The Anglo-Saxons began to form in AD 400 from Germanic people immigrating to Britain*. According to Bede’s Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum, the population was divided into Angles, Saxons and Jutes but may have also included other groups such as Frisians and Franks.at Edington, Wiltshire in 878 AD brought peace, but with their connection Jorvik ( means Viking York ) the Danes were a permanent foothold in England. Near the end of the 10Th century there was Scandinavian interest in England. After various fluctuations, by 1066 several people were attempting to claim the English throne causing two invasions that year and the wars of Stamford Bridge and Hastings, giving the Medieval Anglo-Norman an opportunity to rule England.

Throughout the 7th and 8th centuries, larger kingdoms had much more power than others however, power fluctated between larger kingdoms. During the 6th century, power seemed to go Northwards to areas such as Mercia and Northumbia. The mercian supremacy dominated the 8th century but was not always constant. Aethelbald and Offa, the 2 most powerful kings managed to achieve high status. This period of time ( AD 600-800 ) was called Heptarchy.