View source for Anglo-Saxons

[[File:Anglo.Saxon.migration.5th.cen.jpg|300px|right|Anglo.Saxon.migration.5th.cen]]
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglo-Saxons '''Anglo-Saxon'''] is the name later given to the inhabitants of England following the return of '''[[:Category:The Romans|The Romans]]''' back to Rome in AD410. Groups of invaders from northern Germany, Denmark and The Netherlands rowed across the North Sea to Britain. Over time, they dominated then mingled with the local [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_people '''Britons'''] and settled until, by about 600, England was divided into small '''Anglo-Saxon''' kingdoms each ruled by a king. Their arrival marked the beginning of England as a nation and the word 'England' is derived from 'Angle-land'.


The [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglo-Saxons '''Anglo-Saxons'''] chose not to continue in the way of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Britain '''Roman Britain'''] and instead replaced the Roman stone buildings with their own wooden ones. They brought with them their own religion and worshipped Gods such as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odin '''Woden'''], whom Wednesday is named after, but the arrival of Saint Augustine in AD597 converted most of the country to Christianity.


[[File:Anglo Saxon House at West Stow.jpg|300px|right|Anglo Saxon House at West Stow]]
After some 400 years of '''Anglo-Saxon''' rule, England came under attack by invading '''[[:Category:The Vikings|Vikings]]''' who occupied much of northern and eastern England. '''Anglo-Saxons''' continued to be ruled by King Alfred, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saxons '''Saxon'''] king of Wessex, the only [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saxons '''Saxon''']  kingdom to survive the '''[[:Category:The Vikings|Viking]]''' invasions, so for some time England was divided in two. In AD954, the '''[[:Category:The Vikings|Vikings]]''' were defeated by the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wessex '''Wessex'''] army in York and England was re-united under [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eadred '''King Edred'''].


'''[[:Category:The Vikings|Viking]]''' incursions continued and in September 1066 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_Godwinson '''King Harold'''], the last '''Anglo-Saxon''' king of England, marched north to defeat invading Norwegians led by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harald_Hardrada '''Harald Hardrada'''] at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Stamford_Bridge '''Battle of Stamford Bridge''']. The '''Anglo-Saxon''' age in Britain ended three weeks later in October 1066 when [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_Godwinson '''King Harold'''] with his now exhausted army, was killed resisting the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normans '''Norman'''] invasion at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Hastings '''Battle of Hastings''']. On Christmas Day 1066 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_the_Conqueror '''William the Conqueror'''] from Normandy was crowned King of England and replaced all the '''Anglo-Saxon''' lords with [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normans '''Normans''']. 


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[[Category:Middle Ages]]