Introduction to the Anglo Saxons (449-1066 A.D.)

There were 7 groups of peoples who invaded and settled in Great

Britain throughout its history:• Iberians (Spain)• Celts (indigenous people

from British Isles)• Romans (Italy))• Angles (Germany)• Saxons ( northern

Germany & the Netherlands)

• Vikings (Norway, Sweden, and Denmark)

• Normans (northern France)

The Spirit of the Celts

• When Greek travelers visited modern Great Britain in the 4 B.C., the group of warriors they found there were called… – Celts– Brythons - Britons

The Spirit of the Celts• The Celts followed a

religion known as Animism or “spirit”

- They saw spirits in all natural things --ponds, trees,

fire, & thunder

• These spirits controlled all aspects of existence & had to be constantly

satisfied.

The Spirit of the Celts

• Celtic priests were called Druids– Intermediaries

between the gods & people

– Druids memorized the history of their people & the secrets of their faith

• Ritualistic dances and human sacrifices were also used.

The Spirit of the Celts

• Some think a strange, stone-like structure on the Salisbury Plain known as Stonehenge was used by the Druids for religious rites.

• Some say it is an ancient clock.

The Celtic Heroes and Heroines

• Celtic legends are full of strong women– Example: Queen Maeve of

Connacht Boadicea--Legends include fantastic animals,

incredible adventures, and magic.

• Sir Thomas Malory was greatly influenced by the legends of Celtic heroes– Example: Le Morte D’arthur –

based on a Celtic warrior named Arthur

Boadicea• Fierce female tribal warrior who rose up

against the invading Romans but was ultimately defeated.– Boudica was a striking looking woman.

- "She was very tall, the glance of her eye most fierce; her voice harsh. A great mass of the reddest hair fell down to her hips. Her appearance was terrifying." - Definitely a lady to be noticed!

– The Roman governor killed her husband and publicly flogged and her in addition to her daughters being raped by Roman slaves!

– Other Iceni chiefs suffered in a like manner and their families were treated like slaves.

– Not surprisingly these outrages provoked the Iceni, Trinobantes and other tribes to rebel against the Romans- Boadicea led that rebellion

Celtic Warriors

• Used a blue dye known as woad to give them such a terrifying appearance in battle.

• They were very tall and athletically built

• Fought naked• Carried long spears• Used a fierce battle cry to

intimidate their opponents• Fought to show how brave

they were, not to gain land or riches

The Romans: The Great Administrators

• Julius Caesar led the invasion of Briton in 55 B.C.

• Introduced two architectural additions to Briton– Roads– Defensive wall – Hadrian’s Wall

• Approximately 70 mile long wall was built by the Roman Emperor Hadrian to keep the 'barbarian' Picts from Scotland out of Roman Britain.

The Romans: The Great Administrators

• Christianity became a unifying force in Britain which caused the “old ways” of the Celts to vanish

• Romans evacuated Britain in 409 A.D., without leaving a central government there– Britain became a country

of separate clans or tribes– This made Britain so weak

after the Roman invasion that it was susceptible to pagan invasions.

The Anglo-Saxons Sweep Ashore

• In the middle of the 5th century Britain was attacked by

• Angles (Germany)• Saxons (northern

Germany & Netherlands)

• Jutes (Denmark)-Anglo-Saxon became the dominant

language after these invasions

• The new name of Britain after these invasions– Engla land or England

The Anglo-Saxons Sweep Ashore

• The Celts retreated to Wales as a result of the invasions from the north

• Arthur – a Welsh chieftain – developed in legend as Britain’s “once and future king”– Name of novel about

Arthur’s life by T.H. White

Unifying Forces: Alfred the Great and Christianity

• King Alfred of Wessex was the Anglo-Saxon king who led his people to victory against the invading Danes & established England as one nation.

Unifying Forces: Alfred the Great and Christianity

They used established pagan holidays to partner with Christian holidays to make the conversion easier.

• The Irish and continental missionaries were responsible for converting the Anglo-Saxon people to Christianity.

Unifying Forces: Alfred the Great and Christianity

• Three things Christianity provided for the Anglo-Saxon people:– A common faith– A common system of morality/

right conduct– A connection to England and

Europe

Unifying Forces: Alfred the Great and Christianity

• William, Duke of Normandy, defeated the Danes in Britain in 1066 – Battle of Hastings– Also known as William

the Conqueror

What Does Anglo-Saxon Mean?

• Anglo Saxon society developed from kinship groups led by a strong chief

• People farmed, maintained local government, and created fine crafts especially metalwork.

• Christianity eventually replaced old warrior religion, linking England & continental Europe.

• Monasteries were centers fro learning & preserved works from the older, oral tradition.

• English – not just the Church’s Latin- gained respect a as a written language.

Anglo-Saxon Life as Described by the findings at Sutton Hoo

• Warfare was a dominant influence on daily life

• Law and order was the responsibility of the leader of a group- family, clan, tribe, or kingdom.

• Fame and survival only came from loyalty to the leader (comitatus)

• Loyalty grew out of a need to protect the group from the enemy

Role of Women in Anglo-Saxon Culture

• They had rights– Could inherit & own property.– Christian women could join

religious communities (convents) & even became powerful abbesses.

Anglo-Saxon Religion: Gods for Warriors

• Warrior god• Dark• Fatalistic• Believed the greatest

honor was to die in battle and go to Valhalla – warrior heaven

• Important virtues- bravery, loyalty, generosity, & friendship

Anglo-Saxon Religion:Gods for Warriors

• Odin (pronounced Woden) was the most important Norse god

• He represented death, poetry, and magic

• Thor or Thunor was the god of thunder– His symbols- hammer and

swastika

Anglo-Saxon Religion:Gods for Warriors

• Dragon (firedrake)– Significant figure in Anglo-Saxon mythology personifies “death the devourer” – Guards the greave

mound of warriors’ ashes and treasure

The Bards: Singing of Gods and Heroes

• Scops or bards told stories of Anglo-Saxon history and heroes through

oral tradition – memorizing stories &

passing them along by word of mouth

• Scops were very important in Anglo-Saxon culture

• The only thing that could help an Anglo-Saxon’s memory live on after death was to have his story retold in poetry.

A Light from Ireland

• Patricus (Patrick) was the man responsible for converting all of Celtic Ireland to Christianity in 432 A.D.– Taught pagans the concept

of the Trinity using a shamrock (3-leaf clover)

• Three petals or leaves but one plant

– God, the Father– God, the Son– God, the Holy Spirit

• Known to us as Saint Patrick

A Light from Ireland

• Golden Age in Ireland- – Irish monks founded monasteries

that became sanctuaries for learning for refugees

– Monasteries served as centers for learning during the time period

The Christian Monasteries:The Ink Froze

• Scriptorium: A writing room used to copy manuscripts by hand

• Monks wrote in Latin, the language of the Catholic Church– as a result, it

became the language of serious study in England

The Rise of the English Language

• King Alfred had a c chronical written of England’s history from its earliest days until 1154 A.D.– Anglo Saxon Chronicle – As a result, English

began to gain respect as a language of culture

– Only then did the Old English stories & poetry preserved by the monks come to be recognized as great works of literature.