History UsefulNotes / AngloSaxons

** ''Literature/TheSaxonStories'' and its television adaptation ''Series/TheLastKingdom'' focus on Alfred the Great and his uneasy ally Uhtred (an Anglo-Saxon lord who was kidnapped by a Danish viking as a child and raised as a culturally Danish pagan).

** ''Literature/TheSaxonStories'' and its television adaptation ''Series/TheLastKingdom'' focus on Alfred the Great and his uneasy ally Uhtred who was raised as a Viking.

The Anglo-Saxons were the founders of England, and contributed massively to its distinctive culture, perhaps most notably through the English language, which is descended from the varying dialects that were spoken by the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes after they moved to Britain (along with healthy doses of Norse and French). They also set up the shire boundaries that remained in use until the 1990s, while lots of English towns and cities originated as Anglo-Saxon settlements. And many people in England today [[https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms10326 can trace large amounts of their genetic ancestry]] [[https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-022-05247-2 to the Anglo-Saxon settlers]], particularly in the south and east of the country.

The Anglo-Saxons were the founders of England, and contributed massively to its distinctive culture, perhaps most notably through the English language, which is descended from the varying dialects that were spoken by the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes after they moved to Britain (along with healthy doses of Norse and French). They also set up the shire boundaries that remained in use until the 1990s, while lots of English towns and cities originated as Anglo-Saxon settlements. And many people in England today [[https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms10326 can trace large amounts of their genetic ancestry]] [[https://journals.plos.org/plosgenetics/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgen.1007152 to the Anglo-Saxon settlers]], particularly in the south and east of the country. It's worth mentioning however that Anglo-Saxons didn't outright replace the native Britonnic populations as it is generally believed: genetic studies demonstrate that modern English people are, by large, descendant of those Britonnic populations, implying that they were instead slowly assimilated by the Anglo-Saxon invaders rather than exterminated/driven away.

Related to WhiteAngloSaxonProtestant only in the sense that a number of these were descended from Anglo-Saxons and that Anglo-Saxons were what we would consider white today. They were of course [[YouShouldKnowThisAlready not Protestants]].

* ''Literature/{{Ivanhoe}}'' portrays the perpetuation of cultural friction between pure-blooded Saxon families and the ruling Normans in England, though in real life the two cultures had long since assimilated by this point.

* ''Literature/TheSaxonStories'' and its television adaptation ''Series/TheLastKingdom'' focus on Alfred the Great and his uneasy ally Uhtred who was raised as a Viking.

The Anglo-Saxons were the founders of England, and contributed massively to its distinctive culture, perhaps most notably through the English language, which is descended from the varying dialects that were spoken by the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes after they moved to Britain (along with healthy doses of Norse and French). They also set up the shire boundaries that remained in use until the 1990s, while lots of English towns and cities originated as Anglo-Saxon settlements. And many people in England today [[https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms10326 can trace large amounts of their genetic ancestry]] [[https://journals.plos.org/plosgenetics/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgen.1007152 to the Anglo-Saxon settlers]], particularly in the south and east of the country.

In the fifth century, after the evacuation of [[UsefulNotes/TheRomanEmpire Roman]] troops during UsefulNotes/TheMigrationPeriod, the Anglo-Saxons came to [[UsefulNotes/UnitedKingdom Britain]]. These were a cluster of Germanic tribes, notably the Angles (from what is now [[UsefulNotes/TheSixteenLandsOfDeutschland Schleswig-Holstein]] in UsefulNotes/{{Germany}} and Syddanmark in UsefulNotes/{{Denmark}}), the Saxons (mostly from what is now Lower Saxony in modern Germany), and the Jutes (from the Jutland Peninsula in modern Denmark), who all shared a culture vaguely resembling that of [[UsefulNotes/TheVikingAge the Vikings]].

* Cerdic of Wessex and his Saxon army are the villains in the 2004 film ''Film/KingArthur''

* The invading Saxons are the antagonists of the middle novels of Creator/RosemarySutcliff's Literature/TheEagleOfTheNinth series – ''The Silver Branch'', ''The Lantern Bearers'', ''Literature/SwordAtSunset'', and ''Dawn Wind''.

[[caption-width-right:350:Anglo-Saxon king of England Edward the Confessor, from Art/TheBayeuxTapestry.]]

[[caption-width-right:350:Anglo-Saxon king Edward the Confessor of England, from Art/TheBayeuxTapestry.]]

[[caption-width-right:350:Anglo-Saxon king Edward the Confessor of England in 1066, from Art/TheBayeuxTapestry.]]

[[caption-width-right:350:Anglo-Saxon king Edward the Confessor of England, from Art/TheBayeuxTapestry.]]

* The 9th century ''Literature/HistoriaBrittonum'' recounts, in a combination of history and legend, the invasion of the Anglo-Saxons from a Celtic-British perspective, with King Hengist as the main villain. Among the leaders of the British who opposed them is none other than Myth/KingArthur, though he isn't called a king but rather ''dux bellorum'' ("leader of battles" or war chief). Later works like ''Literature/HistoriaRegumBritanniae'' retold and embellished these events further with Arthur becoming a king. Though as Arthurian legend further developed and became more and more of an AnachronismStew, the Anglo-Saxons' role was obscured. In ''Literature/LeMorteDArthur'' they are not mentioned, but [[UsefulNotes/TheCrusades Saracens]] are.

In the fifth century, after the evacuation of [[UsefulNotes/TheRomanEmpire Roman]] troops during UsefulNotes/TheMigrationPeriod, the Anglo-Saxons came to [[UsefulNotes/UnitedKingdom Britain]]. These were a cluster of Germanic tribes, notably the Angles (from what is now [[UsefulNotes/TheSixteenLandsOfDeutschland Schleswig-Holstein]] in UsefulNotes/{{Germany}} and Syddanmark in UsefulNotes/{{Denmark}}), the Saxons (mostly from what is now Lower Saxony in modern Germany), and the Jutes (from the Jutland Peninsula in modern UsefulNotes/{{Denmark}}), who all shared a culture vaguely resembling that of [[UsefulNotes/TheVikingAge the Vikings]].

In the fifth century, after the evacuation of [[UsefulNotes/TheRomanEmpire Roman]] troops during UsefulNotes/TheMigrationPeriod, the Anglo-Saxons came to Britain. These were a cluster of Germanic tribes, notably the Angles (from what is now [[UsefulNotes/TheSixteenLandsOfDeutschland Schleswig-Holstein]] in Germany), the Saxons (mostly from what is now [[UsefulNotes/TheSixteenLandsOfDeutschland Lower Saxony]] in modern Germany), and the Jutes (from the Jutland Peninsula in modern UsefulNotes/{{Denmark}}), who all shared a culture vaguely resembling that of [[UsefulNotes/TheVikingAge the Vikings]].

* ''Literature/TheSaxonStories'' and its television adaptation ''Series/TheLastKingdom'' focus on Alfred the Great and his uneasy ally Uhtred who is raised as a Viking.

* ''Literature/TheSaxonStories'' which is an ongoing series of novels about Alfred the Great and his uneasy ally Uhtred who is raised as a Viking.
** ''Series/TheLastKingdom'' (an adaptation of ''The Saxon Stories'') is also set around this time period with Alfred the Great as a major character.

* ''Series/TheLastKingdom'' (an adaptation of ''The Saxon Stories'') is set around this time period with Alfred the Great as a major character.

* The Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England are prominently featured in ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedValhalla'' with King Alfred the Great as the main antagonist.

* The Anglo-Saxons have recurring appearances in ''Series/Vikings'' usually whenever Ragnar and his family visit England.

** ''Literature/TheSaxonStories'' which is an ongoing series of novels about Alfred the Great and his uneasy ally Uhtred who is raised as a Viking.
** ''Series/TheLastKingdom'' (an adaptation of ''The Saxon Stories'') is set around this time period with Alfred the Great as a major character.
** The Anglo-Saxons have recurring appearances in ''Series/Vikings'' usually whenever Ragnar and his family visit England.

* The 9th century ''Literature/HistoriaBrittonum'' recounts, in a combination of history and legend, the invasion of the Anglo-Saxons from a Celtic-British perspective, with King Hengist as the main villain. Among the leaders of the British who opposed them is none other than Myth/KingArthur, though he isn't called a king but rather ''dux bellorum'' ("leader of battles" or warchief). Later works like ''Literature/HistoriaRegumBritanniae'' retold and embellished these events further with Arthur becoming a king. Though as Arthurian legend further developed and became more and more of an AnachronismStew, the Anglo-Saxons' role was obscured. In ''Literature/LeMorteDArthur'' they are not mentioned, but [[UsefulNotes/TheCrusades Saracens]] are.

** ''Literature/TheSaxonStories'' which is an ongoing series of novels about Alfred the Great and his uneasy ally Uhtred who is raised as a viking.

The Anglo-Saxons were the founders of England, and contributed massively to its distinctive culture, perhaps most notably through the English language, which is descended from the varying dialects that were spoken by the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes after they moved to Britain (along with healthy doses of Norse and French). The Anglo-Saxons also set up the shire boundaries that remained in use until the 1990s, while lots of English towns and cities can trace their origins to settlements founded by them. And many people in England today [[https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms10326 can trace large amounts of their genetic ancestry]] [[https://journals.plos.org/plosgenetics/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgen.1007152 to the Anglo-Saxon settlers]], particularly in the south and east of the country.

The Anglo-Saxons were the founders of England, and contributed massively to its distinctive culture, perhaps most notably through the English language, which is descended from the varying dialects that were spoken by the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes after they moved to Britain (along with healthy doses of Norse and French). The Anglo-Saxons also set up the shire boundaries that remained in use until the 1990s, while many English towns and cities can trace their origins to settlements founded by the Anglo-Saxons. And many people in England today [[https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms10326 can trace large amounts of their genetic ancestry]] [[https://journals.plos.org/plosgenetics/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgen.1007152 to the Anglo-Saxon settlers]], particularly in the south and east of the country.

The Anglo-Saxons were the founders of England, and are arguably its greatest cultural contributor, perhaps most clearly through the English language, which is descended from the varying dialects that were spoken by the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes after they moved to Britain.

In the fifth century, after the evacuation of [[UsefulNotes/TheRomanEmpire Roman]] troops, the Anglo-Saxons came to Britain. These were a cluster of Germanic tribes, notably the Angles (from what is now [[UsefulNotes/TheSixteenLandsOfDeutschland Schleswig-Holstein]] in Germany), the Saxons (mostly from what is now [[UsefulNotes/TheSixteenLandsOfDeutschland Lower Saxony]] in modern Germany), and the Jutes (from the Jutland Peninsula in modern UsefulNotes/{{Denmark}}), who all shared a culture vaguely resembling that of [[UsefulNotes/TheVikingAge the Vikings]].

The Danes settled in Britain and in a few generations, conquered almost all the Anglo-Saxon lands. However, UsefulNotes/TheHouseOfWessex had a recovery under Alfred the Great and his descendants which continued until they had reconquered all the Danish-occupied lands (now called the Danelaw). This made the House of Wessex ruler over all the Angles' lands, hence the term "England". The Wessex house lost its grip and was overthrown by Norse invaders under Cnut the Great, the King of Denmark and Norway; although the House of Wessex got the throne back after Cnut's sons Harald Harefoot and Harthacanute died without surviving legitimate issue[[note]]That we know of; Harald may have had a son by the (very English) name [=Æ=]lfwine, but we think he was probably illegitimate.[[/note]], England nevertheless became a combined Saxon-Scandinavian nation, which was an easy fit once the wars had been forgotten because they had very similar cultures. After Harthacanute's successor Edward the Confessor also died without issue, Harold Godwinson, of the powerful Godwin family, claimed the throne [[ElectiveMonarchy by agreement of the Witenagamot]] (see below), but he was overthrown by the Duke of Normandy, William the Conqueror. This is considered the end of Anglo-Saxon England and the beginning of [[UsefulNotes/TheHouseOfNormandy Norman England]], and the shift of the main external influence on England from the Nordic countries to France.

The Anglo-Saxons continue to have a strong influence on English culture, most notably through the English language, which is descended from the varying dialects that were spoken by the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes after they moved to Britain.

The Danes settled in Britain and in a few generations, conquered almost all the Anglo-Saxon lands. However, Wessex had a recovery under Alfred the Great and his descendants which continued until they had reconquered all the Danish-occupied lands (now called the Danelaw). This made the House of Wessex ruler over all the Angles' lands, hence the term "England". The Wessex house lost its grip and was overthrown by Norse invaders under Cnut the Great, the King of Denmark and Norway; although the House of Wessex got the throne back after Cnut's sons Harald Harefoot and Harthacanute died without surviving legitimate issue[[note]]That we know of; Harald may have had a son by the (very English) name [=Æ=]lfwine, but we think he was probably illegitimate.[[/note]], England nevertheless became a combined Saxon-Scandinavian nation, which was an easy fit once the wars had been forgotten because they had very similar cultures. After Harthacanute's successor Edward the Confessor also died without issue, Harold Godwinson, of the powerful Godwin family, claimed the throne [[ElectiveMonarchy by agreement of the Witenagamot]] (see below), but he was overthrown by the Duke of Normandy, William the Conqueror. This is considered the end of Anglo-Saxon England and the beginning of [[UsefulNotes/TheHouseOfNormandy Norman England]], and the shift of the main external influence on England from the Nordic countries to France.

See UsefulNotes/AlfredTheGreat, UsefulNotes/{{Aethelflaed}}, and Myth/StEdmundOfEastAnglia for notable Anglo-Saxons. See ''Literature/{{Beowulf}}'', ''Literature/TheBattleOfMaldon'' and ''Literature/DreamOfTheRood'' for examples of Anglo-Saxon poetry.