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Awesome Anglo-Saxon facts!

Check out these cool facts about the fierce anglo-saxons….

Prepare for battle kids, because we’re about to take a trip back in time in our Anglo-Saxon facts, to a time 1,600 years ago when fierce warriors ruled Great Britain!

Ever wondered what it might be like stepping foot in Anglo-Saxon England ? Find everything you’ll ever need to know about these fierce people in our mighty fact file, below…

Did you know that we have a FREE downloadable Anglo-Saxons primary resource ? Great for teachers, homeschoolers and parents alike!

Anglo-Saxon facts: Who were they?

The Anglo-Saxons were a group of farmer-warriors who lived in Britain over a thousand years ago.

Made up of three tribes who came over from Europe, they were called the Angle , Saxon , and Jute tribes. The two largest were the Angle and Saxon, which is how we’ve come to know them as the Anglo-Saxons today.

They were fierce people, who fought many battles during their rule of Britain – often fighting each other! Each tribe was ruled by its own strong warrior who settled their people in different parts of the country.

When did the Anglo-Saxons invade Britain?

The Anglo-Saxons first tried invading in the 4th century , but the Roman army were quick to send them home again! Years later – around 450AD – the Ancient Romans left Britain, the Anglo-Saxons seized their chance and this time they were successful!

They left their homes in Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark and sailed over to Britain on wooden boats. Many of them were farmers before they came to Britain and it’s thought they were on the look-out for new land as floodwaters back home had made it almost impossible to farm.

Anglo-Saxon houses

The Anglo-Saxons didn’t like the stone houses and streets left by the Romans, so they built their own villages. They looked for land which had lots of natural resources like food, water and wood to build and heat their homes, and Britain’s forests had everything they needed. They surrounded each village with a high fence to protect cattle from wild animals like foxes and wolves, and to keep out their enemies, too!

We know what Anglo-Saxon houses were like from excavations of Anglo-Saxon villages. They were small wooden huts with a straw roof, and inside was just one room in which the whole family lived, ate, slept and socialised together – much like an ancient version of open-plan living!

The biggest house in the village belonged to the chief, which was large enough to house him and all his warriors – and sometimes even the oxen, too! It was a long hall with a stone fire in the middle, and hunting trophies and battle armour hung from its walls. There were tiny windows and a hole in the roof to allow smoke to escape.

Anglo-Saxon place names

Many towns and villages still carry their Anglo-Saxon names today, including “England” which comes from the Saxon word “Angle-Land”.

Early Anglo-Saxon villages were named after the leader of the tribe so everyone knew who was in charge. If you’d visited Reading in Anglo-Saxon times, you’d have been in Redda’s village – Redda being the local chieftain.

The Anglo-Saxons settled in many different parts of the country – the Jutes ended up in Kent, the Angles in East Anglia, and the Saxons in parts of Essex, Wessex, Sussex and Middlesex (according to whether they lived East, West, South or in the middle!)

Not all Roman towns were abandoned, though. Some chiefs realised that a walled city made for a great fortress, so they built their wooden houses inside the walls of Roman towns like London.

Anglo-Saxon food

Perhaps one of our favourite Anglo-Saxon facts is how much they liked to party! They loved a good meal and would often host huge feasts in the chief’s hall. Meat was cooked on the fire and they ate bread, drank beer and sang songs long into the night!

They grew wheat, barley and oats for making bread and porridge, grew fruit and vegetables like carrots, parsnips and apples, and kept pigs, sheep and cattle for meat, wool and milk.

They were a very resourceful people – everything had its use and nothing went to waste. Animal fat could be used as oil for lamps, knife handles could be made out of deer antlers and even glue could be made from cows.

Anglo-Saxon clothes

Anglo-Saxons made their own clothes out of natural materials. The men wore long-sleeved tunics made of wool or linen, often decorated with a pattern. Their trousers were woollen and held up by a leather belt from which they could hang their tools such as knives and pouches. Shoes were usually made out of leather and fastened with laces or toggles.

The women would wear an under-dress of linen or wool and an outer-dress like a pinafore called a “peplos” which was held onto the underlayer by two brooches on the shoulders. Anglo-Saxon women loved a bit of bling and often wore beaded necklaces, bracelets and rings, too!

Anglo-Saxon gods

Grand stone buildings, such as Westminster Abbey, replaced the wooden Anglo-Saxon structures after the Normans invaded in 1066.

Many of today’s Christian traditions came from the Anglo-Saxons, but they weren’t always Christians. When they first came over from Europe they were Pagans , worshipping lots of different gods who they believed looked different parts of their life, such as family, crop growing, weather and even war.

The Anglo-Saxons would pray to the Pagan gods to give them good health, a plentiful harvest or success in battle.

It wasn’t until the Pope in Rome sent over a missionary – a monk called Augustine – to England in 597AD, that the Anglo-Saxons became Christians. Augustine convinced the Anglo-Saxon King Ethelbert of Kent to convert to Christianity and slowly the rest of the country followed suit. Pagan temples were turned into churches and more churches (built of wood) started popping up all over Britain.

Who invaded after the Anglo-Saxons?

From 793AD, the Vikings invaded Anglo-Saxon Britain several times, plundering and raiding towns and villages along the British coastline. The Anglo-Saxons tried to hold them back but groups of Vikings eventually settled in different parts of the country, especially York (or Jorvik, as they named it) – making it the second biggest city after London. The next invasion came in 1066AD, in one of the most famous battles of our history – the Battle of Hastings . When the Anglo-Saxon King Edward died without an heir, a new king was chosen to rule England – King Harold II . William the Conqueror of Normandy and Harald Hardrada , the King of Norway , weren’t keen on the new English king and thought that they both had the right to rule Britain.

A descendant of Viking raiders, William brought his army of Normans to Britain to take on the new king, and on 14 October 1066 , the two armies fought at the Battle of Hastings. The Normans were victorious and Harold was killed. This signalled the end of Anglo-Saxon rule in Britain. England now had a Norman king, King William I , or William the Conqueror .

Check out our vicious Viking facts , here!

The Anglo-Saxon period of history shaped many parts of England as we know it today – the words we use for the days of the week for example. Have a go at saying them out loud, below!

Monandæg

Tiwesdæg

Wodnesdæg

Ðunresdæg

Frigedæg

Sæternesdæg

What did you think of our Anglo-Saxon facts, gang? Let us know by leaving a comment, below.

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Anglo-Saxon KS2 Facts

Who was in Britain after the Romans left? Who did the Vikings raid and battle within Britain?

The Anglo-Saxons inhabited Britain for almost 600 years! Read on to find out more about them and what life was like in the Dark Ages!

Where did the Anglo-Saxons come from?

Anglo-Saxons came from many places all over Europe including Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands. They were known at the time as Jutes, Angles and Saxons. They lived in Britain between 410 AD and 1066 AD settling in the country after the Romans left following the collapse of the Roman Empire.

Where did Anglo-Saxons live?

Upon their arrival in Britain, the Anglo Saxons began to battle the Britons left behind by the Romans for land, farms and villages to live in. The Britons moved north and west into areas that are now Wales, Devon, Cornwall and Northern England.

Most people lived in houses made of wood, often built over a shallow cellar. They were rectangular in shape and were mainly just one or two rooms. They heated their homes with open fires in hearths, usually in the middle of the floor. There were no chimneys so smoke escaped gradually through the thatched roofs.

Most people earned their living on the land as farmers but there were craftsmen who worked with leather, wood, pottery, glass and other materials to make shoes, furniture, pots, pans, belts, jewellery and other objects. These were usually men. There were no large cities, no schools and no formal law system. There were no doctors yet either. Some people earned their living travelling from place to place as jugglers, jesters or musicians.

What did Anglo-Saxons eat?

Anglo-Saxons ate what they could grow, harvest, rear and catch. Cows, pigs, chickens and geese were raised and many other wild animals were caught to be eaten. There were hares but no rabbits at this time. Domestic animals gave eggs, milk and cheese. They caught fish and other seafood too, including oysters. There was no sugar but they sweetened their food with honey. They grew wheat and rye which they made into bread, and barley to make beer. They grew fruits and vegetables, including carrots, turnips, onions and garlic, as well as many herbs. Sweetcorn, turkey, potatoes, chillies, sugar and chocolate wouldn’t come to England for hundreds of years.

Anglo-Saxons drank beer and a fermented drink made from honey called mead. They didn’t drink water as the river water was usually very polluted. Weak beer was drunk by everyone, including children. Milk was available if the family kept cows. Stronger beer was saved for feasts and special occasions. Wine was only available for the very rich.

What did the Anglo-Saxons wear?

Anglo-Saxon clothes were often made from wool that could be taken from their sheep. Men wore trousers and long tunics and women usually wore long dresses known as ‘peplos’. Both men and women used brooches to pin their clothes in places, normally around the neck or at the shoulders. Belts would also be used to keep their clothes in place. Wealthy people would also wear jewellery.

What did the Anglo-Saxons do?

In their free time, many Anglo-Saxon villages would come together and tell stories. This was an important learning opportunity for younger members of the village and people enjoyed telling stories to each other. One famous story that we know of from this time period is the story of Beowulf: A powerful warrior who conquered the foul creature Grendel.

When not telling stories, people would play music and sing together or they would play board games such as Merels or Tabula.

Who were the Anglo-Saxons?

There were strict ranks in Anglo-Saxon Britain. Kings were the most important people, followed by nobles who helped the king run his kingdom. Thanes were given control over land by the king in exchange for fighting in battles. Farmers and craftsmen would live and work on the land given to the thane. People were fiercely loyal to their thane and their king. Women and slaves had no rights and could not own land.

Laws were harsh in Anglo-Saxon times. Liars had their tongues cut out and thieves had their hands chopped off. Sometimes, a criminal was given a trial by ordeal, such as holding a red-hot iron. If the wound was healed, they were declared innocent. ‘Weregild’ was paid as compensation if you injured someone or did wrong to someone. The amount of ‘weregild’ paid depended on how important the victim was. Jails had not yet been invented as a form of punishment and neither had guillotines, but hanging was introduced to Britain during the Anglo-Saxon era and became one of the most widely used punishments.

Anglo-Saxons did not understand what caused diseases but they tried their best to cure them. Women used plants and herbs as salves and ointments and made special drinks. Moss, for example, was used to help wounds heal. They also wore lucky charms that were supposed to protect them from harm.

What did Anglo-Saxons believe?

When the Anglo-Saxons first came to Britain, they brought their beliefs in gods, goddesses and religion with them. However, in AD 597, Pope Gregory, the leader of the Christian church, sent a missionary to England. After that, more and more people became Christians and the Anglo-Saxons started building churches. However, many people held on to their traditional beliefs and mixed them with Christianity. An example of this is the Christian celebration of Easter. This got its name from the pagan goddess of spring: Eostre. In springtime, pagans would feast and celebrate the new year. This became mixed with the Christian festivities to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection.

Despite the growing popularity of Christianity in England at this time, the Anglo-Saxons still practised some of their pagan festivities and rituals. One example of this is burials. Anglo-Saxon burials often buried the body in crouched or curled up positions. They would also bury the person with goods and treasures that the person could take with them to the afterlife such as brooches, games, pots and weapons.

Click here to read about one of the most famous Anglo-Saxon burial sites that has been found by archaeologists: Sutton Hoo.

Who do you think was buried there?

What happened to the Anglo-Saxons?

In the year 793 AD Vikings from Norway, Denmark and Sweden first raided a monastery in Lindisfarne on the northeast coast of England. At this time there were seven separate kingdoms across England.

A map of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms in 793

Over the next 100 years, Viking raids became more and more common, with the Vikings eventually beginning to settle in England and create villages of their own. They were powerful warriors and in 865 AD a huge army arrived in England conquering massive areas of North and East England. It took them only thirteen years to occupy a third of England. This area became known as Danelaw.

A map of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms in 886

After many violent battles the king of Wessex, King Alfred, brokered a peace treaty in 886 AD with the Viking king, Guthrum. Guthrum was to be baptised into Christianity and was to leave Wessex alone. In turn, the Vikings could live peacefully in Danelaw. Alfred became king over all the lands of England apart from Danelaw. He became known as Alfred the Great, king of the English.

In 1016, the Anglo-Saxon king Edmund died. He left the kingdom to the Viking king Cnut. The kingdoms of Wessex, Mercia and Danelaw were now under the control of a single king. Cnut also ruled Denmark and much of Norway. He was a very powerful king.

When Cnut died in 1035, there was a disagreement about who should be his successor. This resulted in several years of war. Eventually Edward the Confessor became king in 1042. England became very powerful during his reign. He ordered that Westminster Abbey (a huge cathedral) be built in London, beginning in 1050. This magnificent piece of architecture still stands today!

Unfortunately, when King Edward died in 1066 there was another argument about who his successor should be. Three men wanted the throne of England: Harold Hardrada (King of Norway), William (Duke of Normandy) and Harold Godwinson (Earl of Wessex).

There were many battles, most famously the Battle of Hastings in October 1066. Both Harolds were killed during these battles and William the Conqueror of Normandy and his Norman army were victorious. Thus ended the Anglo-Saxon and Viking era and Norman Britain began.

Find out more about the Battle of Hastings using these FREE Fact Cards for KS2 .

More Interesting Anglo-Saxon Facts:

The period of time after the Romans left Britain is sometimes known as the Dark Ages. This is because much of the advancements in technology the Romans brought with them was lost and Britain pretty much returned to how it was before the Romans invaded and settled there.
The names Essex, Sussex and Wessex are derived from the name Saxon and a compass direction. South Saxons = Sussex, East Saxons = Essex and West Saxons = Wessex.
Some of our modern English words, such as the days of the week, come from the Anglo-Saxon language (sometimes called Old English).
Much of what we know about the Anglo-Saxons comes from the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle.
King Alfred was the first to call the people living in his kingdom Englishmen .
There were tribes of people living in Scotland at the time called Picts and Scots.
The Battle of Hastings is depicted in a famous tapestry called the Bayeux Tapestry.

Kaydan - March 29, 2023 Thanks my head teacher made me make some of these slides so thanks anything I can do to help Kind regards Kaydan Martin

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Anglo Saxon links
Class Pages
Class Pages Archive: 2021 - 2022
Autumn term

Anglo Saxon Board Games

http://anglosaxondiscovery.ashmolean.org/Life/dailylife/games_info.html http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryhistory/anglo_saxons/growing_up

Anglo Saxon Houses

http://www.primaryhomeworkhelp.co.uk/saxons/houses.htm http://anglosaxondiscovery.ashmolean.org/Life/settlement/houses_info.html http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryhistory/anglo_saxons/anglo-saxon_life/

Anglo Saxon Artefacts

http://www.bbc.co.uk/guides/zq2m6sg#zq77mp3

http://anglosaxondiscovery.ashmolean.org/arrival/arrival_knowledge.html http://www.ashmolean.org/ash/britarch/collections/anglo-saxon.html

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Today’s learning – Wednesday 20th January

Here is your learning for today! We will go through it on our Zoom call at 11am and we can answer any questions you have. Answers for the work will be posted later today, so you can check your work.

English – Writing:

DAILY SPELLING CHALLENGE !

Today, why not learn how to spell these tricky words. Or, if you think you already know them, get an adult or older sibling to test you! This blog post tells you some fun ways to practise spellings: https://www.lawfordmead.essex.sch.uk/blogs/year4/2020/03/16/spellings/

This week, we are going to be learning words where ‘ay’ sound is spelt ‘ey’, ‘ei’ or ‘eigh’.

English – research:

Can you use these website to help you research and make notes about the Anglo-Saxons? When we are researching, we scan and skim the text to find the important information and only write down the key notes we need. WHEN YOU HAVE COMPLETED THIS WORK, KEEP IT SAFE FOR NEXT WEEK.

First, you will need to choose 4 topics you wish to research further:
Who were the Anglo-Saxons?
Why did the Anglo-Saxons invade Britain?
What religion did the Anglo-Saxons follow?
What were Anglo-Saxon villages and houses like?
What did the Anglo-Saxons eat and drink?
Who invaded England after the Anglo-Saxons?

2. Once you have chosen your 4 topics, you will need to:

Make a research grid on a piece of paper like the one below:

Complete the topic column with your 4 chosen topics:

Make notes using the following websites or your own research.

http://www.primaryhomeworkhelp.co.uk/saxons/who.htm

http://www.primaryhomeworkhelp.co.uk/saxons/why.htm

http://www.primaryhomeworkhelp.co.uk/saxons/religion.htm

http://www.primaryhomeworkhelp.co.uk/saxons/houses.htm

http://www.primaryhomeworkhelp.co.uk/saxons/food.htm

http://www.primaryhomeworkhelp.co.uk/saxons/last.htm

Here is an example to help you:

English – Reading:

This half term, we will be reading How To Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell. Read the text and have a go at answering the questions underneath. I have put the text and questions both as a picture and a document. They are both the same but you can decide which is easier to view on your device.

Why did Fishlegs hand his dragon basket to Hiccup?
Where does Fishlegs wanted to go instead of becoming a Viking warrior?
Why did Fishlegs’s jaw opened in disbelief?
When did Hiccup manage to get a dragon for himself?
How did Hiccup know that there was a dragon on the shelf?
Where did Hiccup have a nasty dragon wound on his body?
Why did Hiccup think that he should not have risked his life in trying to get a dragon for Fishlegs?
Why was Hiccup feeling pleased with himself?
What did Fishlegs predict that Hiccup could have in the basket?
How was Hiccup feeling about the dragon in his basket?

Times tables starter:

Today in maths, we are learning about dividing 2 digit numbers by a 1 digit number. Watch the following video and have a go at the questions underneath on paper.