Who were the Anglo-Saxons? - Info sheet

The Anglo-Saxons were a group of people who migrated to Britain after the departure of the last Roman soldiers in 410 AD. Their era spanned from approximately 410 until the Norman Conquest in 1066. These early settlers originated from various regions across what is now Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands. They comprised primarily of three tribes: the Angles, the Saxons, and the Jutes. Upon settling in Britain, they named the country 'Angle-land', which over time evolved into the name we know today as England. In contemporary terms, the Saxons were akin to German and Dutch peoples, the Angles were from southern Denmark, and the Jutes hailed from what would be considered northern Denmark.

Between the end of Roman rule and the year 1066, Britain underwent significant changes brought about by the Anglo-Saxon invasion. The cultural and social landscape of the island transformed as these new settlers established their own systems of governance, language, and traditions. The Anglo-Saxon period was marked by the creation of new kingdoms, the introduction of the Old English language, and the spread of Christianity. This era laid much of the groundwork for the England we recognize today, with the Anglo-Saxons playing a crucial role in shaping the country's early history.