cuthwin and Ceawlin fought with the Britons, and slew three kings, Commail, and Condida, and Farinmail, on the spot that is called Derham, and took from them three cities, Gloucester, Cirencester, and Bath.

• A.D. 584. This year Ceawlin and Cutha fought with the Britons on the spot that is called Fretherne. There Cutha was slain. And Ceawlin took many towns, as well as immense booty and wealth. He then retreated to his own people.

• A.D. 591. This year there was a great slaughter of Britons at Wanborough; Ceawlin was driven from his kingdom, and Ceolric reigned six years.

• A.D. 597. This year began Ceolwulf to reign over the West-Saxons; and he constantly fought and conquered, either with the Angles, or the Welsh, or the Picts, or the Scots. He was the son of Cutha, Cutha of Cynric, Cynric of Cerdic, Cerdic of Elesa, Elesa of Gewis, Gewis of Wye, Wye of Frewin, Frewin of Frithgar, Frithgar of Brand, Brand of Balday, and Balday of Woden. This year came Augustine and his companions to England.

• A.D. 607. Ethelfrith led his army to Chester; where he slew an innumerable host of the Welsh; and so was fulfilled the prophecy of Augustine, wherein he saith -- "If the Welsh will not have peace with us, they shall perish at the hands of the Saxons." There were also slain two hundred priests, who came thither to pray for the army of the Welsh. Their leader was called Brocmail, who with some fifty men escaped thence.

• A.D. 614. This year Cynegils and Cwichelm fought at Bampton, and slew two thousand and forty-six of the Welsh.

• A.D. 658. This year Kenwal fought with the Welsh at Pen, and pursued them to the Parret. This battle was fought after his return from East-Anglia, where he was three years in exile. Penda had driven him thither and deprived him of his kingdom, because he had discarded his sister.

• A.D. 743. This year Ethelbald, king of Mercia, and Cuthred, king of the West-Saxons, fought with the Welsh.

• A.D. 823. This year a battle was fought between the Welsh in Cornwall and the people of Devonshire, at Camelford; and in the course of the same year Egbert, king of the West-Saxons, and Bernwulf, King of Mercia, fought a battle at Wilton, in which Egbert gained the victory, but there was great slaughter on both sides.

• A.D. 828. This year Wiglaf recovered his Mercian kingdom, and Bishop Ethelwald departed this life. The same year King Egbert led an army against the people of North-Wales, and compelled them all to peaceful submission.

• A.D. 835. This year came a great naval armament into West-Wales, where they were joined by the people, who commenced war against Egbert, the West-Saxon king. When he heard this, he proceeded with his army against them and fought with them at Hengeston, where he put to flight both the Welsh and the Danes.

• A.D. 1039. This year happened the terrible wind; and Bishop Britmar died at Lichfield. The Welsh slew Edwin, brother of Earl Leofric, and Thurkil, and Elfget, and many good men with them. This year also came Hardacnute to Bruges, where his mother was.

From here onwards the paragraphs detailing wars and interactions with the Welsh are too big, so if you’re interested you can read them in the article I linked above.

Another source is the Anglo Saxon scholar, Bede, born in the 7th century

He writes-

• A.D. 603. AT this time, Ethelfrid, a most worthy king, and ambitious of glory, governed the kingdom of the Northumbrians, and ravaged the Britons more than all the great men of the English, insomuch that he might be compared to Saul, once king of the Israelites, excepting only this, that he was ignorant of the true religion. For he conquered more territories from the Britons, either making them tributary, or driving the inhabitants clean out, and planting English in their places, than any other king or tribune.

• The Britons, though they, for the most part, as a nation hate and oppose the English nation, and wrongfully, and from wicked lewdness, set themselves against the appointed Easter of the whole Catholic Church’

Gildas was a British monk who also wrote about the Anglos Saxons coming to Britain.

"Some [the Britons/ Welsh…] were murdered in great numbers; others, constrained by famine, came and yielded themselves to be slaves for ever to their foes, running the risk of being instantly slain, which truly was the greatest favour that could be offered to them. […] Others remained still in their country, committing the safeguard of their lives, which were in continual jeopardy, to the mountains, precipices, thickly wooded forests, and to the rocks of the seas."

There are some discussion on the AngloSaxon sub about recent DNA findings and what likely happened to the native Britons.

A book I would recommend is Wales and the Britons, 350-1064 (History of Wales) by T M Charles-Edwards.

Hope this is of some interest!

When playing ACV I always enjoy exploring Anglo-Saxon England with its forests, monasteries and charming towns during autumn. You can even celebrate Samhain with locals in a small town which is covered with pumpkins all around it.

Michael Lapidge called Aldhelm the first English ‘man of letters’ on account of his vast learning. Bede said of him that he was ‘most learned in every respect’ and that he was both a mast of style as well as possessing an unrivalled knowledge of both classical and patristic writings. Aldhelm’s writings set the standard for Anglo-Latin literature that would continue to be imitated up to the time of the Norman Conquest. Indeed each of his works inspired Latin and Old English imitators who through their engagement with Aldhelm’s legacy advanced the development of Anglo-Saxon intellectual history. Therefore, although he is not well known today, Aldhelm’s influence was truly immense, greater perhaps even than Bede’s.

Æthelwulf, father of Alfred the Great, was perhaps the most innovative king Wessex had seen since the reign of Ine. Although he would dedicate much of his reign to securing the throne, through the dual impact of intense Viking raiding and personal hubris his experiment would finally explode in his face casting a permanent shadow on his legacy but also setting the scene for the rise of his mighty son.

As historians we thrive on the material culture of the past. You don’t need to be an historical materialist to recognize that without material culture our understanding of history is severely limited. Objects are the raw material from which we make history. What then do objects tell us about the early development of Anglo-Saxon history and society? When we look at this we can chart the material evolution of Anglo-Saxon England from a migrant society of farmers to a kingdom with towns and villages. At the centre of this development lies trade.