The Dark Ages, the period between the fall of the Roman Empire and the rise of the Tudor Monarchs and the Renaissance, is one of the few areas in which the history of the Isle of Wight is little known. In order to learn more about this period of history, there are two main contemporary historical sources available - the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles, and Bede's "Ecclesiastical History of The English People". These, however, tell mainly of major events occurring on the Island - invasions, battles and conquests, and not so much of the day-to-day events. For these we rely on other sources of information, as well as modern excavations and interpretation of legends that have survived since Saxon times.

The history of the Isle of Wight during Anglo-Saxon times cannot be studied alone, for much of what happened to affect the Isle of Wight also affected the mainland also. In order to understand the events that happened on the Island, often we need to understand the wider political and social causes that were occurring, not only on the Mainland, but also in Continental Europe. The Island, after all, traded with, and was influenced by, outside events.

Yet despite this, a study of Anglo-Saxon Wight is rewarding in itself, for in many ways much of the main events of the nglo-Saxon era can be seen to have affected the Isle of Wight earlier than other parts of the country. This is true in particular of the Danish raids around the turn of the century, and the events leading up to the Norman Invasion. The Isle of Wight was in a perfect strategic position to either attack, or defend, mainland Britain.

Another point of interest is that much of Isle of Wight history over the last thousand years can be seen to have been caused and influenced by events in Anglo-Saxon times, despite their happening a thousand years before. Studying Anglo-Saxon Wight not only tells us more about England of the period, but also the Isle of Wight today.

The Anglo Saxon chronicles are a collection of documents written during the Anglo-Saxon period - between 450 AD - 1066 AD - of British history. The chronicle was started in the reign of King Alfred of Wessex near the end of the ninth century, and continued until 1154.

The Anglo Saxon chronicles are unique in being a collective history of Anglo-Saxon Britain¹ during the "Dark Ages". It was the first continuous national history of a
European people in their own language - and the only country to do so at this time.

It was Anglo-Saxon practice to deposit duplicate copies of important documents in different places - both to ensure their survival, and also to make sure a copy was at hand no matter where the King happened to be in the Kingdom. Due to this, the chronicles developed into a series of related documents with regional variations. Quotes from the Chronicles are taken from a variation of
the different manuscripts, as translated by M.J. Swanton.

The chronicles are a unique insight into the Anglo-Saxon world, but narrate events in a style similar to that found in the Old Testament of the Bible. Many have found that this limits their usefulness as a guide to day-to-day life in particular areas of the country. Despite this, they prove an invaluable guide to historians researching this period, even on a local scale.

In these articles that cover Anglo-Saxon Wight, every mention of the Isle of Wight in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles until 1066 will be mentioned, and quoted.

Anglo-Saxon Isle of Wight

• Anglo-Saxon Isle of Wight
• The Anglo-Saxon Chronicles
• Related H2G2 & BBC Links
• Anglo-Saxon Isle of Wight: 400 - 900 AD
• Coming of the Anglo-Saxons
• The Kingdoms Of Wessex, Sussex and Mercia
• Alfred The Great's Sea Battle
• Anglo-Saxon Isle Of Wight: 900-1066 AD
• Æthelred II & Vikings
• Canute's Conquest
• Earl Godwin's rebellion
• Harold and Tostig
• Anglo-Saxon Isle Of Wight: Day-To-Day Life
• Anglo-Saxon buildings
• Pagan Isle of Wight
• Anglo-Saxon Texts
• Anglo-Saxon Isle Of Wight: Legends
• Saint Boniface
• The Legend of Godshill
• The Legend of Wroxall
• Anglo-Saxon Isle of Wight: Churches
• Churches That Retain Saxon Construction
• Churches Dedicated To Saxons
• Churches Built On The Site Of Saxon Churches
• Churches That Contain Pagan Saxon Shrines

Saxons

• Egbert - King of the West Saxons 802-839
• Æthelwulf - King of the West Saxons 839-858
• Æthelbald, Æthelbert and Æthelred I - Kings of the West Saxons 858-871
• Alfred the Great - King of the West Saxons 871-899
• Edward the Elder - King of England 899-909
• Æthelred II - The Unready - King of England 978-1016
• Kings of Kent - from Eorcenbehrt to Ealhmund
• The Venerable Bede - Historian and Theologian
• The Vikings - Why They Did It

Isle Of Wight History

• The Pepper Pot, Isle of Wight
• Carisbrooke Castle, Isle of Wight
• Tudor Castles on and around the Isle of Wight
• Piers Of The Isle of Wight
• Isle of Wight Hovercraft
• The Isle of Wight Space Programme

Related BBC Links

• History Quest - The Anglo Saxon Era
• Anglo Saxon Archeaology
• The events of 1066
• Children's Guide To The Anglo-Saxons