Saxon England
THE SAXON CONQUEST OF ENGLAND
The Saxons, led by Aelle landed in Sussex in the mid 5th century and thus began the Saxon conquest of England. After successfully quelling 15 years of rebellion by the Celts, the Saxons had gained supremacy over all of Sussex.
Here’s a brief chronicled account of the Saxon Conquest of England:
530 – The West Saxons take over the Isle of Wight
552 – The West Saxons captured what is now Wiltshire
577 – The West Saxons captured Bath, Gloucester and Cirencester and cut off the Celts of Wales from the Celts of southwest England
Mid-6th century- A people called Angles landed in East Anglia, giving the place it’s name and also giving England it’s name, which translates to ‘Angle land.’
Later 6th century- The Saxons landed in Berkshire as well as Surrey.
The Conquest of Western England
By late 6th century the Saxons went on to conquer Dorset, Exeter and the west Midlands and along with the Angles they reigned supreme over all of eastern England and gradually over western England as well.
The Saxon Kingdoms
From 9 different kingdoms in the 7th century, England was finally divided into just four kingdoms in the mid-9th century. These included Northumbria in the north, Wessex in the south, and east Anglia and Mercia in the centre.
THE CONVERSION OF THE ANGLO-SAXONS TO CHRISTIANITY
The Anglo-Saxons were polytheists and during their reign Christianity all but vanished across England except in Wales, Scotland and Ireland. However, because they were cut off from Rome, a separate Celtic church existed in these countries.
Eventually Kent was converted to Christianity followed by Northumbria, Hampshire, Mercia and finally Sussex.
By the end of the 7th century, almost all of England was at least nominally Christian.
THE VIKINGS IN ENGLAND
The Danes relentlessly raided different English territories from 787 onwards till about 865 when they turn to conquest. Starting with the capture of York in 866 they moved on to conquer and occupy Northumbria, East Anglia, part of Mercia and Basing.
Despite several battles during 871, the Danes were unable to conquer Wessex and so signed a peace treaty and moved on to other parts of England. They returned to invade Wessex again in 875 and failed again. Warring between the Saxons and the Danes continued in 895 to 896.
During this period, Alfred, king of Wessex restructured his defence and constructed a network of forts across his kingdom. He also launched a fleet of ships to fight the Danes at sea; thus the English navy was born.
LATE SAXON ENGLAND
Wessex, the only Saxon kingdom left by the end of the 9th century, gradually expanded and took over all the Danish territory, thus creating a single united England in the 10th century; a process initiated by King Edward.
The short respite from Danish raids ended when the Danes returned in 991 and began relentlessly raiding England again, from southwest England to East Anglia, the southeast and eastern England. Though the Saxons finally conceded to paying the Danes to stop the raids, the ever increasing demands by the Danes eventually left England drained of its resources.
Canute, son of Danish king Swein who led an expedition to England in 1015 and occupied southern England became king of all England in November 1016 upon the death of Edmund, son of king Ethelred. Trade grew rapidly and England flourished during his reign.
Canute was followed by king Edward and then Harold, Earl of Wessex.
THE END OF SAXON ENGLAND
Other contestants to the throne during this time included Duke William of Normandy and Harold Hardrada, king of Norway. During the battle of Hastings, fought on 14th October 1066, the Saxons were badly defeated and Harold Hardrada was killed.
Duke William went on to Canterbury, Dover, Winchester and finally London and on 25th December 1066 he was crowned king of England, putting an end to the Saxon era.