As they say on p.320, "the cultural inspiration for the material in use at Spong Hill"—one of the largest (2300+ burials) & earliest early Anglo-Saxon cemeteries in England—"comes, therefore, from both 'Saxon' and 'Anglian' regions of North Germany", which is well worth noting…
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In this context, it's worth emphasising that from the earliest stage, 'Saxon' material is found in 'Anglian' areas & vice versa, as can be seen from this old—1990s, redrawn by me—but serviceable-for-this-purpose map of 5th-century 'Anglian' (dots) & 'Saxon' (stars) metalwork…pic.twitter.com/zMqOUpiQ0j
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Dr Caitlin Green Retweeted Dr Caitlin Green
This does, of course, raise interesting questions about the origins and character of Bede's early 8th-century insular Anglian & Saxon identities, and in fairness Bede himself seems to recognise that things were were more complex than this, see for examplehttps://twitter.com/caitlinrgreen/status/624989466709610497 …
Dr Caitlin Green added,
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In this light, it is worth noting that some, at least, in Bede's early 8th-century Anglian kingdom of Northumbria were happy to use 'Saxonia' as a term for their locale, arguably foreshadowing the more solid evidence for the existence of a concept of 'Anglo-Saxon' identity >
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> that we have from the late 8th and 9th centuries — the first solid references coming from the Legatine Capitulary of 786 (a report to Pope Hadrian I about 2 British synods, perhaps written by Alcuin), Paul the Deacon (d. 799), and subsequently in the titles of King Alfred. >
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> Of particular note here is an early 8th-century letter to the Pope from Abbot Hwaetberht of Wearmouth and Jarrow (c.716–740s), in the heart of the Anglian kingdom of Northumbria, in which he states his community lay 'in the land of the Saxons' (Saxonia) https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=5ZhVAAAAQBAJ&lpg=PP1&pg=PA67#v=onepage&q&f=false …pic.twitter.com/87ln1WgLjM
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Also possibly relevant in terms of potential earlier 8th-century foreshadowings of late 8th/9thC concepts of an 'Anglo-Saxon' identity are the letters of Boniface (d.752), who considers himself a member of the Angli but also names England as 'transmarine Saxony' (Ep 50, AD 742).
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Likewise, in the early 8th-century Vita Sancti Wilfrithi, written by Stephen at Ripon in 'Anglian' Northumbria, the people of Northumbria/England are collectively called 'Saxons' in chps 19 and 21, but are 'Angles' in chps 6 & 53 >
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> Indeed, Wilfred himself is identified as an 'Angle' by the author of his life (chp 6), which would fit with his origins in Anglian Northumbria, but in a letter of Wilfred himself written in 679, the saint describes his country of origin as Saxonia...! (chp 30, Colgrave p.60).
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The Anonymous Life of St Cuthbert — written at Lindisfarne in 'Anglian' Northumbria in c. 699–705 — arguably shows a similar usage, with the 'English' bishops being referred to collectively as 'the bishops of the Saxons' in IV.1 (Colgrave pp. 110–11)...
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This seems much more like Anglian and Saxon were considered by some to be interchangeable. Especially since Angulsaxonum etc were never used that frequently even after the introduction of the word.
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Replying to @AdmiralHip
I think that's a fair point! Fascinating, isn't it :) Particularly as we seem to see it even with Pope Gregory (who seems to use both Angli & Saxonia). I do wonder if this occasional variability/interchangeability might not somehow underlie moves towards the combined phrase? :)
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Replying to @caitlinrgreen
I don’t think there was a collective movement towards the phrase to be honest with you. It’s just never used very much and when it is, it is from a political perspective or from outsiders. Alfred and his grandson may have tried to make it happen but it didn’t, I don’t think.
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