What is the Difference Between Angles and Saxons

The main difference between Angles and Saxons is that Angles are Germanic people, originally inhabitants of Schleswig-Holstein, who settled in Mercia, Northumbria, and East Anglia while Saxons are a Germanic tribe from central and northern Germany that conquered and settled in southern England.

Angles and Saxons are two major Germanic tribes that settled in Great Britain in the post-Roman period. However, most historical accounts did not distinguish between Angles and Saxons as both were Germanic tribes speaking similar dialects. Furthermore, with the passage of time, Angles and Saxons, along with Jutes and Frisians, became a single nation known as Anglo-Saxons.

Key Areas Covered

1. Who are Angles 
     – Definition, Characteristics 
2. Who are Saxons
     – Definition, Characteristics 
3. Relationship Between Angles and Saxons
     – Outline of Common Features
4. Difference Between Angles and Saxons
     – Comparison of Key Differences

Key Terms

Angles, Anglo-Saxons, Great Britain, Saxons

Who are Angles

Angles were one of the two major Germanic peoples who settled in Great Britain hundreds of years ago. They are first mentioned by Tacitus in the 1st century CE as worshippers of the deity Nerthus. According to historical sources such as Ecclesiastical History of the English People, their homeland was in Angulus. It was traditionally identified as the Angeln district in Schleswig, which was between the Schlei inlet and the Flensburger Förde. Today, we call this area Schleswig-Holstein. Saxon seem to have abandoned it at the time of their invasion of Britain. Moreover, after this invasion, they split up into groups and settled in the kingdoms of Mercia, Northumbria, and East and Middle Anglia. This is what we call the North and East England. In fact, the name Angles form the root of the name England.

Who are Saxons

Saxons are a Germanic tribe that conquered and settled in southern England in the 5th–6th centuries. Originally, they occupied the North Sea coast of Germany, Netherlands, and Denmark. Moreover, the name Sax comes from the word seax, a unique knife they popularly used. Unlike Angles, Saxons mainly settled around the South of England.

Figure 01: Spread of Angles (shown in red) and Saxons (shown in blue)

Some of the earliest historical records of Saxons come from Romans who had to deal with vigorous Saxon piracy in the North Sea during the second and third century. Moreover, in Ecclesiastical History of the English People, the Venerable Bede stated that the West, East, and South Saxons (of Wessex, Essex, and Sussex) descended from the Saxons. However, it’s also important to that some accounts also include other Germanic groups such as the Jutes, the Angles, and the Frisians under the label ‘Saxons’. This is because all these groups spoke dialects similar to each other, specifically West Germanic languages. Then, with the passage of time, these languages evolved into Old English.

Relationship Between Angles and Saxons

• Angles and Saxons were basically two Germanic tribes speaking similar dialects.
• With the passage of time, Angles and Saxons, as well as Jutes and Frisians, became a single nation known as Anglo-Saxons.
• Furthermore, most historical accounts do not distinguish between these Angles and Saxons.

Difference Between Angles and Saxons

Definition

Angles are Germanic people, originally inhabitants of Schleswig-Holstein, who settled in Mercia, Northumbria, and East Anglia while Saxons are a Germanic tribe that conquered and settled in southern England in the 5th–6th centuries.

Origin

Angles originated from what is now called Schleswig-Holstein while Saxons originated from central and northern Germany.

Settlement in England

Moreover, Angles settled in the kingdoms of Mercia, Northumbria, and East and Middle Anglia while Saxons settled in Southern England.

Conclusion

The main difference between Angles and Saxons is that Angles are Germanic people, originally inhabitants of Schleswig-Holstein, who settled in Mercia, Northumbria, and East Anglia while Saxons are a Germanic tribe from central and northern Germany that conquered and settled in southern England.

Reference:

1. “Angles, Saxons, and Jutes.” Encyclopedia.com, Encyclopedia.com, 27 Jan. 2021, Available here.
2. “Saxon.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., Available here.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Anglo-Saxon Homelands and Settlements” By mbartelsm – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia