European Kingdoms

Angeln (Angles)

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The Germanic tribes appear to have originated in a homeland in southern Scandinavia (Sweden and Norway, with the Jutland area of northern Denmark, along with a very narrow strip of Baltic coastline). They had been settled here for over two thousand years following the Indo-European migrations. The Germanic ethnic group began as a division of the western edge of late proto-Indo-European dialects around 3300 BC, splitting away from a general westwards migration to head towards the southern coastline of the Baltic Sea. By the time the Germanic tribes were becoming key players in the politics of Western Europe in the last two centuries BC, the previously dominant Celts were on the verge of being conquered and dominated by Rome. They had already been pushed out of northern and Central Europe by a mass of Germanic tribes which were steadily carving out a new homeland.

The Angles gradually migrated west from what is now Poland about the first century AD until, by the fourth century they had settled in modern central Denmark, replacing the Germanic Cimbri and Teutones who had existed there in diminished numbers since before the first century BC. The region gradually gained the name of the new settlers, becoming Angeln, Angel, or Angulus. By the fifth century, this covered the territory between the River Eider in the south (now in Schleswig-Holstein), bordering the Old Saxons, to the River Kongeaen in the north, bordering the Jutes. Angle settlement also extended further southwards into Germany and along the Frisian coast of the Netherlands. King Alfred of Wessex was careful to note this himself, suggesting a wide-ranging area of settlement of the Angles, and a relatively large population.

The Angles, Anglii, or Angels (the 'g' is pronounced hard, as in 'gun' not soft as with a 'j') are first mentioned by Tacitus (Germania) about AD 98. They could be related to the Teutones of Pliny and Strabo in the early first century AD, forming a group known as the Ingaevones with the Chauci and the Cimbri. The early Germanic tribal grouping of the 'Ingaevones' itself may be a derivative of Angles, and research by Edward Dawson (in 2017) served to support this theory. Based on a study of the Old Iranian/Avestan concept of 'anghu' (meaning 'life, the world, the people of the world') versus 'angra' (meaning 'hostile, evil, bad'), it could be seen that the tribal name 'Angle' probably originates from the former, not the latter, because in linguistic terms an 'r' sound is much harder to soften away than an 'h'. This would mean that the Angles were the 'people of the world' plus a standard '-el' diminutive being added at the end of the word ('ang- -el'). This in turn implies that the Angles were members of the Ingvaeones grouping.

The Angles were also part of the general Suevi confederation of central Germany throughout much of the Roman period. By the fifth century, population movements caused mainly by the Huns in the south and Scandinavian expansion in the north (primarily the Danes migrating into the Cimbric peninsula and eastern-central Denmark) forced the Angles to migrate overseas... to Britain.

A list of the kings of Angeln has been preserved in the Old English epic poems, Beowulf (telling the story of a prince of the Geats) and Widsith, both of which probably provided source material for the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. Some names were added in the seventh to ninth centuries by chroniclers trying to make sense of the oral traditions they were writing down. They seem to have been famous figures in their own right, existing in pre-migration Frisia and Denmark. The East Seaxe are not mentioned here because their royal genealogy is unique of all Anglo-Saxon royal pedigrees in that the kings of Essex claimed descent from Seaxnet and not Woden.

(Information by Peter Kessler and Edward Dawson, with additional information from The Oxford History of England: The English Settlements, J N L Meyers, from Ulwencreutz's The Royal Families in Europe V, Lars Ulwencreutz, from the Textus de Ecclesia Roffensi per Ernulphum Episcopum (The Story of the Church of Rochester up to Bishop Ernulf), known as the Textus Roffensis or Annals of Rochester, from the Historia Brittonum, Nennius, from Geography, Ptolemy, and from External Links: An Anglo-Saxon Dictionary (Bosworth and Toller, 1898, p 728), and Geography, Strabo (H C Hamilton & W Falconer, London, 1903, Perseus Online Edition).)

120 - 114 BC

A large-scale incursion of the sea into Jutland in this period is known as the Cimbrian Flood. It permanently alters the shape of the coastline and drastically affects the way people live in the region. It is probably this event (which is ascribed by some scholars to 307-306 BC) which affects the Germanic Teutones in the centre of the peninsula and their northern neighbours, the Cimbri, enough to force their kings to lead large numbers of their people in a southwards migration. Remnants of both peoples probably remain in the peninsula, but the region is later settled by the Jutes and Angles, and the natives are probably absorbed into their number.

The Angles settled into central Denmark between the first and fourth centuries AD, possibly making the most of the vacuum which followed the mass departure of many Cimbri and Teutones

c.100 BC

Later Anglo-Saxon legend recounts how Sceaf is washed ashore as a child. He later becomes king of the Angles in their homeland in northern Germany, founding the dynasty known as the Scelfings. At some period over the next three centuries his people migrate into the Cimbric peninsula, between modern Schleswig-Holstein and Jutland in the centre of modern Denmark, while their neighbours in Germany, the Jutes, migrate into Jutland itself.

While Sceaf's historical reality cannot be confirmed, his name, along with those of his descendants, probably form part of a strong oral tradition amongst Angles which is passed on until it can be written down in ninth century Wessex. Some names are also mentioned by Snorri Sturluson in Prose Edda in their Norse forms (also shown here in each case). Sceaf is sometimes also claimed as the founder of the Langobards, another Germanic tribe with origins in Scandinavia. The Langobards live for a time on the southern Baltic shore, alongside the Warini, a tribe which, throughout its history, is linked very closely to the Angles.

Founder of the Scelfings. Ancestor of the Lindisware Angles.

Son.

Son.

Son.

first century AD

Son.

Son. A later addition to the list, a legendary Danish king.

AD 98

Writing around this time, the Roman writer Tacitus mentions the Suevi, listing their constituent tribes which cover the larger part of Germania. Noted for their custom of twisting their hair and binding it up in a knot, 'the seven tribes of Jutland and Holstein': the Angles, Aviones, Eudoses, Nuitones, Reudigni, Suardones, and Warini, form a part of the Suevi host.

This map shows the locations of European tribes around the first centuries BC and AD (click or tap on map to view at an intermediate size)

Of this group, Tacitus says: 'They believe that she [Mother Earth] interests herself in human affairs and rides through their peoples. In an island of Ocean [the islands of eastern Denmark] stands a sacred grove, and in the grove stands a car [carriage] draped with a cloth which none but the priest may touch. The priest can feel the presence of the goddess in this holy of holies, and attends her, in deepest reverence, as her car is drawn by kine.

Then follow days of rejoicing and merry-making in every place that she honours with her advent and stay. No one goes to war, no one takes up arms; every object of iron is locked away [ie. weapons]; then, and then only, are peace and quiet known and prized, until the goddess is again restored to her temple by the priest, when she has had her fill of the society of men.

After that, the car, the cloth and, believe it if you will, the goddess herself are washed clean in a secluded lake. This service is performed by slaves who are immediately afterwards drowned in the lake. Thus mystery begets terror and a pious reluctance to ask what that sight can be which is allowed only to dying eyes.'

The question of precisely where the Angles live at this period one that is yet to be satisfactorily answered. In fact, few of the tribes in the group that contains the 'Anglii' can be located with any accuracy as it seems that Tacitus is merely given a list of names, possibly in order of descent, without any further details. Given that their rough location is largely certain (East Slesvig), the approximate positions of the others around them can be guessed, and a focus on the western part of the Baltic Sea seems to have been universal amongst them.

The island of Rugen was first occupied by the Rugii in the first century AD, seemingly just one of a mass of tribes in this western Baltic region that were jostling for position and a permanent home

Son. The Scelfings become the Scyldings. Founder of Danes.

Skiold, or Scyld, is also the founding father of the Danish people. Could there be an ancient connection between the Danes and the Angles which is remembered in this individual, presuming that he is even real. It is just as likely that he is an addition to the genealogy because he is based on an historic heroic figure, that of Scyld Scaefson of the Danes.

Son. Probably based on Beowulf of the Geats.

c.150

Ptolemy, who writes in the mid-second century, places the Sicambri to the south of a group of westerly Suevi Langobards, in the Rhineland. To their east are the Suevi Anglii, while along the Elbe are the Chauci, to the east are the Semnones, and then there are the Suebi, perhaps the original core tribe of the confederation, which is apparently settled on the Rhine to the east of the Ems.

Son.

Son. Ancestor figure for Great Britain's royal family.

The present royal family of Great Britain traces its descent to Geat, son of Tætwa, son of Beow, son of Scyld. Whilst traditional genealogies in their later forms can support this, at the very least the early rulers of the Cerdicingas of Wessex throw considerable doubt on a continuance of descent, and Cerdic himself has a very dubious claim to Anglian ancestry.

Elizabeth II of the House of Windsor and Philip, duke of Edinburgh, on the balcony of Buckingham Palace following the queen's coronation on 2 June 1953 - between them stand the young Prince Charles and Princess Anne

Below, Godwulf can be found in the older versions of the genealogies, but is replaced by Nennius with Folcwald. This is to tie in with the inclusion of the famous hero (to Anglo-Saxon ears as well as Scandinavian and Frisian) Finn Folcwalding, who is added as a suitably heroic ancestor at some point between the arrival of the Anglo-Saxons in Britain and Nennius' composition of his Historia Brittonum (see feature link). Other names are also added over the years to extend the list.

Son. Replaced with Folcwald by Nennius.

254

By this time, the Suevi have formed a wide-ranging confederation of tribes which are all known individually but which are counted as being Suevi. The vast number of tribes included in the confederation include the Aestii, Angles, Aviones, Buri, Cotini, Eudoses, Gutones, Hermunduri (who have virtually ceased to exist as a recognisable independent people), Langobards, Lugii (a name applied to several tribes: the Harii, Helisii, Helveconae, Manimi, and Naharvali), Marcomanni, Marsigni, Naristi, Nuitones, Osi, Quadi, Reudigni, Semnones, Sitones, Suardones, Suiones (Swedes), and the Warini.

Son. Probably based on Finn, king of Frisia.

Son. Added to the list by the Lindisware genealogy.

Son. Probable second son of Finn.

fl c.370s

Son. Probably based on Freawine, a king of Old Saxony.

Son. Added to the list by William of Malmesbury.

Son. Originator of many Anglian dynasties.

Woden is claimed as an ancestor figure by many of the Anglian, Jutish and Saxon tribes which later migrate to Britain (see feature link). Is it possible that this semi-mythical figure represents a powerful Anglian king whose many sons and their descendants find or create positions of power as the Anglian peoples fragment before and during their migration? Those claiming him as an ancestor include the descendants of Baeldaeg, Benoc, Caser, Waegdaeg and Wehta, while the kings of Lindsey claim direct descent from him.

This woodcut is entitled 'Odin Rides to Hel', being an illustration by WG Collingwood from The Elder Edda or Poetic Edda

A later version of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, MS Vespasian B vi, adds one Waðolgeot / Watholgeot between Woden and Wihtlæg, but it is probably more likely that this name is that of another son who is arranged in series after Woden, in the manner of genealogies, making him the genealogical father of Wihtlæg instead of his brother. Nennius goes one step further and adds Guedolgeat and Gueagon between Woden and Wihtlæg.

The proto-Germanic dictionary mentions 'guda, gudan', meaning 'priest'. 'Gudan' is a form of Wotan (Woden), which suggests that it is the native Germanic name of a priest who is later deified. 'Wotan' may even be a title for a particular priest, and may be pronounced 'Guotan' by the Celts who have strongly influenced the Germanic tribes over almost the entire course of the first millennium BC.

Far from being a warrior chieftain, the pre-Christian sagas always describe Wotan as a magician, not a fighter. The Vainamoinen of the Kalevala shows similarities and possibly a template for later versions of 'magician' priests such as Wotan. It seems that Germanic and Norse magical tradition could originate with the Finns/Kvens because it shows the characteristics of the shamanism of Uralic and Altaic speakers and related groups across northern Eurasia.

Son. Originator of the Iclingas.

c.420 - 559

Angles are settled as laeti along the coast of the British territory of Dewyr to serve in the defence of the coastline against raiders, and the leader of these is possibly one Saebald, son of Sigegeat of Waegdaeg's Folk.

Skulls are scattered around thighbones and joints in the great mass grave at the Alken Enge wetlands in East Jutland, a centre of early Germanic populations, following a battle in the first century AD, around the time at which the Angles and others may have been moving into the region

Further groups of Angles are thought to migrate southwards about this time, into Saxon territories and further, where they form the Thuringian peoples in what is now central Germany.

Son. Copied into the list of early Danish kings as Vermund.

c.448

Hnæf of the Danes is killed at the 'Fight at Finnesburg' in Frisia, as is Finn's eldest son. Finn is subsequently killed by Hengist, great-grandson of Wehta and Hnæf's Anglian comrade in arms. The fight seems to involves Jutes on both sides, under Anglian and Frisian command, with Gefwulf, possible ruler of the Jutes, numbering amongst the former.

449/450

Although not unquestionably proven to be the same man, the Hengist of Finnesburg and his brother Horsa are invited to Britain by Vortigern, and land at Ypwines fleot (Ebbsfleet) with their Jutish followers. Traditionally, they fulfil the terms of their contract by fighting back Pictish and Irish Scotti invaders and receive territory on which to settle. Very shortly they begin to carve out a kingdom of their own which they call Kent. Their success encourages greater Saxon and Angle leaders to migrate to Britain (and possibly some more minor Germanic tribes such as the Rondings) as a way of escaping the increasing pressures of life in their native lands, squeezed between dominant Danes to the north and Frisians to the south.

Shown here is a modern replica of one of the fifth century 'Golden Horns of Gallehus' which were found by archaeologists in Denmark

? - 456

Son. Appears in Some Danish genealogies as Uffo.

c.450?

The clan of the Myrging are descended from Saxons. They occupy territory in modern Schleswig-Holstein, along the Saxon borderlands with the Angles to their north. They become involved in a war with Offa, who kills two of the sons of Eadgils. Eadgils himself is subsequently killed by Ket and Wig, the sons of the Saxon prince, Freawine.

This act possibly allows the Myrging to overrun the border district between Saxons and Angles until they are completely conquered by Offa. The Myrging are totally absorbed into the Angle tribal collective, probably disappearing as a distinguishable people under the subsequent rule of Angeltheow, who abolishes the title. 'King of the Myrging'.

c.455?

A group of Angles invades eastern British territory around the Roman city of Lindum (British Lind Colun) where they found the kingdom of the Lindisware (see feature link for more on this British territory).

456 - ?

Son. 'Angengeot' is used in the later MS Vespasian B vi ASC.

c.475 - 495

Angles begin to arrive and take control of the lower east coast of Britain. They intermingle with the Saxon descendants of Roman foederati and eventually form the kingdom of the East Engle. Anglian elements spread further westwards from there to create the Middil Engle group of settlers in the early sixth century.

The rich countryside and easily-navigable rivers of eastern Britain proved very welcoming to emigrating Angles, leaving their former homeland massively depopulated

fl c.500

Son. Led his people to Britain.

c.500

Eomær leads a full-scale migration of his peoples over the North Sea to Britain, where they found several kingdoms in newly conquered territory. Many of these kingdoms may be founded by relatives of the king's (if the later royal pedigrees are to be believed at all). Eomær leads his own immediate group of followers into eastern Britain and perhaps onwards into the East Midlands, where his son founds the Iclingas. They soon come to dominate the entire region.

At the same time a cousin of Eomær's, Esa of Benoc's Folk, apparently leads another group of Anglians into the British kingdom of Bernaccia. This they overrun in 547 to form the Anglian kingdom of Bernicia. Angeln is reputedly left abandoned and empty by the mass population movement, allowing the Danes to migrate southwards to fill the gap.