The Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms: The Power Struggles from Hengist to EcgberhtThis work presents a reconstruction of the events of the early Anglo-Saxon period, early fifth to ninth century. At first the Roman state was succeeded by a patchwork of primitive British tribal kingdoms, which were gradually replaced by a number of martial Saxon and Anglian kingdoms. Each one pursued a narrow policy of self-preservation. Political alignments and military alliances developed, not only with each other, but also with the Welsh, the Picts and the Scots. Therefore Leonard Dutton draws upon Celtic as well as Anglo-Saxon sources. The eventual appointment of a high king with supreme power ensued, and the trend towards political unification is the main theme of the book. |
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abbey Aelle Aethelbald Aethelberht Aethelfrith Aethelred Anglian Anglo-Saxon Chronicle appears Archbishop army Bamburgh battle became Bede Bede reported Bernician Birch bishop Bretwalda Britain British Britons brother Caedwalla Canterbury Cartularium Saxonicum Ceawlin Cenwealh Cerdic Chester Christian Chronicle reported church Coenwulf continued Cynewulf Cynric death defeated Deira Dorchester Durotriges ealdorman Eanfrith Early Charters East Angles East Anglia East Saxons Ecgberht Ecgfrith Edwin English Historical Documents evidence fighting fought frontier Gildas Hengist hill Historia Brittonum Historia Ecclesiastica Hwicce Hwiccian Jutes Kentish King Aethelred king of Kent kingdom land Lindisfarne Magonsaetan Mercian Middle Anglia miles military monastery Nennius Norman Conquest Northumbria Offa Offa's Oswald Oswy Oswy's pagan Peada Penda Picts political probably reign river royal dynasty rule Saxon Shore Sigeberht South Saxons southern sub-king succeeded Sussex territory Thames throne took victory Vortigern Votadini Welsh Annals Wessex West Saxons West Welsh Whitelock William of Malmesbury Winwaed Wulfhere