The Creation of England
450 AD- Roman rule of Britain ended
Angles, Saxons- German tribes- invaded
Native Britons- Welsh- driven into the western part
Founded multiple kingdoms by about 700 AD
- adopted Christianity
Vikings- began attacking about 800 AD
Wessex- most powerful Anglo-Saxons- fought them
Alfred the Great - began the struggle to defeat the Vikings- succeeded in 886 AD
Vikings- ruled the Danelaw- eastern England- temporary
Canute- Danish king- united Denmark, England, and Norway in 1016 AD- died in 1035
- sons couldn't handle it- split up after his death
Edward the Confessor- became Anglo-Saxon king in 1042 AD
- died in 1066 with no children
3 possible candidates:
1. Harold of Wessex- Anglo-Saxon noble, Edward's brother-in-law
2. William, the Duke of Normandy- powerful noble from Northern France, Edward's cousin
3. Tostig: Harold of Wessex's older brother
- exiled for being a poor leader
Anglo-Saxons- landowners, Church leaders met, picked Harold of Wessex
- made the other two mad