Kings and Kingdoms of Early Anglo-Saxon England

by Yorke; Barbara

• ISBN13: 9780415166393
• ISBN10: 041516639X
• Format: Nonspecific Binding
• Copyright: 1997-11-05
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

i Kings and Kingdoms of Early Anglo-Saxon England /i provides a unique survey of the six major Anglo-Saxon kingdoms and their royal families, examining the most recent research in this field. br br Moving beyond narrative accounts of the various royal houses, Barbara Yorke explains issues such as the strategies of rule, the reasons for success and failure and the dynamics of change in the office of king. She also explores the four main facets of kingship in this period: kingship and overlordship; royal resources; royal and noble families; and king and church. Sixteen genealogical and regnal tables help to elucidate the history of the royal houses.

Table of Contents

Foreword	v
List of tables and illustrations	vi
Introduction: The Origins of the Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms	1	(24)
Written sources: British	1	(2)
Written sources: Anglo-Saxon	3	(2)
Archaeological evidence	5	(4)
The political structure of Anglo-Saxon England c. 600	9	(6)
The nature of early Anglo-Saxon kingship	15	(4)
Sources for the study of kings and kingdoms from the seventh to the ninth centuries	19	(6)
Kent	25	(20)
Sources	25	(1)
The origins of the kingdom of Kent	26	(2)
The history of the kingdom of Kent	28	(4)
The Kentish royal house	32	(7)
Royal resources and government	39	(4)
Conclusions	43	(2)
The East Saxons	45	(13)
Sources	45	(1)
The origins of the East Saxon kingdom	46	(1)
The history of the East Saxon kingdom c. 600-825	47	(5)
The East Saxon royal house	52	(5)
Conclusion	57	(1)
The East Angles	58	(14)
Sources	58	(3)
The origins of the East Anglian kingdom	61	(1)
The history of the East Anglian kingdom	62	(2)
Sources of royal power	64	(3)
The royal family and administration	67	(4)
Conclusion	71	(1)
Northumbria	72	(28)
Sources	72	(2)
The royal houses of Bernicia and Deira and the origins of Northumbria	74	(7)
The early Northumbrian kings and the kingdoms of southern England	81	(2)
Northumbria and the Celtic kingdoms in the seventh century	83	(3)
Northumbrian kingship in the eighth century	86	(8)
Eighth-century Northumbrian kings and the other kingdoms of Britain	94	(1)
Northumbria in the ninth century	95	(2)
Conclusion	97	(3)
Mercia	100	(28)
Sources	100	(1)
The origins of Mercia	101	(2)
Mercia in the seventh century	103	(8)
Mercia in the eighth century	111	(6)
Mercia in the ninth century	117	(7)
Conclusion: the evolution of the Mercian state	124	(4)
The West Saxons	128	(29)
Sources	128	(2)
The origins of Wessex	130	(2)
The growth of Wessex to 802	132	(10)
The pattern of West Saxon kingship to 802	142	(6)
The West Saxon kingdom 802-99	148	(6)
Conclusion	154	(3)
Conclusion: The Development of Kingship c. 600-900	157	(22)
Kingship and overlordship	157	(5)
Royal resources	162	(5)
Royal and noble families	167	(5)
King and Church	172	(5)
Conclusion	177	(2)
Notes	179	(17)
Bibliography and Abbreviations	196