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400
THE END OF ROMAN RULE
By the fourth century, the declining power of the Roman Empire became more threatened by political factionalism and barbarian attacks.
Roman legions evacuated Britain to fight elsewhere and never returned. -
420
THE ANGLO-SAXON ORIGINS
The Nordic tribes that started to invade Britai were the Angles, the Saxons and the Jutes.They were not Christian and they were known as sailors of great skill whose zest for piracy and warfare made them the terror of more civilized neighbors. -
450
ANGLO-SAXON CONQUEST
Taking advantage of the Roman retreat from the British Isles , the war-like tribes of Northwestern Germany initially terrorized and eventually settled in Britain. -
500
DIVISION OF TERRITORIES
Britain is divided up into the Seven Kingdoms of Northumbria, Mercia, Wessex, Essex, Sussex and Kent. This division was called the Heptarchy. -
550
ANGLO SAXON INSTITUTIONS
The Anglo-Saxon tribes transplanted their Germanic institutions to Britain. The gradual appearance of some resemblance of "national" unity was the most striking feature of this period.
At the center of government stood the king, who had full, but not absolute power. -
Jun 30, 750
ANGLO-SAXON LITERATURE
The epic poem Beowulf is written. It tells the story of a pagan Saxon hero who valiantly defies men and dragons with equanimity. -
Jul 1, 757
OFFA
Offa king of Mercia seized the throne after a civil war, and established supremacy over many lesser kings. -
Jul 14, 1016
KING CNUT
1016 Cnut, king of Denmark becomes king of England -
Jul 14, 1042
EDWARD THE CONFESSOR
1042-1066 Edward the Confessor is the last Anglo-Saxon king; Battle of Hastings -
ROMAN CHRISTIANITY
Pope Gregory, as part of his effort to convert the conquerors of the Roman Empire, sent the Benedictine monk Augustine, to Britain with forty missionaries. King Ethelbert of Kent cordially received the missionary party and became himself a Christian and made his capital, Canterbury, the seat of archbishopric. -
NEW ATTACKS
Vikings attack Lindisfarne -
ALFRED THE GREAT
871-899 Alfred the Great king of Wessex -
ALFRED'S VICTORY
878 Alfred defeats the Viking army and the Vikings settle Eastern and northern England (the Danelaw) -
UNIFICATION OF ENGLAND
957-75 England united under Edgar
