Internet Medieval Sourcebook
Selected Sources: Anglo-Saxon England
Contents
Britain after the Romans
- Non-Textual and Material Sources
Documentary and historiographical sources are very limited for much of the Anglo-Saxon period. The term "Anglo-Saxon" is very open to question.. Increasingly in recent years those who reconstruct the past have lookec to non-textual and material sources. This can include traditional archaeolog based on excavations, as well as much newer biogenetic data derived from the DNA of living people and from the ancient DNA (aDNA) extracted from the bones of people and animals buried at the time. Lingustic and place name data have long been important, as has lanscape history. All these types of "material sources" have been enhanced by information technology and are quite different from the textual sources which are the focus here. Links here are to examples of this kind of "source."
- Map: The End of Roman Rule in Britain, 383–410 [Wikipedia]
- Roman Historians on the End of Roman Britain c. 411
Anglo-Saxons
- General
- The Saxon Invasions
- The Conversion of England
- The Age of Bede
- Northumbria
- Mercia
- The Ninth Century
- The Viking Invasions and After
- Abbo of Fleury: The Martyrdom of St. Edmund, King
of East Anglia, 870, trans. Kenneth Cultler
- Alcuin: Letter to Higbald [Internet Archive, was at Yale]
- Al-Tartushi: Reports on his visit to Hedeby in the tenth century. [Internet Archive, was at Yale]
- Anglo-Saxon Chronicle [Internet Archive, was at Yale]
- Beowulf, lines 229-257, translated by Seamus Heaney. [Internet Archive, was at Yale]
- Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus, De administrando imperio [Internet Archive, was at Yale]
- The Battle of Maldon [Internet Archive, was at Yale]
- Othere's report on his travels. [Internet Archive, was at Yale]
- Thietmar of Merseburg, Chronicle 694-95 [Internet Archive, was at Yale]
- Widukind, The Deeds of the Saxons 3.65 [Internet Archive, was at Yale]
- Wulfstan's report on his travels. [Internet Archive, was at Yale]
- The Age of Alfred
- The 10th Century
- The 11th Century: Later Anglo-Saxon England
- King Edmund (939-946): First Code 10th Century. [Manuscript, transcription, translation and introduction by Christopher Monk from the Textus Roffensis, online at Rochester Cathedral]. See also Wikipedia: Textus Roffensis (1122-1124).
- King Æthelred (978-1016: Æthelred’s Woodstock Code, also known as I Æthelred. 997. [Manuscript, transcription, translation and introduction by Christopher Monk from the Textus Roffensis, online at Rochester Cathedral]. See also Wikipedia: Textus Roffensis (1122-1124).
- Canute (Knut): Invasion of England in 1015-16, according to the Knytlinga Saga, 1015-16 [At De Re Militari]
- Canute the Great: Granting of Fiefs, 1028
- Canute, King of the English: Inheritance in Case of
Intestacy, c. 1016-1035
- Canute, King of the English: On Heriots and Reliefs,
c. 1016-1035
- The Chronicle of Ethelwerd.
-
Wulfstan II, Archbishop of YorkWorcester (d. 1023): Sermo Lupi ad Anglos, c. 1014,
full text, in Latin and Old English. [At Internet Archive].
The sermon of the Wolf to the English, when the Danes were greatly persecuting them, which
was in the year 1014 after the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- England, its Government, and the Normans in the 11th Century
- Church and Society
- King Æthelberht (c.590-616): Grants land in Rochester to the church of St Andrew. Fraudulent document claiming to be from 604 but invented c. 1066. [Manuscript, transcription, translation and introduction by Christopher Monk from the Textus Roffensis, online at Rochester Cathedral]. See also Wikipedia: Textus Roffensis (1122-1124).
- Æthelred II (c. 966 – 23 April 1016, known as the Unready, was King of the English from 978 to 1013 and again from 1014 until his death): Restores to the see of Rochester at the request of Bishop Godwine six sulungs at Wouldham and one mansa at Littlebrook. 995 [Manuscript, transcription, translation and introduction by Christopher Monk from the Textus Roffensis, online at Rochester Cathedral]. See also Wikipedia: Textus Roffensis (1122-1124).
- The dispute between Bishop Godwine and Leofwine over the estate of Snodland. 995-1005 [Manuscript, transcription, translation and introduction by Christopher Monk from the Textus Roffensis, online at Rochester Cathedral]. See also Wikipedia: Textus Roffensis (1122-1124).
- Æthelred II (c. 966 – 23 April 1016, known as the Unready, was King of the English from 978 to 1013 and again from 1014 until his death):: Restores to the see of Rochester six sulungs at Bromley and the use of forest in the Weald. 998 [Manuscript, transcription, translation and introduction by Christopher Monk from the Textus Roffensis, online at Rochester Cathedral]. See also Wikipedia: Textus Roffensis (1122-1124).
- Æthelred II (c. 966 – 23 April 1016, known as the Unready, was King of the English from 978 to 1013 and again from 1014 until his death): Grants to Bishop Godwine of Rochester fifteen hides at Fen Stanton and Hilton, Hunts. A.D. 1012. [Manuscript, transcription, translation and introduction by Christopher Monk from the Textus Roffensis, online at Rochester Cathedral]. See also Wikipedia: Textus Roffensis (1122-1124).
- History of the estates of Bromley and Fawkham, Kent, in the time of King Eadgar and immediately afterwards (Edgar ruled 959-975) 980-987. [Manuscript, transcription, translation and introduction by Christopher Monk from the Textus Roffensis, online at Rochester Cathedral]. See also Wikipedia: Textus Roffensis (1122-1124).
- WEB: Anglo-Saxon Penitentials: A Cultural Database [Allen Frantzen]
The site shows the original texts, translations, and cultural contexts for five Anglo-Saxon Penitentials (confessors' hanbooks.)
- Law and Government
- WEB Early English Laws
Early English Laws is a project to publish online and in print new editions and translations of all English legal codes, edicts, and treatises produced up to the time of Magna Carta 1215.
- Laws of Ethelbert, Alfred: Dooms, both copyrighted, but see next
item
- Laws of
Alfred and Ine [In Anglo Saxon] [At Labryinth]
- Anglo Saxon Dooms, 560-975, In English. These
include:
- The Laws of Æthelberht, King of Kent 560-616 A.D.
- The Laws of Kings Hlothhære and Eadric 673-686 A.D.
- The Laws of King Wihtræd 690-725 A.D.
- The Laws of King Alfred 871-901 A.D.
- The Laws of King Edward the Elder, 901-924 A.D.
- The Laws of Alfred, Guthrum, and Edward the Elder
- The North People's Law
- Mercian Law
- The Laws of King Athelstan 924-939 A.D.
- The Laws of King Edmund I 939-946 A.D.
- The Laws of King Edgar 959-975 A.D.
- The anonymous law known as Ordal (‘Ordeal’) 11-12th Century. [Manuscript, transcription, translation and introduction by Christopher Monk from the Textus Roffensis, online at Rochester Cathedral]. See also Wikipedia: Textus Roffensis (1122-1124).
- The anonymous fragment of law known as Walreaf (‘Corpse Robbery’). c. 10th Century? [Manuscript, transcription, translation and introduction by Christopher Monk from the Textus Roffensis, online at Rochester Cathedral]. See also Wikipedia: Textus Roffensis (1122-1124).
- The anonymous fragment of law known as Pax (‘Peace’) c. 10th Century? [Manuscript, transcription, translation and introduction by Christopher Monk from the Textus Roffensis, online at Rochester Cathedral]. See also Wikipedia: Textus Roffensis (1122-1124).
- Hu se man sceal swerie (‘How the person must swear an oath’) c. 10th Century? [Manuscript, transcription, translation and introduction by Christopher Monk from the Textus Roffensis, online at Rochester Cathedral]. See also Wikipedia: Textus Roffensis (1122-1124).
- The anonymous tract known as Be Mirciscan Aðe (‘Concerning the Mercian Oath’) 1002-23. [Manuscript, transcription, translation and introduction by Christopher Monk from the Textus Roffensis, online at Rochester Cathedral]. See also Wikipedia: Textus Roffensis (1122-1124).
- The anonymous tract known as Be Mircna Laga (‘Concerning Laws of the Mercians’). 9th Century. [Manuscript, transcription, translation and introduction by Christopher Monk from the Textus Roffensis, online at Rochester Cathedral]. See also Wikipedia: Textus Roffensis (1122-1124).
- King Edmund (939-946): First Code 10th Century. [Manuscript, transcription, translation and introduction by Christopher Monk from the Textus Roffensis, online at Rochester Cathedral]. See also Wikipedia: Textus Roffensis (1122-1124).
- King Æthelred (978-1016: Æthelred’s Woodstock Code, also known as I Æthelred. 997. [Manuscript, transcription, translation and introduction by Christopher Monk from the Textus Roffensis, online at Rochester Cathedral]. See also Wikipedia: Textus Roffensis (1122-1124).
- Anglo-Saxon Women
- Bede: Abbess Hilda of Whitby (d. 679) from Ecclesiastical Histoy
- Æthelflæd [Aetheflaed], Lady of the Mercians (d .918): Anglo-Saxon Chronicle 911-918, daughter of Alfred the Great and the only woman to rule Anglo-Saxon England in her own right.
- Wynflaed (d. c 950/960): Will of Wynflæd concerning land at Ebbesborne, Wilts.; Charlton (probably Horethorne, Somerset); Coleshill, Berks.; Inggeneshamme (perhaps Inglesham, Wilts.); Faccombe, Hants; Adderbury, Oxon.; and at Chinnock, Somerset; the beneficiaries including Shaftesbury and Wilton. [At the Electronic Sawyer. Click the "Translation" icon for full translation.] See BL for Images of Manuscript. See Wikipedia: Wynflaed.
- Emma of Normandy (d. 1052): Encomium Emmae Reginae [Encomium of Queen Emma], exceprts, mid 11th Century. Complete text at Internet Archive.
- WEB: Anglo-Saxon Penitentials: A Cultural Database [Allen Frantzen]: Rules on Male-Female Sex Acts
- Same-Sex Relationships
- Slavery in Anglo Saxon England
- Anglo-Saxon Literature
- Caedmon (fl.c. 657-684): Hymn
- Dream of the Rood 8th Century?
- Beowulf, 8th century, trans Francis Gummere [HTML,
here]
- Beowulf, c. 1100
[At Lone Star]
Beowulf is the oldest surviving epic in English literature - and it survives in only one
manuscript. This copy survived both the wholesale destruction of religious artifacts
during the
dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII and a disastrous fire which destroyed the
library of Sir Robert Bruce Cotton (1571-1631). The poem still bears the scars of the
fire, visible at the upper left corner of the manuscript. This is a modern verse
trasnlation by David
Breeden.
- Codex Junius 11
Translations from the Anglo-Saxon of the following works: "Genesis A", "Genesis B", "Exodus", "Daniel", and "Christ and Satan". All are works found in the manuscript of Anglo-Saxon verse known as "Junius 11" (Oxford, Bodleian Library 5123), which was compiled sometime toward the end of the 10th Century.
- Ælfric of Eynsham (c. 950–c. 1010): Colloquy, c 990. A kind of textbook or teaching tool for teaching Latin.
- Anglo-Saxon Charms, trans. Karen
Jolly [At Univ. Hawaii].
Arthuriana
- WEB For Arthurian texts, not collected
here, see the Camelot Project and
especially the Camelot Project
Author Menu for beautifully presented, introduced, and annotated texts of:
- The Alliterative Morte Arthure
- Annales Cambriae (Annals of Wales), Arthurian References in (c. 960-980)
- The Avowyng of Arthur
- The Awntyrs off Arthur
- The Carle of Carlisle
- Culwch and Olwen (translated by Lady Charlotte Guest as Kilhwch and Olwen)
- The Greene Knight
- The Jeaste of Sir Gawain
- King Arthur and King Cornwall
- The Knightly Tale of Gologras and Gawain
- Lancelot of the Laik
- The Marriage of Sir Gawain
- Sir Gawain and the Carle of Carlisle
- Sir Perceval of Galles
- Sir Tristrem
- Stanzaic Morte Arthur
- The Turke and Sir Gawain
- The Wedding of Sir Gawain and Dame Ragnelle
- A selection of post medieval-Arthurian literature [Tennyson, Emerson, Swinbourne
and so on.]
Germanic Culture
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© Site Concept and Design: Paul Halsall created 26 Jan 1996: latest revision 20 January 2021
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