From sub-Roman Britain to Anglo-Saxon England: Debating the Insular Dark Ages

Abstract

The sub-Roman/Anglo-Saxon interface has been hotly debated over the last twenty years, with scholars approaching the subject from several different disciplines and arguing variously for mass migration from Germany and/or elite dominance by a barbarian elite of a British majority. This paper critiques several of the arguments that have recently been offered and suggests that we should prioritise the conquest of eastern England by Anglo-Saxons at an early date, which left political power in barbarian hands. Both migration and acculturation should be considered integral to the constitution of Anglo-Saxon England, its people and its culture.