“Early Anglo-Saxon Britain and the

Royal Ship Burial at Sutton Hoo”

This presentation covers the history of Britain as it is transformed from a Roman province to a land of many fragmented kingdoms.  These kingdoms were fractious and limited in power, and constantly realigning to meet their own limited self-interests.

When the Romans abandoned Britain in 474 CE, regional administrative, economic, and military frameworks collapsed.  Britain was now exposed to two new threats.  The first were the aspirations of the Pictish (Scottish) kingdoms north of the now deserted Hadrian’s Wall.  The second were raiding bands of Germanic/Scandinavian seafaring expeditions landing along what was then known as the “Saxon Shore”.

These Saxons, Angles, and Jutes would eventually come to settle, expanding their numbers, and using the numerous rivers to penetrate deeper and deeper into the British interior.  They would eventually rule all Britain south of the ruins of Hadrian’s Wall.

In time they would form major kingdoms, embrace Christianity, and serve as a bulwark against their cousins, the Vikings.  This is the story of the death and burial of a powerful regional king who lived in the tumultuous era of the early 8^th century. 

Guest Speaker:  Bill Preinitz

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!