| Abbo of Fleury: The Martyrdom of St. Edmund |
Abbo of Fleury's Life of St. Edmund, King of East Anglia before 870, here comes from the Anglo-Saxon version as it appears in Sweet's Anglo-Saxon Primer, 9th edn. (Oxford Univ Press: Oxford, 1961), pp. 81-87, trans. K. Cutler. |
| The Activities of the Great Army in England, 865 to 878 |
A series of maps showing the Activities of the Great Army in England, 865 to 878 |
| AD 410 |
2010 marks the 1600th anniversary of the end of Roman Britain in AD 410 - one of the greatest turning points in our history. What was life on the island like at this critical moment? Was it fire and sword, with barbarian raids, peasant risings, tribal warfare? |
| Adventus Saxonum |
The date of the arrival of the first Germanic settlers in Britain is a matter of considerable debate. It is, however, critical, for dating key events between the departure of Roman authority in 410 and the arrival of the Christian mission of St. Augustine in 597. Examples of these events include: Vortigern's rise to power and the length of his reign; his dealings with Ambrosius; the Saxon revolt; the coming of Arthur and Badon itself. This Germanic influx is known historically by the Latin phrase |
| Alfred, Guthrum and Christianity: the Peace of Wedmore |
Following King Alfred’s successful at Battle of Edington in 878, the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles contain the entry: “7 þa salde se here him foregislas 7 micle aþas þæt hie of his rice uuoldon 7 him eac geheton þæt hiera kyning fulwihte onfon wolde” (sub anno 878) “and then the raiding-army granted him prime hostages and great oaths that they would leave his kingdom, and also promised him that their king would receive baptism” ("The Anglo-Saxon Chronicles", (trans) Swanton, M., Phoenix, 2000, p. 76) The insistence that Guthrum accepted baptism was a tremendous act of political acumen on behalf of King Alfred. |
| The Alfredian Burghal system |
A graph show expected and actual sizes of burhs |
| An Anthology of Translated Texts, Illustrative of the History of the Cult of the Saints |
These translations are works in progress, subject to updating and change. They are listed in rough chronological order. They are placed here for the use of fellow researchers and students. They may be reproduced for private use, but may not be reproduced for publication. Any comments on or corrections to these translations are welcomed at thead@shiva.hunter.cuny.edu. |
| Anglo-Norman Church Architecture |
The Norman Conquest led to a great upsurge in the building and rebuilding of cathedrals, monastic houses and parish churches. Some features of Anglo-Saxon architecture survived briefly, but the Romanesque style was favoured in most cases. It was developed in France in 1025-50 and first used in England on a grand scale in Edward the Confessor's Westminster Abbey. |
| Anglo-Saxon Archaeology Blog |
News blog for Anglo-Saxon archaeology |
| The Anglo-Saxon Archaeology Search Engine |
This is a Swicki search engine dedicated to Anglo-Saxon Archaeology. Swicki search engines learn as they are used. By voting for good results and voting against poor results, you can improve this search engine. |
| Anglo Saxon Chronicle |
Welcome to Britannia's online version of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, one of the most important documents that has come down to us from the middle ages. It was originally compiled on the orders of King Alfred the Great in approximately A.D. 890, and subsequently maintained and added to by generations of anonymous scribes until the middle of the 12th Century. The original language was Anglo-Saxon (Old English), but later entries were probably made in an early form of Middle English. |
| Anglo-Saxon Links for the Heroic Age |
Anglo-Saxon Links for the Heroic Age |
| Anglo-Saxon, Norse & Celtic |
This blog is written and maintained by members of the Department of Anglo-Saxon, Norse & Celtic, University of Cambridge. We study the history, languages, literatures and material culture of medieval Britain, Ireland and Scandinavia. For more information about us go to: http://www.asnc.cam.ac.uk |
| Anglo-Saxon Search Engine |
Anglo-Saxon Search Engine by SWICKI |
| Anglo-Saxon Wallingford Part 1 |
Part of a video made by the University of Oxford for the online course “Vikings: Raiders, Traders and Settlers.” (See http://www.archaeology.eu.com/vikings/online.html) |
| Anglo-Saxon Wallingford Part 2 |
Part of a video made by the University of Oxford for the online course “Vikings: Raiders, Traders and Settlers.” (See http://www.archaeology.eu.com/vikings/online.html) |
| Anglo-Saxon Wallingford Part 4 |
Part of a video made by the University of Oxford for the online course “Vikings: Raiders, Traders and Settlers.” (See http://www.archaeology.eu.com/vikings/online.html) |
| Anglo-Saxon Wallingford Part 5 |
Part of a video made by the University of Oxford for the online course “Vikings: Raiders, Traders and Settlers.” (See http://www.archaeology.eu.com/vikings/online.html) |
| Anglo-Saxon Wallingford Part 6 |
Part of a video made by the University of Oxford for the online course “Vikings: Raiders, Traders and Settlers.” (See http://www.archaeology.eu.com/vikings/online.html) |
| Anglo-Saxon Wallingford Part 7 |
Part of a video made by the University of Oxford for the online course “Vikings: Raiders, Traders and Settlers.” (See http://www.archaeology.eu.com/vikings/online.html) |
| Asser's Life of King Alfred |
Although similar to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle in its annalistic approach, Asser personalized his |
| The Battle of Maldon |
The text for this site is taken from an article published in Medieval World: (Beard, D., 'The Battle of Maldon', Medieval World 1, July/August 1991). |
| The Battle of Maldon |
The poem in Modern English |
| The Battle of Maldon |
The poem in Old English |
| Bede's World |
The extraordinary life of the Venerable Bede (AD 673-735) created a rich legacy that is celebrated today at Bede's World, Jarrow, where Bede lived and worked 1300 years ago. |
| Bede: The Life and Miracles of St. Cuthbert |
Bede was born in 673, in Northumberland, became a monk and died at Jarrow in 735. His modern feast day is May 25. He was one of the most important intellects, and most prolific writers of his time. Among his other accomplishments was in becoming the only Englishman in Dante's Divine Comedy. His most important work his is History of the English Church and People, but he wrote many others - biblical commentaries and hagiography in particular. |
| Beowulf in Cyberspace |
a Guide for Students, Teachers, and other Visitors in Cyberspace to The old English Epic BEOWULF |
| Buckland Anglo-Saxon Cemetery Excavations |
These excavations are being conducted by the Canterbury Archaeological Trust on behalf of the site owners, Orbit Housing and their main contractors, Denne builders. In accordance with recent Government guide-lines the excavations are being funded solely by Orbit Housing as part of the site development cost. |
| Burghal Hidage |
The map below is supplementary material for the unit ‘The Vikings in Europe – conquest and settlement’ in the Vikings: raiders, traders and settlers course. Click on the markers to see more information on each site. For more information on using Google Maps in this course please visit the Vikings: raiders, traders and settlers maps page. |
| Burhs and Burghal Defences |
The map below is supplementary material for the unit ‘The Vikings in Europe – conquest and settlement’ in the Vikings: raiders, traders and settlers course. This map provides an on-the-ground tour of Viking presence in a modern-day town, using media we have filmed around Wallingford. These include both short videos of David Beard talking through many of the Viking elements still visible in Wallingford today and panoramas of some of the key views. For more information on using Google Maps in this course please visit the Vikings: raiders, traders and settlers maps page. |
| Clothing and Appearance of the Pagan Anglo-Saxons |
We have very little direct evidence of the clothing of the early 'Anglo-Saxons', as the surviving textiles are only fragmentary (usually in a mineralised form on metal artefacts) and there is little or no pictorial or literary evidence from this country. |
| The Danelaw of England, 700-1100 A.D. |
This paper is a relatively brief and incomplete historiography of the study done on the Danelaw of England and its effects upon Britain and elsewhere. It was written for HST 300, History Methods course at the California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. Any comments or criticisms are welcome, as is serious discussion. For ease of reading, the endnotes have been linked for easy reference to the exact endnote in question. |
| Danish Kingdom of East Anglia |
Founded as the southern half of the Danish conquests in England, and much extended from the Anglo-Saxon kingdom to cover a sizeable proportion of the eastern midlands (former Mercia) and all of Essex. Guthrum accepted baptism as part of the Peace of Wedmore, taking the Christian name of Æthelstan with Alfred of Wessex his godfather. The northern half of the conquered territory quickly became the Scandinavian kingdom of York. However, Wessex quickly recovered its strength and, united with the remaining Mercian lands which it now controlled, made swift inroads into East Anglian territory. |
| Death and Burial in the Anglo-Saxon World |
The Anglo-Saxon worldview was dominated by a fatalistic view of life. Fate, wyrd, dictated who would live and die, and, in a world full of blood fueds and wars, death was more than just a fact of life; it was a way of life. |
| Decapitated Viking Skeletons found near Weymouth |
In June 2009 excavations in advance of the Weymouth Relief Road discovered a burial pit containing a large number of dismembered skeletons. Fifty-one decapitated skulls were found in one distinct area of the pit and bodies were found randomly placed in another section of the pit. Initially, the burials were believed to date to between the late Iron Age and the early Roman Period. However, C14 dating gave a date in the Late Saxon Period of between AD 890 and 1030. The skeletons all appeared to male, and the majority aged between late teens and c. 25 years old, with a few older individuals. As a group, they were of tall and robust stature. Most of the skulls showed evidence of multiple blows to the vertebrae suggestive of sword blows. |
| Department of Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic, Cambridge |
In the Department of ASNC we study the history, material culture, languages, and literatures of the various peoples who inhabited Britain, Ireland, and the extended Scandinavian world, in the early Middle Ages (5th century to 12th century). We study these peoples separately, and in relation to each other. Our students might choose to focus on history and material culture, or on language and literature; but most of them range in their own ways across the different areas and disciplines. |
| Early British Kingdoms |
Welcome to David Nash Ford's Early British Kingdoms Website |
| Early medieval emporia |
The map below is supplementary material for the unit ‘Viking society and the beginnings of expansion’ in the Vikings: raiders, traders and settlers course. Click on the markers to see more information on each site. For more information on using Google Maps in this course please visit the Vikings: raiders, traders and settlers maps page. |
| Educational Resources for the Anglo-Saxon Period |
A list of educational resources for the Anglo-Saxon Period |
| The End of Roman Britain |
The decline of Roman control over Britain was a drawn-out affair which took perhaps a quarter of a century to complete, and it created a twilight period in which Roman civilisation gradually dwindled and died away. The seeds were sown in the fourth century decline seen throughout the Western Roman Empire, as barbarian tribes continued to make deeper incursions into Gaul, Hispania, and Italy, and then began to settle. The rot had set in, and with it came rebellion, lost territory, and subsequent losses in vitally-needed manpower and resources. The period ended in a mist of obscure references and hazy recollections which were often only written down generations later. |
| English Logistics and military administration, 871-1066 |
The Impact of the Viking Wars |
| English Place-names |
Many place names are derived from the person or group of people who first settled in the area. For example, Sweden literally means 'the Swedes'. A less obvious example is Wales. This came from an Old English word wealas which meant 'foreigners'. To the early Anglo-Saxon invaders, Wales became the place of the foreigners after the invaders had driven many of the original Celtic inhabitants westward. Wessex was the area where the West Saxons lived, Sussex where the South Saxons lived, Norfolk where the Northern People lived and the Southern People inhabited Suffolk. |
| Expert gives opinion on gold hoard |
Expert gives opinion on Staffordshire gold hoard |
| Hedeby, Germany: A Powerhouse of the Viking World |
Check out this clip to learn more about Viking history and the town of Hedeby, Germany. |
| The Heroic Age |
The Heroic Age is a fully peer-reviewed academic journal intended for professionals, students and independent scholars. The Heroic Age focuses on North-western Europe during the early medieval period (from the early 4th through 13th centuries). We seek to foster dialogue between all scholars of this period across ethnic and disciplinary boundaries, including—but not limited to—history, archaeology, and literature pertaining to the period. |
| Hides |
Definition of a hide |
| How significant is the Staffordshire Hoard? |
How significant is the Staffordshire Hoard? Video |
| Introduction to Scandinavian origins of place names in Britain |
Scandinavian place names can be found in various places in Scotland. But rather than attributing them to one point of origin, we have to distinguish between four areas of Scandinavian influence and a number of people involved in coining those names at different times. Often the Scandinavian settlers are referred to as ‘Vikings’, but to regard them as one coherent group is wrong. |
| Invasion of England, 1066 |
King Edward of England (called "The Confessor" because of his construction of Westminster Abbey) died on January 5, 1066, after a reign of 23 years. Leaving no heirs, Edward's passing ignited a three-way rivalry for the crown that culminated in the Battle of Hastings and the destruction of the Anglo-Saxon rule of England. |
| Landscapes of Governance |
A three-year interdisciplinary research project bringing archaeology, place-names and written sources together in a national study of early medieval assembly sites. Early medieval western Europe developed in the shadow of the classical Roman world. While substantial traces of the organizational capacity of the Roman Empire can still be seen in Britain, for example the Roman road network and Hadrians Wall, evidence for power and authority in the centuries following the Roman occupation is much more subtle. Arbitration, negotiation and dispute settlement were fundamental to the formation of kingdoms and ultimately the nation state of England, but the places where such activities occurred have never been comprehensively studied as archaeological sites, their names investigated only once in the last 80 years by the Scandinavian scholar O. S. Anderson. Landscapes of Governance is a three-year interdisciplinary venture bringing archaeology, place-names and written sources together for the first time in a comprehensive national research project. |
