Invaders of Britain

Reasons for invasions

Throughout time countries/lands have been invaded by leaders of other countries, for different reasons.
Some of the reasons were: 1. Money, 2. Power, 3. Raw materials.

In the past, invaders were also looking for slaves.

NOTE: Much of the information I have researched has been contradictory with regards to exact dates etc. However the main invaders recorded are detailed on the following pages. I suggest you do your own research and read the references I have noted on each page, and other info that you may find yourself. Then you need to decide ...

Invaders of Britain
Romans Since AD 43 Emperor Claudius Failed attempts by Julius Caesar since AD55 Saxons from 5th century Notably King Alfred (AD 849) - North Germany Vikings AD835 From Scandinavia (Nordic) Normans AD1066 William the Conqueror - France Source: Letts World of History Revision

Before the Romans

Who lived in Britain before the Romans invaded? There is so much controversy on this, as well as different theories. Here is some info.

Celts
Before the Romans invaded, Celts lived in Britain. Before the Celts . there are many theories but few agree with each other. Pre-Celtic Britain is difficult to recognize as the Romans, in their 4 centuries of rule, obliterated any remains of former peoples.
5000BC - Neolithic (new stone age) Period begins; first evidence of farming appears; stone axes, antler combs, pottery in common use who were these people?

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryhistory/romans/invasion/ http://www.unidue.de/SHE/HE_CelticLanguages.htm http://www.britannia.com/history/time1.html

Indigenous peoples of Britain?

Those who study history and ages past, record the stone age, the bronze age, hunter gathers - though who the people were, where they came from and what they called themselves seems to be hidden in the mists of time. Some say that Britain always has a flow of people coming and going and they say that there were NO indigenous people. BUT there must have been. In Northern and Western Scotland the Picts are spoken of as indigenous people but little remains of them except a list of kings and carved stones in the areas where they lived.

Romans
There are many events that occurred. These are just a few of them (check the link below). Julius Caesar first attempted to invade Britain in 55BC. It was unsuccessful but invasions continued. By 60 - 61AD Boudicca leads revolt against the Romans Then from 75 - 77AD Roman Conquests of Britain completed - The Romans defeated the last of the resistant tribes in the North making all of Britain Roman. 122AD - Hadrian's Wall built - The Emperor Hadrian visited Britain and ordered that a wall be built between England and Scotland to keep the rebellious Scottish tribes out. Construction of the wall began in 122 and was completed by 139.

http://www.britainexpress.com/History/roman-britain-map.htm http://www.historyonthenet.com/Chronology/timelineroman.htm

Romans go home
360AD Attacks from Picts, Scots, Franks, Saxons - Roman Britain was attacked by tribal groups of Picts, Scots, Franks and Saxons. Reinforcements were sent to Britain and the attacks were repelled. 388 400AD - Romans begin to leave Britain - The Roman Empire was being attacked by many different barbarian tribes. Soldiers stationed in Britain were recalled to Rome. 410 - Last Romans leave Britain - All Romans had been recalled to Rome and the Emperor Honorious told the people of Britain that they no longer had a connection to Rome and that they should defend themselves.

Some examples of things that Romans introduced to Britain that are still in use today:
Architecture Art Literature Language (Latin) Sanitation (sewage) Aqueducts Education Irrigation (water supply) The calendar Coins Cement and bricks Public heated baths Turnips and carrots Paved streets and pavements Apples, pears and grapes Benefits (free food) for poor citizens Roads Wine Cats Stinging nettles Towns Glass Street Cleaners Shops Laws Tenements Blocks Public Order Firemen and Police Parks Cabbages & peas Public libraries Public notices and advertisements

What did the Romans do for Britain?

Source: http://www.schoolhistory.co.uk//year7links/doneforuse.shtml

Roman Language - Latin

English is a mixture of many different languages, but it contains very many references to Latin. Some Latin words are used directly, whereas others have been adapted - but the influence of the Romans on English can easily be seen.

Source: http://www.schoolhistory.co.uk//year7links/doneforuse.shtml

Other influences of Romans

Literature Roman authors followed the famous Greek authors, often developing and building upon Greek writing. Most surviving literature is written for or by the rich. Writers were supported by the rich. Many writers have been influenced by the Romans including Shakespeare (Julius Caesar, Antony and Cleopatra), Robert Graves (I Claudius), Milton (Paradise Lost), Dante (Inferno) and James Joyce (Ulysses). Architecture Many Roman buildings still stand - just this is evidence of how good Roman architecture was. Roman architecture has many connections with Greek architecture through the use of pillars and arches. Since the Renaissance, this style has been popular around the world. Art Roman art has influenced many people. Just as with architecture, the Renaissance saw a rebirth in interest in classical art. The use of pictures of Emperors on coins and sculptures introduced powerful images to society.

Source: http://www.schoolhistory.co.uk//year7links/doneforuse.shtml

Angles
The Angles is a modern English term for a Germanic people who took their name from the ancestral cultural region of Angeln, a district currently known as Schleswig-Holstein, in Germany. The Angles were one of the main groups that invaded and settled in Britain in the post-Roman period, founding several of the kingdoms of Anglo-Saxon England, and their name is the root of the name "England". There are connections to the Jutland peninsula (Denmark)
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angles http://www.worldology.com/Europe/Europe_Nations/United_Kingdom/index.htm

Angles
According to sources such as the History of Bede, after the invasion of Great Britain, the Angles split up and founded the kingdoms of the Nord Angelnen (Northumbria), Ost Angelnen (East Anglia), and the Mittlere Angelnen (Mercia). As a result of influence from the West Saxons, the tribes were collectively called Anglo-Saxons by the Normans. The regions of East Anglia and Northumbria are still known by their original titles to this day. Northumbria once stretched as far north as what is now southeast Scotland, including Edinburgh, and as far south as the Humber Estuary.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angles http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/history/articles/kingdom_of_the_angles/ Image http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSl8xfbMPMWVpS35opykFgOmRbDsVsJnsSGw7EsrZQl8MFRFwPf

Saxons
In England, the Germanic invaders, the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes from Northern Germany and Denmark, drove most of the original Celtic inhabitants to Cornwall , Wales , and Scotland in the far western regions of the British Isles . The invaders, whom for convenience are called the Anglo-Saxons, ignored most of the Roman achievements they found. They disliked the land already being farmed, which was mostly light chalky soil on the hilltops, and preferred the clay lands of the river valleys. They paid no attention to Roman law, but introduced a wholly Germanic tribal system of government. They arrived as pagans, but were converted only at the end of the sixth century by St. Augustine 's mission sent directly from Rome .

Source: http://history-world.org/germanic_tribes.htm

Vikings
From AD793 a new prayer could be heard across England, "Save us, Lord, from the fury of the Northmen!"

The Northmen or Vikings came from Scandinavia. Like the Saxons before them, the Viking onslaught first started with a few bloody raids. Early recorded raids include the sacking of monasteries at Lindifarne, Jarrow, and Iona. A Micel Here (Great Army) of Heathen Danes landed in East Anglia in AD865. Within nine years the Vikings had attacked and established their rule Danelaw, over the kingdoms of Northumbria and East Anglia, their former Anglo-Saxon kings having been put to the sword. The Vikings also ravaged the once mighty East Mercia, driving King Burgred overseas.

Source: http://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/England-History/Invaders.htm Image source http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSFtARR09kK1iRiUFIKwqMWe3JwCt4uHIGtW5D0i86PGSFpd45L

Normans
The Normans that invaded England in 1066 came from Normandy in Northern France. BUT apparently they were originally Vikings from Scandinavia.

Early 10th century, Charles the Simple, the French King,, gave some land in Northern France to a Viking chief named Rollo. He hoped that by giving the Vikings their own land in France they would stop attacking France. 1st known as Northmannia, the land of the Northmen later known as Normandy. These Vikings intermarried with the French and by the year 1000, they were now French speaking Christians. Between 1030 - 1099 a group of Normans took over most of Southern Italy. The Normans lived in wattle and daub huts with thatched straw roofs. After conquering England, Normans built many castles to defend their new land. Normans also established many schools, monasteries, cathedrals and churches in both Italy and England.

Source: http://www.historyonthenet.com/Normans/whowere.htm http://www.essentialnormanconquest.com/

Norman Invasion 1066

(Battle of Hastings)
The Norman Invasion started when William, Duke of Normandy's 7,000 soldiers landed at Pevensey on the morning of the 28th Sept 1066. Their Leader William was born in 1027. He became Duke of Normandy when he was only seven years old. (illegitimate son of Robert, Duke of Normandy and Herleva of Falaise ) William invaded England to become King and claim the English throne from King Harold after Edward the Confessor died. William was a distant cousin of Edward and apparently Edward had promised him the throne when visiting France in 1051. William insisted that claim had been accepted by Harold of Wessex (Godwinson) in 1064, when Harold had been blown onto the Norman shore by a storm. Then when Edward died, Harold said that Endward had chosen him. The Witan had to decide between 4 people and chose Harold. However in the end, William invaded and conquered and ruled as King.

Source: http://www.historyonthenet.com/Normans/whowere.htm http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/MEDwilliam1.htm Image Source: http://hhh.gavilan.edu/mturetzky/PoliticsinGreatBritainHistoryandPoliticalInstitutions.htm

Other image and info sources

First page : http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTkcIgJkkEUTjMoptBz79SHC qsLTItbNTsOzxH76CZ7UI0jCTbmgA Viking http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRnrnsBeHcgljWztnJhjwikDo GNtwQW4RBQm-RlyI3e3d-bU8fc Viking boat http://www.fashion-era.com/ancient_costume/clothing-saxon-frankishanglo.htm#A_Saxon_Chief_&_a_Saxon_Lady anglo saxon warrior http://www.historyonthenet.com/Normans/normansmain.htm Normans