Armies of Anglo-Saxon England 410–1066

History, Organization and Equipment

Gabriele Esposito

• Publisher: Pen and Sword Military
• Year: 2022
• Topic: History
• eBook ISBN:
  9781399094009
• Subtopic: Military & Maritime History
• Index: History

In the early 5th century, Germanic Angles, Saxons and Jutes crossed the North Sea in increasing numbers and began settling among the ruins of the former Roman province of Britannia. This led to centuries of warfare as these 'Anglo-Saxons' carved new, independent kingdoms at the point of the sword, fighting the native Britons and each other. From the late eighth century they also had to face the threat of the Vikings, at first as opportunistic raiders but increasingly bent on conquest. The last Viking invasion was defeated by Harold Godwinson at Stamford Bridge but he was defeated by the Normans in that same fatal year of 1066, ending the Anglo-Saxon Age. Gabriele Esposito gives an overview of Anglo-Saxon military history, narrating the great campaigns, such as those of Alfred the Great of Wessex and Harold Godwinson. He discusses in detail the composition of Anglo-Saxon forces, their tactics, weapons and equipment, detailing developments across the period. The informative, accessible text is supported by dozens of color images showing replica Saxon war gear in use.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Book Title
• Copyright
• Contents
• Acknowledgements
• Introduction
• Chapter 1 Britain in the Late Roman Empire
• Chapter 2 Sub-Roman Britain and the Saxon Conquest
• Chapter 3 The Heptarchy
• Chapter 4 Anglo-Saxon England and the Viking Raids
• Chapter 5 Alfred the Great and Danelaw
• Chapter 6 The Military Campaigns of Aethelstan and Aethelred II
• Chapter 7 Cnut the Great
• Chapter 8 The Military Campaigns of Harold Godwinson
• Chapter 9 Anglo-Saxon Military Organization
• Chapter 10 Anglo-Saxon Weapons and Tactics
• Bibliography
• The Re-enactors who Contributed to this Book
• Index