Invasions of EnglandRoman Invasion of England

A brief chronology of English

55 BCRoman invasion of Britain by Julius Caesar.

Local inhabitants speak Celtish

AD 43Roman invasion and occupation. Beginning of Roman rule of Britain.

436Roman withdrawal from Britain complete.

Roman Britain was the part of the island of Great Britain controlled by the Roman Empire between AD 43 and about 410.

The Romans referred to their territory as Britannia, and it eventually consisted of all of the island south of the shifting frontier with Caledonia. Prior to the Roman invasion, Iron Age Britain already had cultural and economic links with Continental Europe, but the invaders introduced new developments in agriculture, urbanisation, industry and architecture, leaving a legacy that is still apparent today. Historical records beyond the initial invasion are sparse, although many Roman historians mention Britannia in passing, and the names of many of its governors are known. Most knowledge of Roman Britain stems from archaeological investigations and especially epigraphic evidence

The first Romans to campaign extensively in Britain were the forces of Julius Caesar in 55 and 54 BC, but the first significant conquest did not begin until AD 43, under Claudius. The Romans established a provincial government and steadily extended their control north, but were never able to exert firm control over Caledonia. Following the conquest of the native Britons, a distinctive Romano-British culture emerged. The Romans cemented the province's northern border with Hadrian's Wall, completed around 128. In 142, they pushed the frontier north to the Forth-Clyde line, constructing the Antonine Wall, but they retreated back

to Hadrian's Wall after approximately twenty years. Around 197, Britannia was divided into two provinces, Britannia Superior and Britannia Inferior; at some point after 305, it was subdivided even further and made into an imperial diocese. For much of the later period, Britannia was subject to barbarian invasion and often came under the control of imperial usurpers and pretenders. The Romans largely departed from Britain around 410, leading to what is known as the sub-Roman period, but the legacy of the empire was felt for hundreds of years.

Manal Al-Ghanem

Anglo-Saxons Invasion

Who were the Anglo-Saxons?

The Angle, Saxon, and Jute tribes who invaded Britain in the 5th and 6th centuries are known as the Anglo-Saxons. They left their homelands in northern Germany , Denmark

and northern Holland and rowed across the North Sea in wooden boats.

Why did they come?

Historians are not sure why the Anglo-Saxons came to Britain. It may have been because their land often flooded and it was difficult to grow crops, so they were looking for new places to settle down and farm. Some sources say that Saxon warriors were invited to come to England.

Where did they settle?

The Anglo-Saxons ruled most of Britain but never conquered Cornwall in the south-west, Wales in the west, or Scotland in the north. They divided the country into kingdoms, each with its own royal family. The stronger kingdoms often took control of the weaker kingdoms. By around AD 600 the five main Anglo-Saxon kingdoms were Northumbria, Mercia, Wessex, Kent and Anglia.

How did England get its name?

The Roman Britons spoke Latin or local Celtic languages. The newcomers spoke their own languages, which in time became a language now known as Anglo-Saxon or Old English. The Anglo-Saxons themselves called it 'Englisc'. The country taken over by the new settlers became 'England'.

450 - 750

Invasion of the Jutes from Jutland, Angles from South of Denmark and Saxons from Germany.Britain is divided up into the Seven Kingdoms of Northumbria, Mercia, Wessex, Essex, Sussex and Kent.

450 Saxons Hengist and Horsa settle in Kent.460 St Patrick returns to convert Ireland 510 The Battle of Mount Badon: British victory over the Saxons 597 St Augustine brings Christianity to Britain from Rome and becomes

Archbishop of Canterbury617 Northumbria becomes the Supreme Kingdom779 Mercia becomes the Supreme Kingdom and King Offa builds a Dyke

along the Welsh Border Time Table of Anglo-Saxons Invasion in England.

Work Cited:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryhistory/anglo_saxons/invasion_and_settlement /

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/questions/history.html

Maram Sadhan

The Viking Invasion of England

The Vikings came from three countries of Scandinavia: Denmark, Norway and Sweden. The name 'Viking' comes from a language called 'Old Norse' and means 'a pirate raid'. People who went off raiding in ships were said to be 'going Viking'.

The Viking age in European history was about AD 700 to 1100. During this period many Vikings left Scandinavia and travelled to other countries, such as Britain and Ireland. Some went to fight and steal treasure. Others settled in new lands as farmers, craftsmen or traders

Between the eighth and eleventh centuries, raiders and colonists from Scandinavia, mainly Danish and Norwegian, plundered western Europe including the British Isles. These raiders came to be known as the Vikings; the name is believed to derive from Scandinavia, where the Vikings originated. The first raids in the British Isles were in

the late eighth century, mainly on churches and monasteries (which were seen as centres of wealth).

They bulid a wall to protect their right.

Najah Al-Mutairi

The Norman Invasion of England

The Origin of Normandy:

At the 10th century, Europe was living under the Viking age whom are sailors come from the Scandinavian countries ( Denmark, Sewed and Norway). There was a Danish invasion targeting regions in France which was under the command of Hrolf the Ganger .France in that period was not as it seems today, it was divided into regions rolled nominally by the French king Charles II.

Charles II could not face the Danish invasion. So, instead of giving them gold and silver, he gave them the land around Rouen. After that Hrolf converted to Christianity and changed his name to Rollo. He then became the first Duke of Normandy (meaning “land of the northmen”.) And by the time of his grandson William, Normandy has expanded more. Later on, Normandy was brought back again under the French rule again.

The Norman's Invasion of England:

On Janueary5, 1066, king Edward who was the king of England at that time had died childless. The thing that left the crown of England as a target to three rivals whom are William of Normandy, Harold Godwinson (the second most powerful man in England) and Harald Hardrada, King of Norway. This events had led to the downfall of the Anglo Saxon rule in England at that time particularly after the Hastings' battle.

Harold Godwinson was a powerful respectful man and an advisor to king Edward. Besides, he and king Edward had become brothers-in-low when the king had married Harold's sister. Due to these reasons and because when the king was dying he said: '' Into Harold's hands I commit my Kingdom.", the royal advisors has selected him as the next king of England. With the placing of the crown, the troubles of Harold got started.

In the same time and across the English channel, the king of Normandy William had also claimed that he has the right of being the king of England. His claiming comes due to the blood relationship between him and king Edward that they were distant cousins. According to William, king Edward at 1064 had said that the next successor is going to be him and this message was carried by Harold. Also (according to William), that Harold had swear that he would support William's rights to the thorn. So, to him it is a quiet persuaded reason to make an army and invade England. What supports William position is the voice of the Pope since Harold had swear on William's side and did not keep his word.

The third rival for the thorn was Harald Hardrada, King of Norway. With the claim that since a long time, the Danish ruler for England had cut a deal with the ruler of Norway

that if any one of them died first the other would get the two countries since they were childless (male). The ruler of England died first and the other was busy with other battles, so his uncle who was joining him the ruling of Norway decided to be the king according to the old deal. This particularly event makes Harold busy in trying to protect his country from the Norwegian invasion in York city at the north. The thing that make the Normans plotting on the thorn easily. Harold and his army had win their battle at the north, and as they went back to

London, they received the news of William's landing near Hastings.

The Norman's invasion was ready for crossing the English channel on July, but unfortunately they were delayed by the north wind for six weeks. Finally, on September 27, the wind shifted to the south and the army moved to Hastings. Immediately, Harold took his army to the south. On the following day October 14, The English has watched at the morning the Normans worriers forming a battle line and separated from them of few hundred yards. The two armies started to insult each others. The Normans then started to shot the English of rains of arrows, and the English tried to protect themselves. Finally, the English gave away. King Harold had fell as the majority of the Saxon's aristocracy. William's victory was complete. On Christmas day 1066, William was crowned King of England in Westminster Abbey.

References:

1- http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/bayeux.htm.

2- Kelly, Patrick. http://www.albion-swords.com/articles/norman.htm.

Done by:

Esra'a Al-Najjar

French Invasion of England

The loss of Normandy and war with France

By the dawn of the 12th century, Normandy's protection from French invasion relied heavily on English silver, expended in vast quantities by Richard I on defensive fortifications. However, the French swept through the Duchy in 1204, and castle after castle fell with bewildering rapidity. King John was unceremoniously evicted from his continental lands back to England; only Gascony was retained. For the first time since the Conquest, the Channel became England's first line of defence.

To his credit, John realised that dominance of the Channel was crucial if England was to be saved, and expended vast sums building a navy. Planned French invasions in 1205 and 1213 were thwarted at sea, but during the crisis of 1215 the rebellious barons invited French

troops under Prince Louis to land unopposed to assist with their struggle over Magna Carta. Dover Castle, a vital communications centre on England's south coast, was besieged in 1216. The defenders held out - just - and after John's timely death. the French were soon driven from England's shores.

Thereafter the Channel was the key to English security. An uneasy peace held for most of the 13th century; but tension grew as England's important naval links with Gascony were threatened. War erupted in 1337, and its course over the next century was shaped by the struggle for naval supremacy. The French fleet initially held the upper hand, allowing their land troops to occupy and burn Southampton in 1338. Buoyed by this success, a full-scale invasion was planned in 1339. Edward III's spectacular naval victory at Sluys in 1340 at a stroke destroyed the French fleet, removed the threat of invasion and secured English dominance of the Channel. Furthermore the capture of Calais in 1347 gave the English a foothold on the Continent - the equivalent of the French holding Dover castle - and permitted large-scale invasions of France.

For the remainder of the 14th century and the first half of the 15th, the Hundred Years War was fought on French soil. Although most of England was safe from invasion, the southern coastline was terrorised by swift yet damaging French raids, exemplified by the destruction of Winchelsea in 1360. Fears of more serious incursions were raised in 1385, and in 1400 French

troops assisted the revolt of Owen Glendower in the Welsh marches. However Henry V's conquest of Normandy brought renewed security to England that had not been enjoyed since 1204.

Reference:

"The Threat of Invasion 1066-1789: An Overview" By Dr Niall BarrLast updated 2011-02-17

Tahani Al-Hammami