The Anglo-Saxons were pagan, non-literate, barbaric immigrants who established England into the culturally refined country that it is today. This is especially hard to understand, since the Anglo-Saxons were so disorganized that they had little conception of national, racial, or political loyalties. The people of England would like to believe that their ancestors were peaceful farmers, giving them their culture, settlement patterns, and many a custom. The Anglo-Saxons were a far cry from this. (Laing 1).
360 million English speaking people, owe their language in part to the adventures of a Continental soldier called Hengist. (Laing 1) In the fifth century A.D., Hengist crossed the Channel. He had 3 shiploads of followers. Hengist is ultimately of Scandinavian origin. (Laing 1) This story spreads over more than 600 years. It begins with the fall of the Roman Empire, and the arrival of Anglo-Saxon settlers, and comes to an end with the Norman Conquest of 1066. (Brown 7).
The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle is the key to the history of England in Anglo-Saxon times. It was originally compiled on the orders of King Alfred the Great, and subsequently maintained and added to by generations of anonymous scribes until the middle of the 12th century. The original language is Old English, but later entries have a Middle English tone. (The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle 1) The Chronicle is a year by year account of all major happenings, important battles, the rise and fall of bishops, and other major events. (Brown 9) The Chronicle begins with the coming of the first Saxons, Hengist and Horsa in A.D. 449.
"Hengist and Horsa were invited by Vortigern, king of Britons, and they arrived to Britain at a place called Ebbsfleet; first they came to help Britons, but afterwards fought against them." (Brown 9).
Hengist won several battles and eventually the kingdom of Kent, subsequent entries describe how Horsa was killed.
