Anglo-Saxon kingdoms


In the early fifth century. the Roman troops permanently left Britain, inhabited then by the Celtic tribes. The dust had not yet settled behind them, and the German tribes of the Angles, Saxons, Utes had already come to Britain and unceremoniously settled on the land of the owners.

VIII century. From the work of the English historian and writer Bede Venerable

Having received an invitation from the king, the tribe of the Angles or Saxons set out on three ships to Britain and took up a place in the eastern part of the island for parking on the order of the same king, as if intending to defend the homeland, but in fact – to win it… They say that their leaders were two brothers – Hengest and Horsa. Horsa later died in the war with the Britons, and in the eastern part of Kent he still has a monument.

Saxons settled the south of Britain and founded three kingdoms there – Wessex, Sussex and Essex. Utah chose its south-east, where they founded the

kingdom of Kent. The Angles founded their kingdom in the east of the country. Two kingdoms with a mixed population appeared in the north of Britain.

The newly formed kingdoms were constantly at odds with each other. But frequent enemy raids on Britain forced them in 829 to unite in one state. Eckbert proclaimed himself King. At that time the Angles, the Saxons and the Celts who survived the struggle against the Germans merged into one people – the Anglo-Saxons.

Anglo-Saxons built a monarchical state, but royal power was weak in it. The king depended on the Council of the Wise, which consisted of nobles. The council elected the king and could deprive him of the throne. He was the supreme judge, and the Sheriffs obeyed him.

English society gradually became feudal. Large landowners appeared in it – the Lords. In the X century. The king issued a decree that every free man should find a lord.

Even before the arrival of the Germans in Britain, Christianity spread, but not in Roman, but in Greek form. The Celts themselves chose priests. About 600 in southern Britain, to convert her to Catholicism,

the pope’s envoys arrived. Sharp rivalry between the two churches ended in the victory of Catholicism, as the kings went on an alliance with the pope and the bishops. Nevertheless, ordinary people supported the Irish church, which differed from the Roman, and from the Greek. What was different about it? Irish monasticism strictly adhered to the church statute. Irish bishops lived in monasteries; not they, and the Abbots were an influential force in society.

Medieval West was read by ancient Celtic legends about King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. This knightly brotherhood resisted the Anglo-Saxons, defended the weak, orphans and widows, fought dragons, giants, sorcerers and other evil spirits, so Britain lived in peace and prosperity. But the son of King Arthur rebelled against his father. In the battle with the rebels, the king was mortally wounded. Good fairies brought him to the island of Avallon to heal his wounds. Many Englishmen believed that Arthur was alive and in time difficult for England would come to her aid. Historians have not yet figured out whether the Celts chief actually existed-King Arthur. Therefore, it still remains an exciting mystery of the early history of Britain.

The sheriff is a royal official in the counties of England.

The Lord is the English seigneur.

Abbot – in the Catholic Church – head of the monastic community, head of the monastery.


1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

Anglo-Saxon kingdoms