Anglo Saxon England Timeline 410-1066

The last Romans left England after being recalled back to Rome by Emperor Honorius.

The followers of Ninian, a Christian missionary, built the first Christian Church at Whithorn.

Patrick, a Briton who had been enslaved by Irish raiders, escaped and became the first Christian missionary in Ireland. He became patron saint of Ireland.

The Jutish leaders Hengist and Horsa landed in Kent after being invited by King Vortigern to help defend the Britons from the Picts. They brought with them a force of Angles and Saxons.

Battle of Aegaelsthrep (Aylesford)
Horsa was killed during this battle with King Vortigern. Vortigern’s son, Catigern was also killed in the fighting. Hengist was victorious and declared himself King of Kent.

The Kingdom of Sussex was founded by Aelle, a Saxon warlord.

The Britons had been pushed to the west of England.

The Saxon Cerdic and his son, Cynric landed in the south of England.

Battle of Mount Badon
A British warrior king, possibly named Arthur, defeated the Anglo Saxon invaders in south-west England.

Cerdic took control of the west Saxon, founded and became the first King of Wessex.

A Saxon tribe settled to the east of London and founded the Kingdom of the East Saxons (Essex).

Gildas, a British monk, wrote ‘The Ruin of Britain’ which details the collapse of Roman Britain and the invasion of the Angles and Saxons.

A tribe of Angles landed in the north and founded the Kingdom of Northumbria.

Cynric took Wiltshire for Wessex.

Cynric of Wessex defeated the Britons at Barbury Castle.

The monastery at Iona was founded by Columba.

Tribes of Angles founded the Kingdom of East Anglia.

Battle of Dyrham
Ceawlin of Wessex took Cirencester, Gloucester and Bath from the Anglo Saxons.

Tribes of Angles formed the Kingdom of Mercia.

The missionary Augustine arrived in Kent and founded a Benedictine monastery at Canterbury. He was given the land by King Aethelberht of Kent.

King Aethelberht of Kent was the most powerful ruler in England.

King Aethelberht of Kent converted to Christianity.

King Aethelberht of Kent died. Raedwald of East Anglia became the most powerful leader in England (Bretwalda).

King Edwin of Northumbria converted to Christianity.

Battle of Hatfield Chase
A force of Mercians led by Penda of Mercia and a force of Welsh led by Cadwallon ap Cadfan invaded Northumbria. King Edwin was killed.

Aidan, Bishop of York, founded the monastery at Lindisfarne.

Battle of Maserfield
Penda of Mercia defeated and killed King Oswald of Northumbria.

King Oswiu of Northumbria killed Penda of Mercia and took control of the region.

Wulfhere of Mercia took control of the region from Oswiu of Northumbria.

Synod of Whitby
Oswiu of Northumbria ordered an ecclesiastical conference be held at the Abbey at Whitby which had been founded by Hild of Whitby. The purpose of the conference was  to determine whether the Christian church should follow the dictates of Irish missionaries or those of the Church in Rome. After listening to the presentations of both sides, Oswiu decided to follow the teachings of Rome.

Theodore became Archbishop of Canterbury.

Bishop Wilfrid who had been exiled from Northumbria converted the leader of Sussex to Christianity.

Battle of Dun Nechtain
Ecgfrith, King of Northumbria, invaded Sccotland but was defeated and killed by the Picts led by King Bruide at Dunnichen Moss.

King Ine of Wessex issued a code of laws.

Battle of Dun Nechtain
Ecgfrith, King of Northumbria, invaded Sccotland but was defeated and killed by the Picts led by King Bruide at Dunnichen Moss.

Ine, King of the Wessex, resigned as King and went to Rome to die. He was succeeded by Aethelheard.

Bede completed his Ecclesiastical History of the English People.

Aethelbald of Mercia took land from Wessex.

Cuthred became King of Wessex after the death of Aethelheard.

Aethelbald of Mercia and Cuthred of Wessex joined forces against the Welsh.

Cuthred managed to secure independence for Wessex from Mercia after mounting a rebellion against the overlordship of Aethelbald of Mercia.

King Aethelbald of Mercia was murdered by his bodyguard. His death caused a civil war in Mercia which was won by Offa who became King.

King Offa of Mercia ordered the construction of an earthwork along the border of Wales. It is known as Offa’s Dyke.

Two papal legates, George of Osia and Theophylact of Todi, visited England.

A Viking force landed at Portland, Dorset. When the local reeve went to meet them he was killed. However, this was not an invasionary force but may have been a force that got blown off course.

The monastery at Lindisfarne was raided by Danish Vikings. They destroyed the abbey, killed a large number of monks and took others as slaves.

The monastery at Iona was attacked by a party of Danish Vikings.

The monastery at Iona was attacked again by a party of Danish Vikings.

Egbert became King of Wessex after Beorhtric of Wessex died.

The monastery at Iona was attacked a third time by a party of Danish Vikings. Sixty-eight monks were killed. Those that survived fled to the monastery of Kells in Ireland. They took with them an illuminated manuscript which is now known as the Book of Kells.

Battle of Ellendun
Egbert King of Wessex defeated Beornwulf of Mercia and ended Mercian supremacy over the southern kingdoms.

Egbert, King of the Wessex conquered Mercia and forced the Northumbrians to submit to him giving him control of all of England.

Battle of Carhampton
The Vikings attacked North Devon and Somerset. King Egbert of Wessex tried to defeat them but he was forced to retreat.

Battle of Hingston Down
King Egbert fought a combined force of Vikings and Cornishmen and was victorious.

King Egbert of Wessex died. He was succeeded by his son Aethelwulf.

The Vikings began making raids along the south coast of England.

Kenneth MacAlpine united the Scots and Picts forming the Kingdom of Scotland.

King Aethelwulf’s son, Aethelstan, defeated a Viking force off the coast of Sandwich.

King Aethelwulf and his younger son, Alfred, went on a pilgrimage to Rome. While he was away his son Aethelbald took control of Wessex.

King Aethelwulf of Wessex died. He was succeeded by his son Aethelbald.

King Aethelbald of Wessex died he was succeeded by his brother Aethelbert.

A Viking force known by the Saxons as The Great Heathen Army landed in East Anglia. They were led by the sons of the legendary Ragnar Lothbrok – Ivar the Boneless, Sigurd Snake-in-the-eye, Halfdan, Ubba and Guthrum.

The Great Heathen army marched north and invaded Northumbria.

King Aethelbert of Wessex died. He was succeeded by his brother Aethelred I.

The Danish Vikings in England took Jorvik (York) and used it as a base to make raids into Mercia.

Osberht and Aelle, rivals for the Northumbrian throne made an alliance and marched to expel the Vikings from York. They were badly defeated. Osberht was killed during the battle. Aelle was executed afterwards.

Northumbria was controlled by the Vikings with Egbert as puppet king.

The Viking force, led by Ivar the Boneless, invaded Mercia and captured Nottingham. King Aethelred and his brother Alfred marched north, but by the time they arrived Burgred, King of Mercia had paid the Vikings off.

A Viking force known as the Great Summer Army, led by Bagsecg, arrived in England.

The Vikings attacked East Anglia and killed King Edmund. Legend states that the Vikings tied King Edmund to a tree and shot arrows into him until he died. Later, his body was moved to a place which became known as Bury St Edmunds. The Vikings now controlled East Anglia.

Battle of Reading
King Aethelred and Alfred attempted to lay siege to Reading but the Vikings led by Halfdan had fortified the town with a dyke and palisade and the Saxons were defeated by the Vikings.

Battle of Ashdown
Bagsecg, King of Jutland and Wendland, leader of the Great Summer Army, was killed in this battle between the forces of the Great Heathen Army and those of King Aethelred and his brother, Alfred.

Battle of Basing
King Aethelred of Wessex was defeated by the Vikings.

Battle of Merton
King Aethelred, supported by his brother Alfred, fought the Vikings. The battle was inconclusive and both sides withdrew. Aethelred had been badly injured in the battle.

King Aethelred of Wessex died from injuries sustained in the Battle of Merton. His sons were considered too young to succeed and so Aethelred’s younger brother, Alfred became King.

Battle of Wilton
The Saxons were defeated by the Vikings.

The Vikings took Mercia after defeating King Burgred. Burgred fled overseas. A puppet King, Ceolwulf was installed.

The Vikings began dividing up Northumbria preparing to settle the land permanently.

Alfred made a deal with Guthrum, leader of the Vikings, but Guthrum did not keep the deal. He killed his Saxon hostages and moved to Exeter, leaving the Viking ships at Wareham.

The Vikings made further raids on Wessex taking land in Wiltshire and Hampshire.

Guthrum returned with a large force and marched on Chippenham. Guthrum killed many of the town’s inhabitants. It is likely that this was the last straw for the Witan and that Alfred lost their support due to the fact that his attempts to pay off the Vikings had not worked. Alfred was forced to leave Wessex in fear for his life. He sought refuge in the Somerset marshes at Athelney. The legend of King Alfred and the Burnt Cakes stems from this period.

Battle of Edington
Alfred summoned his troops and defeated the Viking leader, Guthrum and agreed terms at Wedmore.

As per the treaty of Wedmore agreed between Alfred and Guthrum, the Viking leader and around 30 chief Vikings were baptised.

A band of Vikings arrived and attacked Rochester in Kent. The town had been fortified by Alfred in 878 and was able to hold out until Alfred arrived with the army and defeated the Vikings.

King Alfred of Wessex negotiated with the Vikings and allowed them control of the North under Danelaw. The Kingdom of Wessex controlled most of the South.

King Alfred’s daughter, Aethelflaed, married Aethelred of Mercia.

the Anglo Saxon Chronicle was begun.

Alfred agreed a peace with Haesten the leader of the Milton Vikings. Alfred gave Haesten money and treasures while Haesten gave hostages and swore an oath of peace in return.

Haesten broke the peace agreed with Alfred. He took his army and laid waste to Benfleet in Essex.

Battle of Farnham
While King Alfred had been busy trying to make peace with Haesten, the Appledore Vikings had raided towns in Hampshire and Berkshire. They were returning to Appledore with their booty but were cut off by Alfred’s son, Edward who recovered the stolen treasure and put them to flight. Edward then pursued the Vikings, caught up with them and held them under siege at Thorney.

While Alfred and Edward had been occupied with the Vikings in Kent and Appledore, the East Anglia Vikings had sailed to Exeter and lay siege to the city. Alfred had intended to help his son defeat the Vikings at Thorney but had to divert and go to Exeter to relieve the siege to the city. Alfred encircled the besiegers. A further group of Vikings marched west probably to relieve the siege of Exeter but they were met at Buttington by a large force led by the Ealdormen of Mercia, Somerset and Wiltshire who succeeded in putting them to flight and the Vikings returned to East Anglia. Soon afterwards the Vikings in Exeter withdrew and also returned to Thorney, East Anglia.

The Vikings were forced, through hunger, to leave Thorney, they moved north to Chester but were placed under siege and forced to leave.

The Vikings built a new fort about 20 miles north of London by the river Lea.

Alfred built two new fortresses by the river Lea which meant that the Viking force further up the river were unable to get their boats out to sea.

On learning of Alfred’s actions the Vikings abandoned their boats on the river Lea and marched overland to Bridgenorth on the river Severn where they built a new fort. Alfred marched to Bridgenorth and lay siege to the Vikings.

The Vikings gave up their raids on English towns and returned to East Anglia and Northumbria. Wessex was finally at peace.

King Alfred the Great died. He was succeeded by his son, Edward the Elder.

Aethelwold, cousin of King Edward the Elder, had contested Edward’s position as King. He had gained the support of the Vikings and was made King of York. He received the allegiance of the Northern Vikings.

Aethelwold of Wessex and the Northern Vikings landed in Essex and allied with the East Anglian Vikings

Battle of Tettenhall (Wednesfield)
The combined forces of Mercia and Wessex defeated the Northumbrian Vikings

Aethelred of Mercia died, he was succeeded by his wife, Aethelflaed who was known as Lady of the Mercians.

First battle of Corbridge
An Anglo Saxon force was defeated by the Vikings.

A force of Vikings from Northampton and Leicester attempted to take the fort at Towcester but were successfully repelled.

A force of East Anglian Danes constructed a fort at Tempsford and used it as a base from which to attack Bedford. They were unsuccessful and forced to retreat.

Battle of Tempsford
The Anglo-Saxons defeated the Danes at Tempsford. The sole surviving Danish King of East Anglia was killed in the Battle.

King Edward took Colchester. The Danes retaliated by besieging the fort at Maldon but they were unsuccessful and many died.

King Edward the Elder received the submission of all the Danes south of the River Humber.

Battle of Corbridge
This was a battle between Viking forces led by Ragnall and Constantine II of Scotland supported by Ealdred of Bamburgh. Although the battle was indecisive the Vikings suffered huge losses and only a quarter of their force survived.

Aethelflaed, Lady of the Mercians, died. Her brother, King Edward the Elder took control of Mercia.

The Viking, Ragnall, took York and proclaimed himself King of York.

The Norse Vikings attacked Cheshire

King Edward the Elder died. He was succeeded by his son, Aethelstan.

King Aethelstan married one of his sisters to Sigtryggr (Sihtric), the Viking ruler of Northumbria.

Sigtryggr (Sihtric) of Northumbria died. He was succeeded by a son from a previous marriage who did not support an alliance with Aethelstan. Aethelstan therefore invaded Northumbria and captured York.

Battle of Brunanburh
This battle, fought between King Athelstan of England and the combined forces of Constantine of Scotland, Owain of Strathclyde and Olaf Guthfrithson King of Dublin lasted all day but saw Aethelstan victorious.

Eric Bloodaxe, became King of Northumberland.

King Aethelstan of England died. He was succeeded by his son Edmund.

The Viking Olaf III Guthfrithson, with the support of the Archbishop of York, Wulfstan, conquered Northumbria and invaded Mercia.

Olaf III Guthfrithson was killed during a raid. He was succeeded by Olaf Sitricson who was not as strong as his predecessor. Edmund attacked and was able to take back Mercia.

King Edmund made an alliance with King Olaf of York. Edmund became godfather to Olaf.

Edmund re-took Northumbria from the Vikings

King Olaf of York was unable to retain his throne and so left England for Ireland where he became King of Dublin.

King Edmund I of England died. He was succeeded by his brother Eadred.

Eric Bloodaxe captured Jorvik (York) and took control of Northumbria.

King Eadred managed to re-take Northumbria.

The former ruler of York, Olaf Sihtricson, returned to the North of England and was accepted as ruler of Northumbria.

King Eadred captured and imprisoned Archbishop Wulfstan of York who helped the Vikings.

Erik Bloodaxe, the last Viking King in England, was driven out of Northumbria and killed.

King Eadred of England died. He was succeeded by his nephew, Eadwig.

King Eadwig of England died. He was succeeded by his brother Edgar.

King Edgar received the submission of eight kings of the North, including the Kings of Scotland and Strathclyde at Chester thus strengthening his position.

King Edgar of England died. He was succeeded by his son Edward.

King Edward of England was murdered by supporters of his step-brother, Aethelred at Corfe Castle. He is known as Edward the Martyr. He was succeeded by his half-brother Aethelred, known as Unready.

There were Danish Viking raids on Chester and Southampton.

There were Danish Viking raids on Devon and Cornwall.

There were Danish Viking raids on Dorset.

Battle of Maldon
Byrhtnoth of Essex was defeated by the Danish Vikings led by Olaf Tryggvason.

Following the Viking victory at Maldon King Aethelred was forced to pay the Vikings £10,000 pounds (3.3 kg of silver) to make them leave Wessex alone. The payment was known as a Danegeld.

A party of Viking raiders sailed up the River Thames and put London under siege. King Aethelred was forced to make another Danegeld payment to make the raiders leave. This time the Viking leader Olaf Trygvasson, demanded £16,000 (5.3 kg of silver)

St Brice’s Day Massacre
King Aethelred ordered the massacre of all Danes living in England. He hoped that by ridding England of Danes he would minimise the risk of attack from within. A significant number of Danes were killed including the sister of Sweyn Forkbeard.

Sweyn Forkbeard and a party of Vikings raided the South coast retaliation for the St Brice’s day massacre. They gained control of land from Exeter to Hampshire.

King Aethelred had no choice but to pay the Danes to leave his land alone. The Danegled demanded was £24,000 (8kg of silver).

Sweyn Forkbeard destroyed the town of Norwich.

Sweyn Forkbeard and the Vikings returned and made a series of raids on Kent and Sussex.

King Aethelred was unable to raise sufficient forces to defeat the Vikings and so was forced to make another Danegeld payment to keep the Vikings away. The sum demanded this time was £36,000 (12 kg of silver).

King Aethelred decided that he could not keep paying off the Danes and so decided to build a new fleet of ships.

A group of Vikings led by Thorkell the Tall made a series of devastating raids on the coast. King Aethelred was unable to defeat the Vikings using his new ships because his Captain, Wulfnoth had taken 20 boats on a piracy mission. Another Captain, Brihtric, who had tried to stop Wulfnoth had run several ships aground.

The Danes invaded East Anglia. A battle was fought near Ipswich which left the Danes in control of the town.

The Danish Vikings captured Canterbury and took Archbishop Aelheah prisoner.

The Danish Vikings in Canterbury went on a drunken raid and murdered Archbishop Aelheah of Canterbury. The Viking leader, Thorkell the Tall, tried to stop the murder but was unsuccessful. He was so angry at his comrades that he defected and joined Aethelred’s forces.

King Aethelred made another Danegeld payment of £48,000 (17 kg of silver) to stop the destruction being caused by the Vikings.

Sweyn Forkbeard returned and took Wessex, Mercia and Northumbria. London alone held out against the Danes.

Having conquered the majority of England Sweyn Forkbeard proclaimed himself King of England. Aethelred, his wife Emma and their children fled to Normandy.

Sweyn Forkbeard died. The English rejected his son, Canute and asked Aethelred the Unready to return. Only the people of Lindsey had wanted Canute to succeed.

Canute began attacking more regions of England. King Aethelred’s son, Edmund Ironside, summoned an army but the men refused to fight without authorisation from King Aethelred. Aethelred summoned an army but was warned that his son may betray him and returned to London.

Canute took Northumberland then marched towards London.

Edmund Ironside marched to London to try to stop Canute from taking the city.

King Aethelred II of England died. His son, Edmund Ironside, was proclaimed King Edmund II of England.

Battle of Brentford
Edmund Ironside managed to defeat the Danish army led by Canute at Brentford.

Battle of Assandun
This battle fought between Edmund Ironside and Canute saw the Dane victorious and left Edmund in control of only Wessex.

King Edmund had no choice but to agree to share rule with Canute. Canute ruled Northumbria, Mercia and East Anglia while Edmund ruled Wessex. It was agreed that on the death of either party the other would rule all of England.

King Edmund Ironside of England died and Canute seized the throne of England.

Edmund Ironside’s two children were taken to Hungary as it was feared that they would be murdered by Canute.

The three children of Aethelred the Unready by Emma of Normandy were taken to Normandy as it was feared their lives were in danger.

Canute divided England into four earldoms: Wessex – controlled by Earl Godwin, Mercia controlled by Eadric Streona, Northumbria controlled by Erik of Hlathir and East Anglia controlled by Thorkell the Tall.

Canute was crowned King of England at St Paul’s Cathedral.

Canute married Aethelred’s widow, Emma. It was agreed that the succession would be with the children of Emma and Canute.

King Canute died. His son and nominated heir, Harthacnut, was in Denmark claiming the Danish throne and unable to return to England immediately. The English throne was therefore taken by Harold Harefoot, son of Aethelred the Unready by his first wife.

King Harold Harefoot of England died. He was succeeded by his Danish half-brother, Harthacnut.

King Harthacnut of England died and Edward the Confessor, son of Aethelred the Unready became King of England. Earl Godwin gave his full support to Edward.

Edward the Confessor married Edith of Wessex, daughter of Earl Godwin.

Earl Godwin and his family were exiled for refusing to punish men of Dover who had killed some Norman friends of the King. Godwin’s youngest son, Wulfnoth and his grandson Hakon remained in England as hostages of Edward the Confessor.

Harold and his family returned to England at the head of an army. King Edward was unable to raise a force that would defeat them and was forced to sue for peace terms. It was agreed that the Godwin family could return and their former lands would be restored to them. A large number of King Edward’s Norman supporters at court had fled to Normandy in the face of the Godwin invasion. It is likely that Harold’s brother Wulfnoth and his nephew Hakon were taken to Normandy as hostages.

King Edward the Confessor of England died. He had no children and the throne passed to Harold Godwinson as King Harold II. The succession was contested by Harald Hardrada of Norway and William Duke of Normandy.

Harald Hardrada supported by Tostig Godwinson, invaded the north of England.

Battle of Fulford
Earl Morcar of Northumbria and Earl Edwin of Mercia called up their reserves and met ht forces of Hardrada and Tostig at Fulford. The English earls were easily defeated and fled.

Harald Hardrada took the city of York.

Battle of Stamford Bridge
The forces of Harold Godwinson met and defeated the forces of Tostig and Hardrada. Both invaders were killed during the battle.

William of Normandy invaded England landing at Pevensey on the south coast of England.

Battle of Hastings
William of Normandy defeated Harold II at the Battle of Hastings. The battle had lasted all day but ended after King Harold was killed.

The Witan proclaimed Edgar Aetheling, great grandson of Aethelred the Unready, King of England.

Following his victory at Hastings, William expected the Anglo Saxons to submit to him. When they did not he was forced to begin the Norman Conquest to take England by force.

Edgar Aetheling and the English nobility finally submitted to William.

William of Normandy was crowned King at Westminster Abbey beginning the rule of the Normans.