The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle Online Medieval and Classical Library Release #17 Originally compiled on the orders of King Alfred the Great, 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 is Anglo-Saxon (Old English), but later entries are essentially Middle English in tone. Translation by Rev. The text of this edition is based on that published as "The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle" (Everyman Press, London, 1912). This electronic edition was edited, proofed, and prepared by Douglas B. [ Preparer's Note ] An Index to this Work is Available At present there are nine known versions or fragments of the "Anglo-Saxon Chronicle" in existence, all of which vary (sometimes greatly) in content and quality. The nine known "Anglo-Saxon Chronicle" MS. are the following: A-Prime The Parker Chronicle (Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, MS. 173) A Cottonian Fragment (British Museum, Cotton MS.
The Anglo-Saxon kings > Alfred 'The Great' Alfred 'The Great' (r. 871-899) Born at Wantage, Berkshire, in 849, Alfred was the fifth son of Aethelwulf, king of the West Saxons. At their father's behest and by mutual agreement, Alfred's elder brothers succeeded to the kingship in turn, rather than endanger the kingdom by passing it to under-age children at a time when the country was threatened by worsening Viking raids from Denmark. Since the 790s, the Vikings had been using fast mobile armies, numbering thousands of men embarked in shallow-draught longships, to raid the coasts and inland waters of England for plunder. Such raids were evolving into permanent Danish settlements; in 867, the Vikings seized York and established their own kingdom in the southern part of Northumbria. The Vikings overcame two other major Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, East Anglia and Mercia, and their kings were either tortured to death or fled. Second, Alfred started a building programme of well-defended settlements across southern England.
History - Ancient History in depth: The Anglo-Saxons Anglo-Saxon | people Anglo-Saxon, term used historically to describe any member of the Germanic peoples who, from the 5th century ce to the time of the Norman Conquest (1066), inhabited and ruled territories that are today part of England and Wales. According to St. Bede the Venerable, the Anglo-Saxons were the descendants of three different Germanic peoples—the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes. The peoples of each of the various Anglo-Saxon kingdoms spoke distinctive dialects, which evolved over time and together became known as Old English. The term Anglo-Saxon seems to have been first used by Continental writers in the late 8th century to distinguish the Saxons of Britain from those of the European continent, whom St. “Anglo-Saxon” continues to be used to refer to a period in the history of Britain, generally defined as the years between the end of Roman occupation and the Norman Conquest.
History - Alfred the Great Anglo-Saxons Germanic tribes who started to inhabit parts of Great Britain from the 5th century onwards The Anglo-Saxons were a cultural group who inhabited England in the Early Middle Ages. They traced their origins to settlers who came to Britain from mainland Europe in the 5th century. However, the ethnogenesis of the Anglo-Saxons happened within Britain, and the identity was not merely imported. Anglo-Saxon identity arose from interaction between incoming groups from several Germanic tribes, both amongst themselves, and with indigenous Britons. Many of the natives, over time, adopted Anglo-Saxon culture and language and were assimilated. The history of the Anglo-Saxons is the history of a cultural identity. Ethnonym The term Angli Saxones seems to have first been used in mainland writing of the 8th century; Paul the Deacon uses it to distinguish the English Saxons from the mainland Saxons (Ealdseaxe, literally, 'old Saxons').[13] The name therefore seemed to mean "English" Saxons. Life and society
Summary Timeline 410 AD to 1066 AD - Anglo Saxon England After 400 years in Britain the Romans leave A Kingdom in Kent is formed The Kingdom of Sussex (South Saxons) The Kingdom of Wessex (West Saxons) The Kingdom of Essex (East Saxons) The Kingdom of Northumberland (Angles living north of the river Humber) The Kingdom of East Anglia (East Angles) The Kingdom of Mercia (Middle Angles) The commencement of dominant Kings, 613-731. Northumbria Kings rule over the whole of England except Kent. The Kings of Mercia rule England Saxon Kings rule all EnglandEgbert 802-839 Ethelwulf 839-858 865 England is completely over run by the “Great Army” of Danish Vikings Alfred the Great saves England King Alfred 849-899 (22 when crowned) For 100 years from 787 to 878 the Vikings attacked the Shores of England. Edward 1st 901-925 (29 when crowned) Edward, son of Alfred the Great, was determined to win back the Danish ruled land (Danelaw) north east of Watling street and with the help of his equally determined sister Ethelfleda (Lady of Mercia) did so between 921 and 924.
History - Ancient History in depth: Peoples of Britain Anglo-Saxon Poetry The initial page of the Peterborough Chronicle, likely scribed around 1150, is one of the major sources of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. Anglo-Saxon Poetry (or Old English Poetry) encompasses verse written during the 600-year Anglo-Saxon period of British history, from the mid-fifth century to the Norman Conquest of 1066. Almost all of the literature of this period was orally transmitted, and almost all poems were intended for oral performance. As a result of this, Anglo-Saxon poetry tends to be highly rhythmical, much like other forms of verse that emerged from oral traditions. However, Anglo-Saxon poetry does not create rhythm through the techniques of meter and rhyme, derived from Latin poetry, that are utilized by most other Western European languages. Instead, Anglo-Saxon poetry creates rhythm through a unique system of alliteration. Linguistic and Textual Overview In total there are about 400 surviving manuscripts containing Old English text, 189 of them considered major. Works Credits
Anglo-Saxon Poetry - A History of English Literature Read about A History of English Literature. More E-texts Anglo-Saxon Poetry from A History of English Literature by Robert Huntington Fletcher Preface | How to Study | Tabular View | Chapters: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | Assignments from Chapter I. The Anglo-Saxons doubtless brought with them from the Continent the rude beginnings of poetry, such as come first in the literature of every people and consist largely of brief magical charms and of rough 'popular ballads' (ballads of the people). Out of the popular ballads, or, chiefly, of the minstrel poetry which is partly based on them, regularly develops epic poetry. Not much Anglo-Saxon poetry of the pagan period has come down to us. The spirit of the poem is somber and grim. For the finer artistic graces, also, and the structural subtilties of a more developed literary period, we must not, of course, look in 'Beowulf.' More:Writer Directory | Book Reviews | Homework Help | E-texts | Timeline | Submit a Review |
anglo-saxon Early History of England The island was originally inhabited by Celtic tribes from Central Asia prior to the invasion by the Romans c. 50-100CE. Some of the Celts, a brave, fierce, and what we would call barbaric people, fled west over the mountains to what is now Wales and further over to Ireland. The rest stayed and intermarried with the invading Romans. This left the natives open to attacks from the neighboring Picts (from what is today Scotland) and Jutes (a Germanic tribe). These Anglo-Saxons were brave, rude, reckless, adventurous and barbaric. Religion: Anglo-Saxon Poetry There were a number of qualities found in Anglo-Saxon poetry: Heroic behavior is praised Almost no romantic love An overall effect to formalize and elevate language, often through the use of literary devices. back
English Literature: ANGLO-SAXON PROSE In all language ,poetry made its appearance before prose ,and that was also true about Anglo-Saxon prose.Anglo-Saxon prose ,however ,fared much better than its counterpart -Anglo-Saxon poetry .In fact English literary prose came actually as late as nineteenth century under king Alfred's patronization.Anglo-Saxon poetry was archaic and a bit complicated ,but Anglo -Saxon prose was rather comparatively modern and simple. About Anglo-Saxon prose ,two specific features must be noted at the very beginning .In the very first place it has an essentially has national appearance .In the second place ,it is much closer to modern English than Anglo-Saxon poetry. Aeifric and Wulfstan are the most prominent prose writer of Anglo-Saxon age .Catholic Homilies is famous book of Aeifric.There are a few prose works Blickling Homilies ,a group of nineteenth sermon ,contained in a manuscript ,And some other homilies and fragmentary prose works.