360 million English speaking people, owe their language in part to the adventures of a Continental soldier called Hengist. (Laing 1) In the fifth century A.D., Hengist crossed the Channel. He had 3 shiploads of followers. Hengist is ultimately of Scandinavian origin. (Laing 1) This story spreads over more than 600 years. It begins with the fall of the Roman Empire, and the arrival of Anglo-Saxon settlers, and comes to an end with the Norman Conquest of 1066. (Brown 7)

The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle is the key to the history of England in Anglo-Saxon times. It was originally compiled on the orders of King Alfred the Great, and subsequently maintained and added to by generations of anonymous sc

ribes until the middle of the 12th century. The original language is Old English, but later entries have a Middle English tone. (The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle 1) The Chronicle is a year by year account of all major happenings, important battles, the rise and fall of bishops, and other major events. (Brown 9) The Chronicle begins with the coming of the first Saxons, Hengist and Horsa in A.D. 449.

Hengist won several battles and eventually the kingdom of Kent, subsequent entries describe how Horsa was killed. Other entries conclude the arrival and success of Alle in Sussex, and then of Cerdic in Wessex, nothing else is said about Anglo-Saxons arriving anywhere else in England. The account of the earliest years of Anglo-Saxon settlement in England which is given by the Chronicle is incomplete, and it is very difficult to trace their earlier settlings. The Chronicle is information compiled from many different sources. It was first put together in the time of Alfred, about the end of the 9th century, much was not recorded because the Saxons did not learn to read or write until after the spread of Christianity. (Brown 9)

“He knew that there were many nations in Germania from whom the Angles and Saxons, who now live in Britain get their origin…” (Angulseaxan 1)

The Saxons were enjoying successful careers as pirates in Channel waters, and an official known as the Count of Saxon Shore was created. As Saxon incursions increased, Roman forces found it impossible to keep up their obligations in the province. The Saxons allied with the Picts and Scotti in 367 and Hadrian’s Wall was over run. In the 380’s the wall was virtually unoccupied by troops. Magnus Maximus, took control of Britain and made an

Some topics in this essay:
Anglo-Saxons Anglo-Saxons, Poirtiers England, England Anglo-Saxons, Horsa AD, Winchester School, Britain AD, Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, England Chronicle, Soon Roman’s, Hadrian’s Wall, laing 1, brown 104, built castle, brown 9, england narrative history, english church, england narrative, northern tribes, hadrian’s wall, narrative history, narrative history 4, spread christianity,