Details Forthe Timeline of Anglo-Saxon Britain

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Details forthe timeline of Anglo-Saxon Britain

597 AD
St Augustine starts to convert Anglo-Saxons to Christianity
Augustine was a monk in Rome. He was sent to England with thirty other monks to convert the people. King Ethelbert of Kent was the first Anglo-Saxon king to become Christian, and Augustine became bishop of the English. Canterbury Cathedral was built. Later, other missionaries were sent to convert other leading Anglo-Saxons. / 1016–42 AD
England ruled by Danish kings
Canute was king of England 1016–35. He converted to Christianity and was succeeded by his illegitimate child, Harold I. Harold’s nickname was Harefoot because of his hunting skills. He died in 1040 and then his half-brother, Hardicanute, became king. He was unpopular because of high taxes and died after only two years as king. / 1066 AD
The Norman conquest
The Anglo-Saxon era ended and England was ruled by Norman kings. The first was William of Normandy. He claimed that Edward the Confessor had promised him the throne c.1051. He defeated King Harold Godwinson at the Battle of Hastings. 1066 was the year of three battles; the Anglo-Saxons had twice fought the Norwegians before having to fight the Normans.
1042 AD
Edward the Confessor becomes King
His father Aethelred II was defeated by a Danish invasion in 1016 and died the following year. Edward grew up in exile in Normandy whileDanish kings ruled over Britain.
Edward returned to England in 1041 and became King after his Danish half-brother, Hardicanute, died. / 878 AD
Danelaw established
In 865 'the Great Heathen Army' of Vikings landed in East Anglia. After many years of fighting,King Alfred agreed a truce with Guthrum, the Viking king, in 878. Part of the truce was that England was divided into the northern area controlled by the Vikings and the southern areas controlled by the Anglo-Saxons. / 787 AD
Viking invasions begin
The Vikings attacked Lindisfarne. The monastery there was famous for its wealth and art, so it would have been a good target for raiders. It was a special, holy place for the Anglo-Saxons, and they worried that the attack showed that God was displeased with them.
516 AD
Battle of Mount Badon
This was a battle between the Britons and the invading Anglo-Saxons. The Britons won and the battle was so decisive that the Anglo-Saxons’ advance across Britain was slowed for up to 40 years. The legend of King Arthur is linked to this battle – perhaps he was a brave leader of the Britons. / 449 AD
Angles and Saxons arrive under their leaders Hengest and Horsa
These legendary Anglo-Saxon leaders landed in Kent. Horsa and Hengest mean ‘horse’ and ‘stallion’.They were invited by the King of the Britons, Vortigern, because he wanted mercenaries (paid soldiers) to protect the kingdom against the Scots.However, they decided to remain and fought for the right to do so. / 937 AD
Battle of Brunanbuth
The Anglo-Saxons fought against the Vikings. The Anglo-Saxons did not have one ruler; there were smaller kingdoms, whichwere allies.King Athelstan of Wessex controlled the alliance. The Anglo-Saxons won the battle, but many of their Kings and important Earls died. Athelstan united the Anglo-Saxons as one country.