Royal Britain Anglo-Saxon Period

British King Vortigern asked Angles, Saxon, and Jutes from continent to aid in repelling advancing Picts and Scots. Not content with rewards promised, these tribes began their own invasion of Britain. Hengist and Horsa Source: Bede’s A History of the English Church and People (AKA Ecclesiastical History )

Anglo-Saxon Heptarchy

Conversion of Anglo-Saxons to Christianity Coming of Christianity to Roman Britain in second century Founding of Iona in 563 by Columba (Columcille) Pope Gregory the Great’s sending of 40 missionaries under Augustine to convert Anglo-Saxons. (“non Angli, sed Angeli”

Missionary Efforts Head North Conversion of Northumbrian King Edwin (d. 633), son-in-law of Ethelbert of Kent From Bede: Another of the king’s chief men... went on to say: “Your Majesty, when we compare the present life of man with that time of which we have no knowledge, it seems to me like the swift flight of a lone sparrow through the banqueting hall where you sit in the winter months to dine with your thanes and counselors. Inside there is a comforting fire to warm the room; outside, the wintry storms of snow and rain are raging. This sparrow flies swiftly in through one door of the hall, and out through another. While he is inside, he is safe from the winter storms; but after a few moments of comfort, he vanishes from sight into the darkness whence he came. Similarly, man appears on earth for a short while, but we k now nothing of what went before this life, and what follows. Therefore, if this new teaching can reveal any more certain knowledge, it seems only right that we should follow it.”

King Oswald of Northumbria (d. 642) Expanded his power into Wessex and Kent Asked the monastery of Iona to help with conversion of Northumbria to Christianity; Bishop Aiden comes and founds monastery at Lindisfarne. Bede calls Oswald “the most Christian king.” Oswald killed in battle, and miracles occurred at this site. He is the first Anglo-Saxon royal saint.

Northumbrian Renaissance The Lindisfarne Gospels

Synod of Whitby, 664 Agreement of liturgical practice and date of Easter between British/Irish/Celtic practice in North and Roman practice in South. Roman practice wins. Synod called by King Oswiu of Northumbria, brother of Oswalf.

Viking Troubles First Wave: Second Wave: Northmen, Danes, heathens, pagans “Vikings were probably uncouth, certainly unpleasant, and decidedly unwelcome.” –Simon Keynes 792, sacking of Lindisfarne by Vikings

Unifying of English People Under Alfred the Great Unifying begins as kingdoms fight a common enemy: Vikings Alfred the Great ( ) becomes king in 871. His accomplishments include victories of Vikings and establishment of Danelaw, educational and literary program modeled on Charlemagne’s Palace School, law codes, probably the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles.

Alfred’s Educational Program Therefore it seems better to me, if it seems so to you, that we also translate certain books, which are most needful for all men to know, into that language that we all can understand, and accomplish this, as with God's help we may very easily do if we have peace, so that all the youth of free men now in England who have the means to apply themselves to it, be set to learning, while they are not useful for any other occupation, until they know how to read English writing well. One may then instruct in Latin those whom one wishes to teach further and promote to a higher rank. - - Preface to Gregory the Great’s Pastoral Care

Alfred Jewel

Fuller Brooch

Alfred’s Wife Alfred’s wife, Ealhswith, owned the Book of Nunnaminster and founded St. Mary’s Abbey, Winchester.

Ethelred the Unready Second Viking Wave—extensive, expensive, and never- ending Ruled Exiled to Normandy by Swein Forkbeard in 1014 Second wife, Emma, married Swein’s son Cnut, the first Danish/Viking king of the English.

Cnut and Emma Cnut reigned Divided kingdom into Wessex, Mercia, Northumbria, and East Anglia “Disposed of” Ethelred’s surviving descendants from his first marriage Emma exercised considerable power Earl Godwine became his most trusted counselor. Emma and Ethelred’s son Edward (the Confessor) succeeded to the throne.

Norman Conquest Principal Players: William the Bastard, Harold Godwineson, Tostig Godwineson, King Harald of Norway Battle of Hastings, 1006 So began William's reign: with fires burning all around him. And so would England burn for five more years until it finally was subjugated. The plundering of the country's wealth would begin immediately.plundering

Bayeux Tapestry