Who ruled England during the Anglo-Saxon period?

Anglo-Saxon England or Early Medieval England, existing from the 5th to the 11th centuries from the end of Roman Britain until the Norman conquest in 1066, consisted of various Anglo-Saxon kingdoms until 927, when it was united as the Kingdom of England by King Æthelstan (r. 927–939).

Was Cumbria Anglo-Saxon?

The Anglo-Saxon settlement of Cumbria began in the first half of the seventh century (Smith 1967, xxxvi–xxxix; Stenton 1970, 215).

Who owned land in Anglo-Saxon England?

To the Anglo-Saxons no one owned land, but occupancy was associated with duties. Finally, the Roman Catholic church needed both land and income to sustain an extensive body of clergy.

Who was the most important person during Anglo-Saxon England?

Alfred The Great was the most famous Anglo-Saxon king. He was originally the ruler of Wessex, a kingdom he began to rule in 871. This was a time when Vikings were continuously raiding England and had already established permanent settlements on the British Isles.

Who ruled after the Anglo-Saxons?

The Normans won, Harold was killed, and William became king. This brought an end to Anglo-Saxon and Viking rule. A new age of Norman rule in England had started.

What was the Anglo-Saxon government?

Anglo-Saxon England was a very well-run kingdom. The king had ultimate authority but throughout the 9th and 10th centuries, a complex system of local government was developed to collect taxes and maintain law and order.

When did Lancashire become Cumbria?

1974
Overview. Cumbria was created as a county in 1974 from territory of the historic counties of Cumberland, Westmorland, Lancashire North of the Sands and a small part of Yorkshire, but the human history of the area is ancient.

Is Cumbria part of Lancashire?

The county of Cumbria was created in April 1974 through an amalgamation of the administrative counties of Cumberland and Westmorland, to which parts of Lancashire (the area known as Lancashire North of the Sands) and of the West Riding of Yorkshire were added.

How did the Anglo-Saxons use land?

Life on an Anglo-Saxon farm was hard work. All the family had to help out – men, women and children. Men cut down trees to clear land for ploughing and to sow crops. Farmers used oxen to pull ploughs up and down long strip fields.

What was the Anglo-Saxon hierarchy?

Anglo-Saxon society was hierarchical. At its head stood the king and members of the royal family, followed by the nobility, bishops and other churchmen. At the other extreme were unfree members of society, or slaves.

What happened during the Anglo-Saxon period?

The early Anglo-Saxon period includes the creation of an English nation, with many of the aspects that survive today, including regional government of shires and hundreds. During this period, Christianity was established and there was a flowering of literature and language. Charters and law were also established.

Who were the Anglo-Saxon kings?

SAXON KINGS

• EGBERT 827 – 839. Egbert (Ecgherht) was the first monarch to establish a stable and extensive rule over all of Anglo-Saxon England.
• AETHELWULF 839-858.
• AETHELBALD 858 – 860.
• AETHELBERT 860 – 866.
• AETHELRED I 866 – 871.
• ALFRED THE GREAT 871 – 899 – son of AETHELWULF.
• EDWARD (The Elder) 899 – 924.
• ATHELSTAN 924 – 939.

What is the Anglo-Saxon period called today?

The Anglo-Saxon period. The Anglo-Saxon period in Britain spans approximately the six centuries from 410-1066AD. The period used to be known as the Dark Ages, mainly because written sources for the early years of Saxon invasion are scarce.

Did any Anglo-Saxon warlords rise to the challenge?

Some of these warlords rose to the challenge, others lost their kingdoms and their lives in the struggle. For over 600 years, from the departure of the Romans in 410 to the arrival of the Normans in 1066, England was dominated by the Anglo-Saxon peoples.

How many kingdoms did the Anglo-Saxon Empire have?

At first England was divided into many little kingdoms, from which the main kingdoms emerged; Bernicia, Deira, East Anglia (East Angles), Essex (East Saxon), Kent, Lindsey, Mercia, Sussex (South Saxons), and Wessex (West Saxons). These in turn were soon reduced to seven, the ‘Anglo-Saxon Heptarchy’.

Why did Anglo-Saxon invasions of Britain take so long?

After the departure of the Roman legions, Britain was a defenceless and inviting prospect. Anglo-Saxon mercenaries had for many years fought in the Roman army in Britain, so they were not total strangers to the island. Their invasions were slow and piecemeal, and began even before the Roman legions departed.