While comprising a group of Germanic tribes from continental
Europe, the Anglo-Saxons established themselves in Great Britain from
the 5th century. This consequent Anglo-Saxon epoch (from roughly 449 –
1066 AD) led to the creation of the English nation and the resurgence of
Christianity in Britain. And even beyond culture and religion, one of
the lasting legacies of these Germanic people is their contribution to
the ambit of language – what we know today as Old English. However in
this article we have decided to explore one of the lesser known avenues
relating to the Anglo-Saxons, and it pertains to their incredible
military that bridged the gap between the ancient ‘barbarian’ Germans
and the ordered medieval armies. So without further ado, let us take a
gander at ten fascinating things you should know about the Anglo-Saxon
warriors.
1) The Roman influence?
Illustration by Angus Mcbride
While the diminishing of Roman imperial rule set the tone for
Anglo-Saxon arrivals at the shores of the British islands (circa 5th
century AD), it should be noted that the late Roman Empire already
followed an ‘inclusive’ military doctrine that allowed the employment of
auxiliary units. By 4th century, in the northern frontier, these
auxiliary units were often composed of entire Germanic sub-tribes, who
were settled as
foederati (allied troops) in marches, buffer
zones and areas of conflict. During the same time-period, the Romans (or
Romano-British) had already begun to set up coastal defenses to protect
their shores from the forays of the independent Anglo-Saxon tribes.
