AD 410-1066 Early medieval

By the late 5th century AD, Anglo-Saxon kingdoms were being established throughout eastern England – Lindsey (Lincolnshire), East Anglia (Norfolk and Suffolk), and East Saxons (Essex). One of the most important of these was East Anglia, ruled by Rædwald (reigned about 616-624). During Rædwald's reign, East Anglia became the most powerful Anglo-Saxon kingdom and he was later regarded as the overking of all the kingdoms.

However, by the end of the 7th century most of East Anglia had been taken over by the kingdom of Mercia. In 825 Mercia was defeated by Wessex, and East Anglia became part of that kingdom. Then, in 869, the Danish ‘Great Army’ conquered East Anglia, martyring the king, Edmund and separating it from Wessex. Over the next 15 years the Danes settled eastern England in an area known as the Danelaw – to the north and east of an imaginary line between the rivers Tees and Thames. The Danes adopted Christianity, but kept many of their own laws and customs.

When a second wave of Scandinavian invasions began in the late 10th century, eastern England quickly accepted Danish rule. Under Cnut (1016-35), England was divided into four earldoms, of which eastern England was one, ruled by a Danish noble.