Truths and Myths About the Anglo-Saxons
Were they Violent, Marauding Invaders or Riddle-Loving Funsters?
First things first. The term “Anglo-Saxon” has become a subject of controversy in American politics, because it’s often used as code for “the right sort of white people” by far-right politicians and white supremacist groups. That despicable usage has its roots in the 18th and 19th centuries and was later embraced by the Nazis. These white supremacists used “Anglo-Saxon” as a collective term to describe a mythical tall, blond, “pure-blooded” Germanic-English warrior “race.” This characterization demonstrates an ahistorical connection to the actual tribes that lived in England between the end of the Roman occupation (410 CE) and the Norman conquest (1066 CE).
On the other end of that spectrum are those who picture the Anglo-Saxons — if they picture them at all — as fierce, mead-chugging, unshaven thugs who enjoyed feasting, carousing, and murdering their neighbors.
Who were the original Anglo-Saxons, and what did their daily lives look like?
Much about this historical period is shrouded in uncertainty. Day-to-day life may have been boring, smelly, and violent, but fun fact — the Anglo-Saxons could sometimes be riddle-loving funsters!