Who were the Saxons and Angles?

The Saxons were a tribe of Germanic people who originally came from the area of current northern Germany. They invaded Britain during the time of Roman occupation. Similarly the Angles came from the area of northern Germany and Denmark. The Jutes and Frisians were other tribes of Germanic people. The Jutes also invaded England but over time were either driven out of the country or merged with the Saxons and Angles.

Small numbers of raiders first came to Britain attacking and plundering settlements close to the shore. They then returned home to their native lands with thier stolen goods. After the Romans left Britain in 410 the country was not properly defended as the regions were ruled by different people who were too busy fighting amongst themselves. Over time the Saxons and Angles spent more time in Briton creating settlements in the clearings along the rivers. Eventually they moved further inland fighting for land with the Britons.

Where did they settle?

This map shows how Britain was organised in around 550 AD

When the Saxons and Angles invaded Britain they had to defeat the native Britons. This is the era of King Arthur who, legend states, defended Britain against the invaders. The Saxons managed to defeat the Britons and take control of the country. The Saxons settled mainly in the south of England, while the Angles settled mainly on the east coast.

What are Saxon Shore Forts?

The Romans built a series of forts along the east and south coasts of Britain to protect the country against invasion from the Saxons. These forts have become known as 'Saxon Shore Forts' because a document from the time refers to the commander of the forts as the 'Count of the Saxon Shore'. Generally these forts were large rectangular enclosures surrounded by a high stone wall and ditches. Most of these forts have been destroyed over the years by erosion but some remain. A good example is Porchester Castle.

Porcester Castle is situated in a strategic location within Portsmouth harbour. The castle was later refortified by the Normans. Henry I built a Norman keep in the north-west corner and the outer walls were repaired and strengthened.