Angles Saxons and Jutes

Let's know something more about the ancient english history

Angles, Saxons and Jutes

by: Castrianni Martina, De Caterini Emma, Fiori Alesandro, Martino Davide

Ancient geographic collocation and migration to actual England

Where did they come from?

The first witnesses of anglican settlements are found in a treaty, wrote by The Venerable Bede, called Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum, written around 731.

"The British provinces, which to this time had suffered various defeats and misfortunes, are reduced to Saxon rule."

When did they migrate? Why did they decide to leave Central Europe?

They began raiding the British coasts around 450, after the departure of Roman troops. They migrated from Central Europe due to the bad conditions of life and the lack of resources. So they arrived in the British Islands and they imported their way of living and their tradition.

The deep origins in ancient times

Were the Angles and the Saxons the same thing?

In the 5th century the Germanic peoples of the Angles, Saxons, Frisians and Jutes abandoned continental Europe and settled on the British Islands. There they formed seven kingdoms (heptarchy), the last of which survived until the advent of the Normans (1066). From the evolution of their dialects derives the English language. The term Anglo-Saxons was coined in the 8th century by the Longobard historian Paul the Deacon, who united the name of two West Germanic peoples (Angles and Saxons, in fact, but also Jutes and Frisians), to indicate the maritime peoples who in the mid-5th century left Germany and the coasts of the North Sea to move to Britain (today's Great Britain). Causes of migration were population growth and the worsening climate in the lands of origin.

Who were the Jutes? Why are they less known than the others?

The Jutes have been neglected over time by historians because of their lack of relevance in the English world. However, some historians of the tenth century began to trace traces of Norse dialects with Danish origins from the territory of Jutland.

The heptarchy

Does the seven kingdoms still exist?

The Angles settled in East Anglia, Mercia and Northumbria; the Saxons in Sussex, Essex and Wessex; the Jutes in Kent, the Isle of Wight and Hampshire. Within a century, the seven kingdoms (Northumbria, Mercia, East Anglia, Essex, Wessex, Sussex and Kent) were formed in the occupied regions.

Society and Culture

Society and scoial factors

They were farmers and deep-sea fishermen. They were organised in family groups or clans. Loyalty to family and lord was the most important value. They exalted physical courage. They had a great sense of beauty. They liked feasting and drinking.

Religion and alphabet

They established 7 kingdoms in Britain and re-introduced pagan values. However, in 597 Augustine (a monk) was sent to England to re-establish Christianity. He became the first Archbishop of Canterbury. Instead of the Latin alphabet they used runes. They worshipped Hodin, Thunor and Freya. They practiced rituals called blot, that consisted in thanking the gods for the harvest.

Old english

What changes did they do in the Old English literature?

Old English literature refers to poetry and prose written in Old English in early medieval England, from the 450 to the decades after the Norman Conquest of 1066, a period often termed Anglo-Saxon England.

The most distinguishing feature of Old English poetry is its alliterative verse style.

Poetic codices

There are four major poetic manuscripts: -The Junius manuscript, also known as the Cædmon manuscript, is an illustrated collection of poems on biblical narratives. It is held at the Bodleian Library. -The Exeter Book is an anthology which brings together riddles and longer texts. It has been held at the Exeter Cathedral library since it was donated there in the 11th century by Bishop Leofric, and has the shelfmark Exeter Dean and Chapter Manuscript 3501. -The Vercelli Book contains both poetry and prose; it is not known how it came to be in Vercelli. -The Beowulf Manuscript, sometimes called the Nowell Codex, contains prose and poetry, typically dealing with monstrous themes, including Beowulf.

Four words that come from Old English

Smart < smeart that means "causing pain". But then in 1600 the meaning change and become "intelligent"

Nightmare < nacht mare. Nacht has a dutch origin and means night, or better, darkness. Mare, an old English word, means "female horse". So for the medieval a dark female horse was something bad that comes during the night.

Unyielding (strong) < un that is a typical negative prefix that comes from Old English; and gieldan that means "sacrificed". So someone who is not sacrificed is strong and so unyielding.

Screem < skerm that is the Old English way to express the word "protection". When I screen I protect myself.

What does it mean that they "lurk outside" for centuries

Is it true that they remained silent, but present, for centuries?

In our opinion, agreeing with the ones of the historians, the Angles and the Saxons lurk outside for centuries. After the battle of Hastings (1066) against king William the Conqueror, they retired in the kingdom of Wessex and continued their traditions. Moreover the language that they spoke remained a pillar of what is English now.So, to sum up this presentation, we personally think that without the presence of the Angles, the Saxons, the Jutes and the Frisians, modern England and modern English will not be the same as it is.