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410 AD
The Roman Empire pulls out its troops from Britain.
The Roman soldiers that had been occupying Britain (since around AD 43) withdraw. This leaves Britain largely undefended, and soon the Anglo-Saxons begin to arrive.
This creates a power vacuum, leaving native Britons vulnerable to invasions. -
450 AD
Germanic tribes—the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes—begin migrating to Britain.
They originate from regions that are now Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands. -
500-600 AD
Anglo-Saxons settle in various parts of England.
The country is split into Northumbia (North), Mercia (middle), East Anglia (east)
and Wessex (south).
They clash with native Britons and push them into Wales, Cornwall, and Scotland. -
597 AD
St. Augustine arrives from Rome to convert the Anglo-Saxons to Christianity.
He establishes the Archbishopric of Canterbury. -
650-800 AD
Seven main Anglo-Saxon kingdoms form: Northumbria, Mercia, East Anglia, Essex, Kent, Sussex, and Wessex.
Each kingdom has its own rulers, laws, and customs. -
793 AD
The Vikings attack from Norway. marking the beginning of Norse invasions. They attack the
Monastery of Lindisfarne in Northumbria. This is just a raid, they will return to invade later.
This leads to cultural mixing and conflict. -
878 AD
Alfred the Great becomes King of Wessex. He drives the invading Vikings at the Battle of Edington from the south but they stay in the north and the east.
The Danelaw is established, dividing England into Anglo-Saxon and Norse-controlled areas. -
900-950 AD
Anglo-Saxon kings gradually reconquer lands from the Danes.
In 927 he conquers the last kingdom, York, and becomes the first King of England. Athelstan’s rule is resented by the Welsh, Scots, Irish and Vikings and they work together to destroy his rule.
In 937 Athelstan defeats the rebels and he and the Saxons defeat them in battle.
Athelstan defeats the rebels and he and the Saxons
defeat them in battle.
English identity and culture begin to solidify under a single monarchy. -
1016 AD
King Cnut (Canute) of Denmark becomes king of England.
Anglo-Saxon and Danish customs blend during this period. -
1042 AD
Edward the Confessor becomes king. Edward III
was better known as ‘the Confessor’ due to his
extreme piety. He introduced more regular contact
with the continent than England had previously
known and the Norman influence in the English
court increased. -
1066 AD
William the Conqueror defeats King Harold II at the Battle of Hastings.
Edward the Confessor dies and Harold, Earl of Wessex, is crowned King of England. Both William, Duke of Normandy and Harold Hardrada, King of Norway, send powerful threats and make claims on the throne. Harold is defeated by William the Conqueror and his Norman army.
Anglo-Saxon rule ends, and Norman French influence begins.