Description
Book SynopsisRichly illustrated, this title describes Anglo-Saxon monarchs, warlords and their warriors and households in Anglo-Saxon Britain, from the first post-Roman mercenaries to the Norman Conquest.In a country fragmented by Roman withdrawal during the 5th century AD, the employment of Germanic mercenaries by local rulers in Anglo-Saxon Britain was commonplace. These mercenaries became settlers, forcing Romano-British communities into Wales and the West Country. Against a background of spreading Christianity, the struggles of rival British and Anglo-Saxon kingdoms were exploited by the Vikings, but eventually contained by the Anglo-Saxon king, Alfred of Wessex. His descendants unified the country during the 10th century, however, subsequent weak rule saw its 25-year incorporation into a Danish empire before it finally fell to the Norman invasion of 1066. Scholars of the early Church have long known that the term Dark Ages' for the 5th to 11th centuries in Britain refers only to a lack
Table of ContentsINTRODUCTION CHRONOLOGY KINGS AND WARLORDS – Household warriors:
Werod, Comitatus and
Huskarla – Character and roles of the Anglo-Saxon elite – Arms and equipment: defensive equipment – helmets, body armour, shields; offensive equipment – axes, swords, knives, spears and javelins; other equipment: clothing – horse equipment – standards and flags – Representative major battles: Cathraeth,
c.600 AD; Edington, 878 AD; Brunanburgh, 991 AD; Maldon, 991 AD PLATE COMMENTARIES SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX
