What do you know about Post-Roman England, links, people, anything?

Oh, yeah, and who unified England.

The immediate aftermath or up to what period? I know some things about the immediate aftermath and the german invasions through a wargames article, but not much right after that

This is my specialist subject. Which era are you interested in?

Several are credited with "uniting" England- Ambrosius Aurelianus in the pre-Saxon era (though that doesn't stand up to scrutiny) plus any Saxon ruler bearing the title "Bretwealda".

Among them are people such as Aelle, Cerdic, Ceawlin, Penda etc, but in fact their claims to truly uniting England are very shaky.

The final unity began when Ecgbert established Wessex dominance over Mercia in the early 9th century. The first total unification of England was under Athelstan but wasn't fully maintained in the later years of his reign and the Danes reclaimed much after his death.

Athelstan's successor Edmund saw the greatest extent of England when he reclaimed the lost lands and was acclaimed over Northumbria and Strathclyde, but again it didn't last (the 10th century was very turbulent). His successor Eadred established the final Wessex dominance over York by forcing out Erik Bloodaxe.

For political reasons, Wessex and Mercia were split under Eadwig, but a brief civil war meant that they were finally re-united under Edgar and have remained united as England ever since. However his was only a boy and can't take credit.

The credit can't go to a single king- but Ecgbert, Alfred, Edward the Elder, Aethelfrith (of Mercia) and Athelstan did the most. The real credit for the final unity goes to the powers in the Witan behind the throne- particularly Athelstan Halfking and Archbishop Dunstan.

If you want to know more on any particular times or people, just ask.

This site is pretty good for giving you a broad idea of the territories and a list of Kings that cover the periods your looking for. You can look up the Kings and kingdoms on the internet for more info.

http://www.kessler-web.co.uk/History/FeaturesBritain/BritishMapAD400.htm

PS: Is this for a mod/senario?

The Coel Hen you'll see referred to on the site gael links to is the "Old King Cole" of nursery rhyme fame. Odd how those things go back so far.

Thread jack!

You got any more 'historical filth' posts on the way Kafka2?

I love your style man, the main vien of history is boring most of the time to me. Its the obscure that makes it interesting.

Several are credited with "uniting" England- Ambrosius Aurelianus in the pre-Saxon era (though that doesn't stand up to scrutiny) plus any Saxon ruler bearing the title "Bretwealda".

You mean that poor theory that Arther was really a Roman general?

BTW somones making a Arther movie from that theory.

That's not so far-fetched. It was only a century on from the rule of Magnus Maximus, and the major rulers of the intervening years between 410AD and Mons Badonicus did rule on largely Romanic lines.

In any event, I'm convinced Arthur as a single person never existed- check out my article on the subject.

Originally posted by gael
Thread jack!

You got any more 'historical filth' posts on the way Kafka2?

I love your style man, the main vien of history is boring most of the time to me. Its the obscure that makes it interesting.

I've got a couple of tentative bits and pieces that I'm researching. A lot of my "hobby-writing" is taking a back seat at the moment as I'm working on my book, which (coincidentally) is set in Anglo-Saxon England.

Pardon my ignorance, but it was the Saxons (and not the Angles) who mainly dominated England up until 1066 and William I?

'England' or what was to become England was invaded/settled by several groups after the romans left, the Angles mainly settled in the south and east (what is now East Anglia) with the Saxons further north. Over time the two groups became one.

Isn't it the other way around? I thought the Saxons were in the south (Wessex) and the Angles were in Mercia and northwards. Sussex, Wessex, Essex...all those from Old English "Suth Saex" etc. "Saex" likes Saxon. Engle like Angle.