Old English

Political conditions of Anglo Saxon period (410_1066)

By: Saira M.Juman Solangi 

The political conditions of Anglo Saxon period 

During the dark ages, mostly the fifth and sixth century there were different people ruling in heptarchy of Great Britain. There were many kings and queens during this era who ruled their kingdoms . KING ALFRED THE GREAT is the most famous among those kings. When Romans left Great Britain in the fifth century, the land was left almost defenseless and they needed someone to rule and keep the political scenario well. All the kingdoms needed someone to defend them from invaders. Names of kings like King Canute, king Alfred the great were major rulers. Before seventh century many kings ruled over and established their authorities. There were no prisons at the time so the culprits were either asked to pay fine for their crimes or they were killed . Kings had their councils which used to sit together and have a final decision . Also there was concept of Witan , a group of religious people who helped king in making decisions. Some of the Anglo Saxon kings are mentioned below: 

King Aethelberht ( king of kent) Who was married to a Christian woman namely Berths daughter of king of Paris , he was the one to convert to Christianity . He motivated his people to write laws. Gradually smaller kingdoms became powerful and that gave rise to monarchy The first monarch that was established and stable was of king Egbert (827-839) . He ruled over all of Anglo Saxon England and his monarchy was followed by his son Aethelwulf (839-858) he was the father of Alfred the great. After him Kings like Aethelbald (858-860) , Aethelbert (860-866) and Aethelred (866-871) and Alfred the great succeed their father Aethelwulf . 

ALFRED THE GREAT (871-899) He was one of the strongest leaders in many battles. He was youngest son of king Aethelwulf . He retained the throne after his three brothers. He defended England from Danes , strengthened old forts and built new strategic sites. He was well educated and successful in government as well as war, good and wise at administration . He was able to rule for more than two decades. He defeated Viking army in battle of Edington and after that made a treaty with them according to which Danes who were a part of those Vikings , their king Guthrum agreed to withdraw from Wessex and thus in treaty he was given the provision of the land that was later on called as Danelaw. Alfred after this victory reformed his army 

Edward -The Elder ( 899-924) He was son and successor of Alfred the great . He retained the southeast England from Danes and United kingdoms of Wessex and Marcia. Later on he was killed in a battle against Welsh. 

Athelstan (924-939) He was son of Edward the Elder. He fought one of the bloodiest battle ever in 937 called battle of Burunanburh. He was the one who united the Anglo Saxon kingdoms as the kingdom of England. He fought against Celts, Scots, Danes and Vikings all together 

Edmund 939-946) He was half brother of Athelstan , fought along him and then regained Anglo Saxon control over northern England. He was just 25 when he was killed by stabbing and his sons were too young to succeed him . 

Eadred (946-978) He was brother of Edmund and he defeated Norseman as well as the Scandinavian king namely Eric Bloodaxe. He sustained an injury and that wound led him to death. 

Eadwig (955-959) He was the son of Edmund. At the age of 16 he was crowned as king and died at the age of 20.  

Edgar (959-975): He was the youngest son of Edmund and he attacked Chester in which he failed . 

Edward the martyr (975-978): He was successor of his father Edgar and at the early age of 12 he was crowned as king. He was in fued with his brother and that led to dispute between church and novelty. He was murdered by followers of his own brother Aethelred II.  

Aethelred II 978-1016: He was called Aethelred the unready because he was not ready for throne and so he fled away to Normandy in 1013 and Dane’s king Sweyn Forkbeard conquested English but later on died and Aethelred returned to his throne . After king Aethelred II few more kings ruled over Anglo Saxon England before the Norman conquest that includes Edmund II (1016-1016) 

Caunte -the dane /Cnut the great (1016-1035): He was the son of Sweyn Forkbeard . After the death of Edmund II he ruled over his people . He ruled England, Denmark as well as Norway. During his time it was called as North sea Empire ( England, Denmark and Norway) .He tired to tie England and Denmark alongside by power and wealth. He was known as king of all England. He was major figure in politics and he gave laws too . He even contributed to the development of Churches. Harold I (1035-1040) Harthacanute (1040-1042) Edward -the confessor (1042-1066) 

Harold II (1066) The last Anglo Saxon king who was defeated and killed by William the conqueror in battle of Hastings. He belonged to royalty but he was elected as king by Witan ( highly religious group of people who were also given some power in administration) . He was able to defeat the army of Norway at the Battle of Stamford Bridge and later on he was defeated in Battle of Hastings which marks the end of Anglo Saxon rule over great Britain. 2. The Norman Conquest Kind Harold II, since he was elected as a king by Witan ; there is a word that he bribed Witan to pronounce him as a king after the death of Edward . Whereas William claimed that he was promised the throne by Edward the confessor. When Harold took the oath the there were three other claimants namely Edgar who was too young to claim the throne, Harald Hardrada who was the king of Norway at that time so he was already busy with wars against Danes and the later was William who was furious over the coronation and he was planning on to attack England. He believed that the throne was his. William was silently gathering support and armour to attack England and claim his throne and at that time there battles were fought i.e. The Battle of Fullford, The Battle of Stamford Bridge and then The Battle of Hastings. For The Battle of Fullford Harold used a lot of fortune to pay army and buy weapons. Harald Hardrada and his brother Tostig attacked the Englishman and took over the city of York and after which they rested and restarted another battle that we call as The Battle of Stamford Bridge (1066) they were ready to capture the lands of South but Harold managed to gather a huge army in a week and he came to know about the plan of Hardrada and Tostig so instead he launched a surprise attack on them and that caused them to lose . The Norwegian army fought for hours but they later on surrendered . The Battle of Hastings Just when king Harold thought that he saved his throne , only a few days later another army of Normans attacked them . The attack by William the conqueror was perfectly planned . According to some references it happened probably in October of 1066 that Harold’s army met army of Normans in Hastings which ended with the death of King Harold and this is how William the duke of Normandy conquested England. After Norman invasion the influence on Literature. The Norman Conquest changed the English language as well as law and culture . French was then regarded as the language of law and administration . We can see so many French loans in English of this time period. Feudal system was also introduced . The Norman built new towns as well and also introduced the church courts. Mostly the effect of French is observed in English of this time period . Many sounds which were previously represented with one sound were differentiated for example , the /s/ and/ z/ sounds. In poetry romantic tales of love were added. Latin was replaced by English to be used in documents and the literature of that time period became the imitation of literature of French . The end .