62 HISTORY AND ETHNOLOGY. 



Caledonians adopted Christianitj in the sixth century. {PI. 20, figs. 

 11-14:, Caledonians or Picts.) 



12. The Anglo-Saxons. 



Tacitus designates the Angli as a Suevian tribe who lived on the Elbe. 

 Combining at an early period with a branch of the Saxons and Jutes, they 

 crossed over into Britain during the latter part of the fifth century. At first 

 they were auxiliaries to the inhabitants, but afterwards their conquerors 

 and oppressors. At the close of a conflict extending through 130 years they 

 found themselves masters of the whole island. 



Of these three nations the Saxons were the most influential. They 

 were called Anglo-Saxons to distinguish them from the Saxons who still 

 remained on the continent ; and after the sixth century the country took 

 the name of Anglia, which was subsequently changed to England. The 

 ancient inhabitants are represented as rude and warlike. Prior to their 

 invasion of Britain they had scoured the seas as pirates. They erected by 

 degrees seven principalities, known as the Heptarchy. These were united 

 into one kingdom by King Egbert. {PI. 20, figs. 16-18, various Anglo- 

 Saxons ; fig. 15, Anglo-Saxon chieftain.) 



13. The Danes. 



Denmark is considered the residence of the ancient Cimbri. In the 

 year 113 B.C., this people emerged from the northern plains, pouring by 

 hundreds of thousands, including their wives and children, into the Roman 

 provinces. Their progress, at first almost irresistible, was at length 

 arrested by Catulus and Marius, 101 B.C., who completely routed them in 

 the plains near Yerona. Somewhat later the triumphant Odin, advancing 

 with his Gothic warriors from the south-east, overran Denmark, and gave a 

 new religion to the inhabitants. Between his arrival and the period of 

 Harald III., several kings, or rather princes, ruled over the lawless 

 piratical tribes. One of these kings, Skiold, obtained no mean historical 

 celebrity. Charlemagne waged a vigorous war with Gothric, king of 

 Schleswic and Jutland. At the close of the contest the river Eyder was 

 recognised as the boundary of the Carolingian dominions, 810 A.D. {PI, 20, 

 figs. 21-23, Danish citizens ; fig. 19, a king of Denmark ; fig. 20, a Danish 

 warrior.) 



We now pass on to the 



Second Period of Mediaeval History, 



extending from the reign of Charles the Great (Charlemagne) to the 

 commencement of the Crusades, Y68-1096 A.D. 

 234 



