Home > Heptarchy

This period is generally intended as covering the timespan from AD 500 to 850.

The word heptarchy refers to the existence (as was thought) of the seven kingdoms which eventually merged to become England during the early 10th-century, and comprised the kingdoms of Northumbria, Mercia, East Anglia, Essex, Kent, Sussex, and Wessex.

The term itself dates back to the twelfth century11th century 12th century 13th century other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 12th century was that century which lasted from 1101 to 1200. Events Song dynasty loses power over Northern China The Kamakura Shogunate deprives the, and the English historianGenerally speaking, a historian is a person who studies history. This is harder than many think; the study of history requires careful attention to detail and neutrality. Historians can often have a profound impact upon the way people think. For example, Henry of Huntingdon , and has been in common use since the sixteenth century15th century 16th century 17th century more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century was that century which lasted from 1501 to 1600. Events Beginning of the " Little Ice Age" a cooling period that resulted in lower crop yi.

More recent research has revealed that some of these kingdoms (notably Essex and Sussex) did not achieve the same status as did the others.

Conversely there also existed at the time a number of other political divisions which played a far more important role than was previously considered the case. Such were the kingdoms (or sub-kingdoms) of LindseyLindsey or Linnuis is the name of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom that lay between the Humber and the Wash, forming its inland boundaries from the course of the Witham and Trent rivers (with the inclusion of an area inside of a marshy region south of the Humber k (in present-day LincolnshireThis article is about the English administrative county. For the Illinois village, see Lincolnshire, Illinois; for the Kentucky city, see Lincolnshire, Kentucky. Lincolnshire (abbreviated Lincs is a county in the East Midlands of England, traditionally th), the HwicceHwicce was one of the kingdoms of Anglo-Saxon Britain. Its exact dimensions are unknown; they probably coincided with those of the old diocese of Worcester, the early bishops of which bore the title Episcopus Hwicciorum''. It would therefore include Worce, the Magonsaete (in present-day SurreyThis is about Surrey, England. There are also articles about other uses of the name Surrey. Surrey is a county in southern England, one of the Home Counties'. It is divided into a number of districts Elmbridge, Epsom and Ewell, Guildford, Mole Valley, Rei), the Wihtware (from whence the Isle of WightThe Isle of Wight is an island off the south coast of England opposite Southampton. Colloquially, it is known as 'The Island' by residents. Its population was 132,731 in the 2001 census (and 126,600 in 1991). The Island has a single MP (currently Andrew T), the Middle Angles , the Haestingas (from whence Hastings in Sussex and the Gewissae (which became the kingdom of Wessex).

Certainly the term Heptarchy has been considered unsatisfactory since the early twentieth century, and many historians have ceased using it, feeling it does not adequately describe the period to which it refers. However it remains in general use as a label of convenience for that period of English history.

Related terms: Bretwalda