Anglo Saxon People

The region of what is now Great Britain. The Celts originally came from a variety of locations in Europe, including Britain, Ireland, France, and Spain. The precise time they moved there is unknown.

Moreover, the Romans frequently assaulted the Celts during that period. Rome has a strong military and ruled as a major empire at the time. Rome finally restrained Britain after launching numerous assaults. The Visigoths, Germanic tribes, fought Rome while the Romans were in control of Britain. Then, to defend their city of Rome against the invading Visigoths, the Romans had to flee Britain. All Roman legions had left Britain by the year 706 A.D.

Because the Romans had departed Britain, England was therefore in a very vulnerable position at the time and lacked an army to defend them from outside aggression. As a result, the Picts and Scots attacked Britain by seizing this opportunity. The Germanic tribes of the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes arrived in England at this critical time to defend it from the Scots and the Picts. When the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes initially arrived, they wanted to protect England from the Picts and the Scots, but they ended up staying because England was a good area to settle.

Kingdoms in the Anglo-Saxon Period:

Anglo-Saxons are responsible for giving England its name. England is the “land of the Angles.” Additionally, given that the Angles, Jutes, and Saxons belonged to a Germanic tribe, the German language had a noticeable influence on English. Five kingdoms in England were created during that period by the Anglo-Saxons.

1. Northumbria

2. Mercia

3. East Anglia

3. The East Anglia

4. The Wessex 

and

5. The Cant.

Later, because Wessex was a politically potent country and King Alfred was the King of Wessex, the West Saxon dialect grew in popularity above the other dialects. King Alfred played a crucial part in the political history of England since he commanded the British army during the Viking invasion.

King Alfred the Great


The Vikings Attack during the Anglo-Saxon Period:

The Vikings were exceptionally brutal and ruthless. The Vikings made two attacks during the Anglo-Saxon era, the first in 866 A.D and the second in 787 A.D. The army of Vikings had already reached East Anglia and was advancing on Wessex, but King Alfred of Wessex was able to bring all the kingdoms together and drive out the Vikings. There was no one else who could bring the Anglo-Saxon enormous kingdoms together, thus ruler Alfred, although the King of Wessex, ruled as the ruler of the entire Anglo-Saxon people.

England briefly take down the power of the Danes in 876 A.D. Danes from Norway and Denmark immigrated to England. And in the areas where they had taken control, the Danes implemented their law, known as the Danes Law. After King Alfred, England was once more considerably destroyed because neither a King from the Anglo-Saxons nor a King from the Danes could combine all the Kingdoms.

The Battle of Hastings:

William the Conqueror assumed that because England was powerless under the rule of the Danes, he had a chance to become king of England. He then initiated an invasion against England after transporting his army from France to Hastings in Kent. At the period, Harold Godwinson was the reigning monarch of the Danes. Harold Godwinson was defeated by William Normandy at the well-known Battle of Hastings, which marked the end of the Anglo-Saxon era and the beginning of the Anglo-Norman era.

Languages in the Anglo-Saxon period:

At that time there were four languages in England.

1. Northumbria

2. Mercian

3. Kentish 

and

4. West Saxon:

Old English is the name of the Anglo-Saxon era language. The majority of Old English terms are German since the Germanic tribes that spoke ancient English descended from the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes. Additionally, because of the priests and Latin-speaking Romans,

Who primarily read and composed Latin texts, the historic Latin tongue, which significantly influenced the English language. Old English was greatly influenced by later Viking languages as well. Old English had become the standard language of Anglo-Saxon literature by the end of the era.

Anglo-Saxon literature characteristics:

The literature of the Anglo-Saxon period includes prose, poetry, riddles, maxims, and a great deal of wise sayings. It combines Christian traditions and moral principles with paganism, including ideas about the soul and nature. Old English poetry was renowned for its heroic poems. These poems were inspired by both paganism and the Bible for their subject matter. Both the texts and the Anglo-Saxon period are famed for their depictions of conflicts and battles. Poems like “The Battle of Maldon” and “The Battle of Brunanburh” reflect the numerous battles that took place at that time. The major topics in Anglo-Saxon poetry were conflict, invasion, and bravery.

In addition, Old English poetry is replete with sadness and melancholy, which are frequently used to highlight conflicts between man and his environment. Such poems include “The Ruin,” “The Seafarer,” and “The Wanderer,” among others. Other poems—such as “The Husband’s Message” and “The Wife’s Lament”—depict the separation of a husband and wife and the ensuing anguish. The clergy and clerics were primarily linked with the education and literature of that century since the church and monasteries served as the center of culture and education during the Anglo-Saxon period.

The Old English Period’s most significant poem, Beowulf, has more than 3000 verses.

Manuscripts:

Four manuscripts include works of Anglo-Saxon literature

The Hunting of Man, commonly known as The Junius Manuscripts, contained poems and biblical stories.

There were many riddles and fervent verses in The Exeter Book.

The subject of Vercelli’s book was poetry and prose.

The Nowell Codex, sometimes referred to as the Beowulf Manuscript, is all about poetry. This manuscript includes the well-known poem Beowulf as well.

Poets of Anglo-Saxons:

Caedmon and Cynewulf were two crucial poets of the Anglo-Saxon period if we examine Old English poetry in general. Cadman’s poetic allegories of the Bible are still highly regarded. Exodus, Daniel and Judith, and other poems are thought to have been written by Caedmon. Similar to how Cynewulf is credited as the author of books like Christ, The Phoenix, and The Dream of the Road. Caedmon would get his inspiration for his poetry from the Old Testament of the Bible, whereas Cynewulf would draw his inspiration from the New Testament of the Bible.

The prose didn’t emerge until the 9th century, far later than poetry. The majority of Anglo-Saxon prose is found in historical and religious texts. Only after King Alfred the Great’s reign does Anglo-Saxon prose appear. Not only was he a warrior. He also supported literature and the arts. He made a significant contribution to Anglo-Saxon prose. As a result of the Old English translation, he made Venerable Bede’s “Church History” from Latin. His writings were less innovative and creative and more spiritual and enlightening.

Some important works of the Anglo-Saxon period:

• Widsith

• Deor’s Complaint

• The Dream of Rood

• The Seafarer

• The Wanderer

• The Husband’s Message

• The Wife’s Lament etc.