Invaders of Britain

Reasons for invasions

1. Money,
2. Power,
3. Raw materials.
Throughout time
countries/lands have
been invaded by
leaders of other
countries, for different
reasons.
In the past, invaders were also looking for slaves.
Some of the reasons were:
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.
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryhistory/romans/invasion/ http://www.uni-
due.de/SHE/HE_CelticLanguages.htm http://www.britannia.com/history/time1.html
5000BC - Neolithic (new stone age) Period begins; first evidence of farming appears; stone axes, antler
combs, pottery in common use who were these people?
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 fromPicts, 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.
What did the Romans do for Britain?
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
Some examples of things that Romans introduced to Britain that are still in use today:
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 fromRome .
Source: http://history-world.org/germanic_tribes.htm
Vikings
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
From AD793 a new prayer
could be heard across
England,
"Save us, Lord, from the fury of
the Northmen!"
Normans
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/
The Normans that invaded
England in 1066 came from
Normandy in Northern
France.
BUT apparently they were
originally Vikings from
Scandinavia.
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-frankish-
anglo.htm#A_Saxon_Chief_&_a_Saxon_Lady anglo saxon warrior
http://www.historyonthenet.com/Normans/normansmain.htm Normans