Government in Anglo-Saxon England

Government in Anglo-Saxon England covers English government during the Anglo-Saxon period from the 5th century until the Norman Conquest in 1066.

Until the 9th century, England was divided into many Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. Each kingdom had its own laws and customs, but they all shared a common basis in the Germanic legal tradition. In the 9th century, the Kingdom of Wessex absorbed the other kingdoms, creating the unified Kingdom of England.

The king had many important duties, including protecting his people, making fair decisions, and keeping order. Kings could create laws, make coins, collect taxes, build armies, manage trade, and talk with other countries. The witan or royal council helped guide the king, and the royal household managed the daily work of running the country.

England was split into areas called ealdormanries, each led by an ealdorman (later called an earl) chosen by the king. These areas were then divided into shires. The ealdorman made sure the king's rules were followed, oversaw the shire court, and led the local army called the fyrd. A sheriff worked for each shire as the ealdorman's helper. Shires were also split into smaller units called hundreds.

Before unification

Anglo-Saxon settlement (300–500)

Main article: Anglo-Saxon settlement of Britain

England was part of the Roman Empire since the 1st century CE. Roman Britain was a region that stretched from the south coast up to Hadrian's Wall and the Antonine Wall. After the Roman army left, Britain became unsafe. Many people took over land, and new leaders appeared.

Archaeological evidence shows that around 430, people from Germany and Denmark, called the Saxons, Angles, and Jutes, came to Britain. They settled in small groups and had leaders who called themselves kings.

Origins of kingship (500–600)

By the end of the 6th century, leaders started calling themselves kings. Natural disasters and diseases made life hard, so people followed strong leaders for protection. Kings had special roles and were seen as chosen by gods. They led armies and gave gifts to their followers.

Early kingdoms (600–871)

More kingdoms formed, such as Wessex, East Anglia, and Mercia. By the 9th century, only four big kingdoms remained: East Anglia, Mercia, Northumbria, and Wessex.

Electing and deposing kings

Kings were not always chosen from the oldest son. Wise men called witans chose the new king. They looked at the person's ability and age. Sometimes kings were removed if they did not lead well.

Christian kingship

Kings helped bring Christianity to their people. They also made laws and decided cases in court. The church followed its own rules, called canon law.

Local administration

Kingdoms were split into smaller areas called shires, lathes, or rapes. Leaders called ealdormen helped manage these areas. All free men had to help protect the kingdom in the army, called the fyrd.

Alfred the Great (871–899)

In the 850s, invaders from Viking countries attacked England. But Alfred the Great of Wessex fought them off. He built strong forts called burhs to protect his people. He also organized his kingdom better, with leaders called ealdormen to help manage different areas.

By 955, Alfred's descendants had created a larger kingdom called England, including areas like Mercia and Northumbria.

Royal government

Kingship

Further information: History of the English monarchy

The king had to protect his people and lead them in wars. He kept law and order and managed the kingdom's money. Kings had many powers. They could make laws, make coins, collect taxes, and raise armies. The king also built bridges and forts to keep people safe.

The king listened to wise advisers and his closest friends. Kings usually made laws with help from a group called the witan. The king's main job was to keep people safe and lead in wars. He also made sure laws and order were kept, and he managed the kingdom's money. Kings could make laws, make coins, collect taxes, raise armies, and handle talks with other lands. The king also protected visitors to his kingdom.

Succession

From 899 to 1016, descendants of Alfred the Great from the House of Wessex ruled England. From 1016 to 1042, the Danish House of Knýtlinga ruled. Edward the Confessor (r. 1042–1066) brought the House of Wessex back to power, but after he died, Harold Godwinson and then William the Conqueror took over.

Kings were often chosen by their people, but there were no strict rules. Sometimes a king would choose his successor, and this choice was approved by the witan. If there was no clear heir, the witan would pick the best person from the royal family. This sometimes caused arguments.

Coronation

When a new king took over, he made promises to keep peace and treat everyone fairly. After making these promises, the king was anointed with holy oil, giving him an important role. This made it very hard to remove a king from power, even if he wasn’t a good ruler.

Royal household

Main article: Royal Households of the United Kingdom § Anglo-Saxon period (871–1066)

The royal household included the king’s family, important advisers, military leaders, priests, and servants. Some noblemen, called thegns, served regularly at court. The king’s household traveled around southern England, as there was no fixed capital city. This moving court was the center of government. Kings gave tasks to household officers, who managed these duties for the kingdom.

There were usually two or three chamberlains who took care of the king’s bedroom and dressing room. They also managed the king’s money and valuables. Priests in the royal chapel took care of the household's spiritual needs and wrote important documents.

Witan

Main article: Witan

Kings needed support from important people in the kingdom, such as nobles, bishops, and abbots. It was easier to call these people together in meetings called witans. Witans gave advice to the king and agreed to important decisions. They met at different times and places, often during festivals.

Witans helped the king make laws, decide on war or peace, and manage the kingdom’s money. They also agreed to special taxes and witnessed important documents. When a king died, the witan would choose the new king.

Finances

Coinage

Main article: Coinage in Anglo-Saxon England

The coins used in England were some of the best in Europe. Only the king could make coins. The king controlled the quality and design of the coins. Money was made at special places called mints.

The main coin was the penny, made of silver. There were also units of account like shillings, pounds, and marks, but these were not physical coins.

Royal lands and taxation

The king owned a lot of land passed down from previous rulers. This land provided income through rent or food from tenants. The king’s land was divided into estates called manors.

Kings also collected taxes based on land ownership. One important tax was called Danegeld, used to pay for protection from Viking attacks. The king could also grant certain rights, like collecting taxes or having control over valuable resources.

Local government

Further information: Anglo-Saxon law

Ealdormanries and earldoms

In the beginning, a leader named an ealdorman was chosen by the king to take care of a place called a shire. The ealdorman led the local army, worked with the church leader, and followed the king's orders. Later, one leader might watch over many shires. These leaders were then called earls. The king still kept some places under his own control.

Shires

Main article: Shire

As places grew, leaders picked others named sheriffs to help with local jobs. By the end of this time, the sheriff became very important. They helped collect taxes, kept order, and made sure the king's rules were followed. Meetings called shire courts met twice a year to solve many kinds of problems.

Hundreds and boroughs

Kings later split the shires into smaller parts called hundreds. These smaller areas had their own meetings for daily issues. Leaders called thegns helped make choices at these meetings. Some special places, called boroughs, had extra rights to help with trade and business. These places had their own leaders and rules to support their growing trade.

Church and state

Further information: Christianity in Anglo-Saxon England

In early England, the king and the church worked together. The church helped kings by giving them special blessings. In return, kings protected the church. Many church leaders were well-educated and helped the king make important decisions.

Kings also helped choose leaders of the church, like bishops and abbots. These leaders managed large lands and helped with governing. Sometimes, they even fought in battles, just like other important landowners.

Military

Main articles: Fyrd and Anglo-Saxon warfare

During the Anglo-Saxon period, England did not have a standing army. Instead, kings and nobles had personal guards. Later, these guards included Scandinavian soldiers called housecarls. The king also had loyal companions known as thegns and cnihtas.

Kings could gather more soldiers when needed. Landowners had to provide men based on their land, and all free men had to serve in the fyrd when called. Areas called shires would send soldiers. Towns called burhs helped protect the land. Leaders like earls and sheriffs would guide soldiers, while bishops looked after safety.

Edward the Confessor had a small group of ships with foreign soldiers, with 14 ships in 1050. The Cinque Ports also provided ships for special rights.