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

1066 AD- A busy year