Overview.
The Anglo-Saxon period, although listed under one heading, is best viewed as four distinct periods of the history of England, Sub-Roman; Early, Middle and Late Anglo-Saxon.
As the Roman occupation came to an end Britain entered a period, sometimes described as Sub-Roman, when the Romano-British leadership gradually assumed full reponsibility for the security of Britain. This was gradually replaced by the an "Anglo-Saxon " period with the increasing immigration and domination by the various peoples of mainland Europe, particularly the Angles and Saxons. This period lasted for approximately two hundred years by which time England was effectively ruled by a number of Anglo-Saxon "Kings". In reality, as each "King" attempted to increase the area under his control by invading his neighbours, a perpetual state of war existed, Briton against Briton.
In A.D.865, the Danes, who had previously mounted raids of increasing size and ferocity, launched a full-scale invasion. After a period of warfare a border was drawn whereby the Danes ruled all of Eastern and a large portion of Middle England, known as the Danelaw, and the Anglo-Saxons retained the remaining portion of Middle England and the West.
This situation allowed peace for a time but in the early Tenth century the region controlled by the Anglo-Saxons was expanded to include the East Midlands and East Anglia. By A.D.924 an Anglo-Saxon King ruled all of England south of the Humber. During the period A.D.1013 to 1014, the Danes attempted to re-instate their rule of the Danelaw but gave up following the death of their leader. In A.D.1014 Cnut, now the King of Denmark, invaded and took control of the whole of England except the region of Wessex, which he eventually took. The Danes retained control until A.D.1042 when an Anglo-Saxon King, Edward the Confessor, was installed and ruled until 1066.
Anglo-Saxon Britain.
Anglo-Saxon England.
Although the Anglo-Saxon domination of England was continued during the years following the departure of the Roman army it could be said that the Roman army was the root cause of this domination. Records indicate that the first organised groups of Europeans to arrive were eight cohorts of Batavian troops, attached to the 14th Legion, as Auxiliaries in A.D.43. It was a standard procedure, adopted by the Roman army, to allow members of the conquored territories join the Roman army, either as auxiliary troops or as regular soldiers in a legion. By this means they could become full Roman citizens at the end of their service. While serving it was not unusual for a soldier to take a wife and raise a family in the area where he served. Upon retirement many of these fully-trained and experienced soldiers remained, often in retirement communities (Colonae). As the legions of the Roman army were gradually withdrawn to deal with rebellion and invasion in mainland Europe the security of Britain fell upon the Romano-British leadership. It is not unreasonable to assume that initially they would have seen these soldiers and their families as a ready source of military support. Gradually, however, increasing numbers of migrants, now grouped together as the Anglo-Saxons, arrived on the East coast as part of the general movement of the Germanic peoples around Europe. (The European Migration Period).
As inceasing numbers of migrants arrived there was a steady movement of migrants westward, increasing pressure on the Romano-British natives, and, eventually, fighting occured between the two groups in locations around Britain. There was a temporary lull following the Battle of Mount Badon, c 500, but Anglo-Saxons took control of what is now Sussex, Kent, East Anglia and parts of Yorkshire and the West-Saxons took Hampshire. Following this lull the West-Saxons occupied and lost Cirencester, Gloucester and Bath which area was then reoccupied by the Anglo-Saxons of Mercia. By c.800 the Anglo-Saxons occupied and ruled the whole of England and part of Scotland, from the Forth to the English Channel, except for Wales and the West Country.
Anglo-Saxon Britain c.800 (in Red)
Anglo-Saxon Lincolnshire.
In Process.
A List of Locations in Wrangle where Anglo-Saxon Artifacts were found.
Each item has a location and brief description. For more detailed information please go to the Lincolnshire Heritage Explorer Website and search for Wrangle. Each MLI reference will give a map and a more detailed description. A map of the locations listed below is in process and will be available when completed.
1 - MLI 12828 - Anglo-Saxon Bead - TF4220 5390.
2 - MLI 13006 - Possible Late Saxon Flood Defence - TF4386 5259 (227m x 260m).
3 - MLI 13123 - Possible Site of Wolmersty Village - TF4448 5318 (30m x 30m).
4 - MLI 13145 - Late Saxon Material - TF4351 5625.
5 - MLI 13146 - Late Saxon/Early Medieval Settlement - TF4333 5635.
6 - MLI 13159 - Late Saxon/Early Medieval - TF4219 5169.
7 - MLI 13167 - Early Medieval Pottery - TF4230 5154.
8 - MLI - 13170 - Artifact Scatter - TF4208 5130.
9 - MLI 13171 - Late Saxon/Early Medieval Scatter - TF4272 5076 (32mx32m).
10 - MLI 13195 - Late Saxon Pottery - TF4471 5230.
11 - MLI 13199 - Mid-Saxon Potsherd - TF4095 5277.
12 - MLI 13202 - Artifact Scatter - TF4500 5250.
13 - MLI 13207 - Possible Late Saxon Enclosure - TF4440 5322.
14 - MLI 13209 - Late Saxon/Early Medieval Settlement - TF4441 5300.
15 - MLI 13219 - Early Medieval Finds - TF4348 5610.
16 - MLI 13230 - Artifact Scatter/Saltern - TF4351 5023.
17 - MLI 13234 - Late Saxon Artifact Scatter - TF 4215 5136 ( 32m x 32m)
18 - MLI 13240 - Late Saxon/Early Medieval - TF4254 5073 (23m x 24m Estimated).
19 - MLI 13249 - Multi-Period Site, Some Late Saxon - TF4090 5428.
20 - MLI 13255 - Possible Site of Wolmersty Village - TF4450 5313 (30m x 30m).
21 - MLI 13259 - Late Saxon Potsherd - TF4350 5268.
22 - MLI 81190 - Possible Wolmersty Assembly Place - TF4448 5318.
23 - MLI 81524 - Pit - (Indeterminate Usage) - TF4258 5073 (31m x 31m).