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Lesson 3 of 6
Anglo-Saxon kingdoms
I can describe how early Anglo-Saxon Britain was made up of different kingdoms.
Lesson 3 of 6
New
New
Anglo-Saxon kingdoms
I can describe how early Anglo-Saxon Britain was made up of different kingdoms.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- In places where the Anglo-Saxons defeated the Britons, they built their own villages and established new kingdoms.
- No single king ruled over all the Anglo-Saxons.
- The Angles, Saxons and Jutes took over and settled in different areas.
- The Anglo-Saxons established seven kingdoms – Northumbria, Mercia, East Anglia, Essex, Kent, Sussex and Wessex.
- These kingdoms waxed and waned in their power over one another.
Keywords
Settlement - a settlement is a place where people choose to begin a community
Establish - to establish something means to set it up to last a very long time
Kingdom - a kingdom is a country or area ruled by a king or queen
Common misconception
Some pupils may believe the kingdoms were part of one united kingdom of England.
The Anglo-Saxon kingdoms had their own ruler and England was not a united kingdom or nation at this point.
You may wish to include some local examples of Anglo-Saxon settlements in the first section about the arrival of the different tribes.
Teacher tip
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
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6 Questions
Q1.Which Empire ruled over Britain before the Anglo-Saxons arrived?
Which Empire ruled over Britain before the Anglo-Saxons arrived?
Viking Empire
Ancient Greek Empire
Islamic Caliphate
Q2.Why did the Anglo-Saxons choose to come to Britain?
Why did the Anglo-Saxons choose to come to Britain?
There was gold buried there.
They kept getting attacked by the Romans.
They wanted to spread their religion.
Q3.Some Anglo-Saxons were invited to Britain by the Romans to fight off the Scots and a group called...
Some Anglo-Saxons were invited to Britain by the Romans to fight off the Scots and a group called...
Q4.Emperor Honorius decided that the Romans should do what?
Emperor Honorius decided that the Romans should do what?
invade Ireland
call a truce with the Scots and Picts
attack the Anglo-Saxons
Q5.Why did the Romans choose to invite the Anglo-Saxons to help them fight?
Why did the Romans choose to invite the Anglo-Saxons to help them fight?
They had been allies for a long time.
They knew the Anglo-Saxons did not like who the Romans were fighting.
They both believed in the same religion.
Q6.Anglo-Saxons is a term that historians use to discuss the Angles, Saxons and what other tribe from Europe?
Anglo-Saxons is a term that historians use to discuss the Angles, Saxons and what other tribe from Europe?
the Romans
the Celts
the Goths
Assessment exit quiz
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6 Questions
Q1.What is the term given to a place that is ruled by a king or queen?
What is the term given to a place that is ruled by a king or queen?
Q2.What tribes of people from Europe began to arrive in Britain in the early 400s CE?
What tribes of people from Europe began to arrive in Britain in the early 400s CE?
Picts
Goths
Q3.What were the key features the tribes were looking for in order to establish communities when they arrived in Britain?
What were the key features the tribes were looking for in order to establish communities when they arrived in Britain?
tall, rocky mountains
thick, dense forests
vast caves
Q4.Where in Britain did the Angles mainly choose to settle in?
Where in Britain did the Angles mainly choose to settle in?
the south-west
Kent
Wales
Q5.Which of the following was not an Anglo-Saxon kingdom?
Which of the following was not an Anglo-Saxon kingdom?
Mercia
Wessex
Essex
Northumbria
Q6.Starting with the earliest, sort these events into chronological order.
Starting with the earliest, sort these events into chronological order.