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	Anglo-Saxons in Britain
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Can you solve the ship grave mystery of Sutton Hoo?

The Ango-Saxon's gave England her name. The area we now call England was named Britania by the Romans.

Introduction

What was England like?

England looked very different 1,600 years ago when the Anglo-Saxons came to our shores.

Much of the country was covered in thick oak forests.

Most of England's one million people lived in the countryside where they made a living from farming.

There were many kings, each one ruling over a different area of England.

The Romans abandon England

Roman soldier The Romans had invaded England and ruled over England for 400 years. In 410, the Romans left England because their homes in Italy were being attacked by fierce tribes and every soldier was needed.

The people of England were sad when the Romans left because they had no professional soldiers of their own to protect them from the sea-raiders, who were growing bolder in their attacks upon the coast.

England is invaded again!

With the breakdown of Rome's control of Britain it became possible for the Angles, Saxons and Jutes from across the North Sea who had been raiding the coast of Britain for a hundred years to increase their pressure. Instead of raiding and then withdrawing, by about 450 A.D they were beginning to settle here. The invasion consisted of a series of attacks on different parts of the country over a period of years and under a number of leaders.

British fighting the Saxons
Two British men fighting a Saxon

The Saxon chieftains Hengist and Horsa led a massive attack on Kent in about the year 455. They marched from Thanet through Faversham to Canterbury and eventually arrived at Aylesford, near Maidstone, where a fierce battle took place.

British fighter jumping on a Saxon
British man jumping on two Saxons trying to stop the Saxons.