Artist: David Vale. Source

Me and my friend were wondering if Anglo-Saxons had any distinct coming of age ceremonies or rituals for men. such as a hunt or being given a weapon or something similar. we noticed most cultures have things like that to some degree and so we're wondering what the Anglo-Saxon version of this was if there is one!

I've been reading about the bothies of northern england and scotland, and about the historical life of the region, and I've been wanting to know more about my own region's history, as someone from the south coast. I wondered if anyone had any book recommendations or keywords for learning about the south coast's history and culture? I'm interested in anything from human colonization of the islands (in the ecological sense) all the way up to pre-industrial times. TIA!

Just wondering if anyone knows the date the sutton hoo helmet is leaving the British museum? I heard its going to France for a little bit?

[Short story] Mercia, 790s: a thegn counts the king's grain and finds it short
I wrote this as a short story and put a source note at the end that separates evidence from invention. Happy to answer questions about the period.

Harold Godwinson, the last Anglo-Saxon king of England, was pacing around a field in southern England on Sunday, giving a thunderous speech to energize his troops before a battle against the forces of William the Conqueror, the Norman invader who was trying to steal his throne.

“People of England,” Godwinson bellowed, “I ask for you to believe in me, believe in our England!”

If they did, Godwinson added, history would remember them as the heroes who “drove the Norman dogs back into the sea whence they came.”

As Godwinson’s rousing speech reached its climax, the bearded king punched the air in celebration, and, like a rowdy sports crowd, the dozens of onlookers chanted his name. “God-win-son! God-win-son!”

It was a stirring moment — at least until one of Godwinson’s aides broke the authenticity of the historical re-enactment by asking if anyone wanted a selfie with the king.

Access full gift article, NO PAYWALL.

Sadly the end of the Saxon era. The Normans imposed their rule. brutally

Hi, wondering if anybody could check that the runes in the image represent the words I want them too?

"My three boys" is what I'm hoping it says.

Thanks in advance!

Wearily to the last battle they strode
Onward through day and through night
To death they did go but they let them know the power of Angelisc might

Together they walked and together they'd fall
Under the Autumn sky
With victory song behind shield-wall strong
They slashed and they battered with pride

Over river and stream and through forest and field
They marched with fire in their eyes
Wiping the sweat from their brows
For miles they had fared and no effort was spared
On the day when our England died

Over river and stream and through forest and field
We'll march with fire in our eyes
Like the forefathers of old
For miles we shall fare and no effort we'll spare
Till the day when our England's revived

Corpus of Anglo Saxon stone sculpture

The Wessex king adopted a harsh law code that decreed if you were native British-Celtic, your life was worth a third of your Anglo-Saxon neighbour's. Yet this was an improvement. Instead of treating conquered Britons merely as slaves or property with zero rights they were at last integrated into the Saxon legal hierarchy, albeit at the lowest rung. It bound your social status to your racial origin unless, of course, you chose to adopt the identity of your conquerors. Welcome to the start of England's notorious class system.

https://wessexxfiles.substack.com/p/the-king-who-saved-england-and-divided

The story of a largely unknown Saxon saint, Werstan. Fled Deerhurst, founded a church in Malvern, got beheaded by Vikings. Or so the story goes!

I’m painting a BROAD brush here but what, say 1000, was Anglo Saxon culture like? What separated them from their Norman counterparts?

Cheers

It's often stated the withdrawal of the legions was the starting point for the Anglo Saxon invasion of Britain. Some believing that initially it was done via the use of mercenaries.

But I think there is also a chance that the Justinian plague may have promoted such, with the Germanic tribes fleeing the "pestilence" that was within the Roman empire itself.

I'm just wondering if the dates coincide, and if archaeology has found traces of such within the former lands of the Angles, Saxons and Jutes.