The Saxons ( Saxons ) ( German: Sachsen , Latin: Saxones ) are an ancient Germanic tribe that was divided into two parts in the 3rd – 5th centuries: some went south to Germany and others went west. From the name of the Saxons came the name of the historical region in Germany - Saxony (currently it is the German lands of Lower Saxony , Saxony-Anhalt and the Free State of Saxony ). On the island of Britain, together with the Angles and Utahs , the Saxons participated in the formation of the English ethnos.
Etymology
The etymology of the word "Saxons" is not yet fully understood. Probably, the self-name of the Saxons was different, and the ancient authors, who first used this word, produced it from the name of the Saxon combat knife - a typical Saxon weapon.
Range
Since the II century, it covers approximately the East Netherlands , today's German lands of Westphalia , Lower Saxony (excluding territories inhabited by the Frieze tribes), Holstein , Mecklenburg and the north of Saxony-Anhalt .
In Roman sources , starting from the III century , there are complaints of sea robbery and piracy of the Saxons.
In the period from the 3rd to the 5th centuries, part of the Saxons, along with the Angles and Utahs , moved to the southern part of the island of Britain . Due to the forceful seizure of land and merger with the Angles, they became a community of Anglo-Saxons , which became politically and linguistically dominant in England .
Language
The Saxon language became the basis of the Anglo-Saxon language , from which modern English developed. Hence, in Irish and other Celtic languages, the name of the Saxon tribe is used to denote modern English: in Irish - "Sasana" ( England ) and "Sasanach" ( English ), in Gaelic - "Sasunn" ( England ) and "Sasunnach" ( English ); although in other languages these names are derived from the tribe of Angles .
The current generic name of the country - England - comes from the name of the tribe of Angles , and the name of territories such as Wessex ("West-Saxons"), Essex ("East-Saxons"), Sussex ("South-Saxons") and Middlesex indicate their descent from Saxon settlers.
In Estonian and Finnish, the name of the Saxons served as the basis for the designation of modern Germans and Germany: in Estonian "Saksamaa" ( Germany ) and "sakslased" ( Germans ); in the Finnish Saksa ( Germany ) and saksalaiset ( Germans ).
Political system
Until the submission and conversion to Christianity by Charlemagne, the continental Saxons retained their ancient tribal charter and did not have a king , and all important issues were resolved at the annual meeting of the tribal elders, which was called “ Ting ” (cf. German “Ding” or English “Think” "). Dukes (military leaders) accepted leadership over the people only for the duration of military conflicts.
Saxon tribes
Westphalia
Westphals lived mainly between the Rhine and the Weser , their name meant "Western people", that is, Western Saxons.
Ostfaly
Ostfaly, "Eastern people", lived between Weser and Elba .
Ingres
The Ingres occupied a central position among the Saxons, both geographically and culturally and socially. Markloe , the annual meeting place, was in their lands on Weser .
Literature
- Tarle E.V. Saxons // Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary : in 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional). - SPb. , 1890-1907.
- Shore T.W. Chapter II. Saxons and their Tribes // Origin of the Anglo-Saxon Race: A Study of the Settlement of England and the Tribal Origin of the Old English People . - London, 1906. - S. 18-33.
- Sharon Turner The history of the Anglo-Saxons from ancient times to the Norman conquest. Book Two. Chapter I. The Origin of the Saxons. (Russian)
- Sachsen // Lexikon des Mittelalters