Hello everyone, Alex Iles here! Today, we’re tackling a fascinating question: at the start of the Anglo-Saxon period, where did the Romans go? We’ll be diving into the archaeology and exploring the complex transition from Roman Britain to Anglo-Saxon England.
Late Roman Britain: A Changing Landscape
In late Roman Britain, towns like Leicester, Rochester, and Silchester continued to be occupied. For a long time, archaeologists struggled to identify evidence of post-Roman occupation, often overlooking wooden structures and focusing on Roman stonework. However, the reality is that the late Roman period saw a shift towards wooden buildings, reflecting changes in the economy.
The centralized Roman Empire, reliant on taxation and investment in the provinces, began to break down. Around 410 AD, or that’s what has generally been thought. A much quoted letter suggested that Britain should look to its own defenses, indicating a potential government breakdown. However, this may have been to Bruttium in southern Italy. Alongside this, archaeological evidence suggests a more nuanced picture.
In fourth-century Leicester, during what might have been a period of economic decline, Anglo-Saxon-style halls were built alongside a Roman-style townhouse. This suggests a coexistence of different cultures and building traditions. Additionally, the forum in Leicester transitioned from a center of trade to a production site for metalworking and glassmaking, indicating a shift in economic activity. This is often seen in several towns across Roman Britain at the same time.
Similarly, forts along Hadrian’s Wall, such as Birdoswald, Vindolanda, and Housesteads, transformed. Granaries were repurposed as halls, and commanding officers’ houses were altered, reflecting the changing needs of the military. With the breakdown of the centralized economy, commanders likely relied on local supplies and controlled weapons and food as a means of maintaining power.
German Influence: A Precursor to Anglo-Saxon England
The influence of Germanic troops in Roman Britain played a significant role in the transition to Anglo-Saxon England. Research indicates that Germanic troops were disproportionately represented in the Roman army in Britain. For example, Cheryl Louise Clay’s research in “Germanic Migrants in Roman Britain” (2009) highlights that of the Roman troops stationed in Britain, 28 cohorts were of Germanic descent, compared to only 10 Gaulish cohorts. Other groups were even smaller, with 8 cohorts of Spaniards and 4 cohorts of Dacians.
This Germanic presence likely led to intermarriage with native Britons and the blending of languages. Peter Schrijver, in “Language Contact and the Origins of the Germanic People,” suggests that a Germanic dialect with a British accent may have developed on the east coast of Britain as early as the third and fourth centuries.
Furthermore, Germanic foederati, or allied troops, had a significant influence. By the third century, Germanic troops were already present in Britain, with Vandals and Brigandians being brought in by Probus between 276 and 282 AD. Carasius, the leader of the breakaway Gallic Empire in Britain, had a Germanic name, and his forces, as well as those of Constantius, were heavily Frankish.
During the Great Barbarian Conspiracy in 367 AD, Britain was attacked by Saxons, Scotti, and Picts. The Dux Britanniarum, the commander in charge of northern British forces, had a Germanic name, further illustrating the Germanic influence in Roman Britain.
While all of the above is true, the migration period would have created far more of an impact as the 4th century soldiers still looked to Rome and would have seen themselves as a Roman, it was in the post Roman period that the Anglo-Saxon’s would have developed as a people, with the migrants from North Western Europe mixing with the Romano-British to create the Anglo-Saxons.
Conclusion: A Gradual Transition
The transition from Roman Britain to Anglo-Saxon England was a gradual process, influenced by economic changes, the presence of Germanic troops, and the continued influence of the church in the 7th and 8th centuries. The evidence suggests that Germanic troops had been settling in Britain since at least the second century AD, with a significant increase from the third century onwards.
When Roman authority collapsed, these Germanic settlers, accustomed to living and fighting in Britain, likely developed their own customs and traditions, influenced by both Rome and their homeland forming the basis of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms.
Therefore, the Romans didn’t simply vanish; their influence was transformed and integrated with Germanic culture, laying the foundation for Anglo-Saxon England. Until next time, stay safe and well!
