From the end of Roman rule in Britain to the Norman Conquest of England, discover the history of the Anglo-Saxons: who they were, where they came from, their culture, their influence on modern-day Britain and more.
Articles
Who were the Anglo-Saxons?
A whistle-stop tour of Anglo-Saxon England: who were the Anglo-Saxons; where did they come from; what languages did they speak?
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The Battle of Hastings: fact and fiction
How did the Battle of Hastings start? What did medieval accounts have to say about the Battle? Was King Harold really killed by an arrow to the eye? Find out the answers here.
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Early Anglo-Saxon kingdoms
How many Anglo-Saxon kingdoms were there? There is no simple answer to this question. At first, the Anglo-Saxon peoples were divided into many small kingdoms. Gradually, larger kingdoms started to emerge.
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Anglo-Saxon England and Europe
In Anglo-Saxon England, relations with the Europe thrived, from manuscript production to cross-continental marriages.
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Women in Anglo-Saxon England
Learn about the changing roles of women in Anglo-Saxon England, including status, slavery and powerful female leaders.
Read moreFeatured collection items
Great Domesday Book
c. 1086
Anglo-Saxon Mappa Mundi
between 1025 and 1050
Law-code of King Cnut
1000-99
Old English Hexateuch
1000–99
Lindisfarne Gospels
c. 700
Lives of St Cuthbert
mid-930s
Benedictional of St Æthelwold
963-984
Blog posts
5 million page-views and counting
Saturday, August 31, 2019We once declared privately that we would never again begin a blogpost with the words, 'We are delighted to announce'. But today we have to break that rule: we are extremely delighted to announce that our Medieval Manuscripts Blog recently...
Holiday reading matter
Wednesday, August 7, 2019Are you looking for something to read over the holiday season? Then look no further than some of the books which have accompanied our major exhibitions, ranging from Writing: Making Your Mark to Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms. Writing: Making Your Mark is...
New Anglo-Saxon acquisition on display
Tuesday, July 30, 2019Earlier this year, the British Library was delighted to acquire a leaf of an Anglo-Saxon benedictional (a service book used by a bishop). At the time we reported that, despite its fragmentary nature, this manuscript was of great significance for...
Reading the runes in Beowulf (so seaxy)
Tuesday, July 23, 2019Students of the Old English epic poem Beowulf (which survives uniquely in Cotton MS Vitellius A XV) may be familiar with the fight between our hero and Grendel’s monstrous mother, and the part played in that encounter by a marvellous...
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