{"slug": "saxons", "label": "Saxons", "wikipedia": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saxons", "wikidata": "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q101985", "qid": "Q101985", "description": "confederation of Germanic tribes on the North German Plain", "entries": 38, "years": 38, "span": [251, 1147], "span_label": ["251 CE", "1147 CE"], "topics": [{"title": "Conflict & Security", "count": 24}, {"title": "Exploration & Expansion", "count": 5}, {"title": "Religion & Belief", "count": 4}, {"title": "Climate & Environment", "count": 1}, {"title": "Culture & Society", "count": 1}, {"title": "Health & Medicine", "count": 1}, {"title": "Crime & Justice", "count": 1}, {"title": "Deaths", "count": 1}], "related": [{"slug": "charlemagne", "label": "Charlemagne", "shared": 14}, {"slug": "saxon-wars", "label": "Saxon Wars", "shared": 11}, {"slug": "franks", "label": "Franks", "shared": 7}, {"slug": "francia", "label": "Francia", "shared": 5}, {"slug": "weser", "label": "Weser", "shared": 5}, {"slug": "old-saxony", "label": "Old Saxony", "shared": 5}, {"slug": "obotrites", "label": "Obotrites", "shared": 5}, {"slug": "rhine", "label": "Rhine", "shared": 5}, {"slug": "eresburg", "label": "Eresburg", "shared": 4}, {"slug": "elbe", "label": "Elbe", "shared": 4}, {"slug": "widukind", "label": "Widukind", "shared": 4}, {"slug": "roman-britain", "label": "Roman Britain", "shared": 3}], "items": [{"year": 251, "year_label": "251 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "The prosperity of Roman Britain declines during this period, as the Germanic tribes of the Franks and Saxons, whose homelands are in Friesland and the Low Countries, make raids around the southeast coast.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1371188077#Roman_Empire", "title": "251", "revid": 1371188077, "section": "Events › By place › Roman Empire"}}, {"year": 367, "year_label": "367 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Great Conspiracy: The Roman garrison on Hadrian's Wall revolts and allows Picts from Caledonia to devastate Britain. Simultaneously Attacotti, the Scotti from Hibernia (Ireland), and the Saxons from Germania invade the island's mid-western and south-eastern borders. They sack the cities and murder, rape or enslave Romano-British civilians.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1326556842#Roman_Empire", "title": "367", "revid": 1326556842, "section": "Events › By place › Roman Empire"}}, {"year": 368, "year_label": "368 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Great Conspiracy: Picts, Scotti and Saxons reach Roman London and plunder the city. Theodosius, a general (Comes Britanniarum), is sent with a relief force to Britannia. He marches from Richborough, Kent, to deal with the invaders.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1332421371#Roman_Empire", "title": "368", "revid": 1332421371, "section": "Events › By place › Roman Empire"}}, {"year": 394, "year_label": "394 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Late Roman army: The Notitia Dignitatum shows the development of forces in the Roman Empire. By now 200,000 soldiers guard the borders, and a reserve force of 50,000 is available for deployment. Many non-Roman soldiers are from Germanic tribes: Alamanni, Franks, Goths, Saxons and Vandals.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1369162073#Roman_Empire", "title": "394", "revid": 1369162073, "section": "Events › By place › Roman Empire"}}, {"year": 465, "year_label": "465 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Battle of Wippedesfleot: The Saxons under command of Hengist and Aesc are defeated by the Britons near Ebbsfleet (Kent). During the battle 12 Welsh leaders are killed (according to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle).", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1364739674#Britannia", "title": "465", "revid": 1364739674, "section": "Events › By place › Britannia"}}, {"year": 527, "year_label": "527 CE", "section": "Exploration & Expansion", "date": null, "text": "The Kingdom of Essex is founded by the Saxons, who land north of the Thames. They take control of the land between what is now London and St Albans, ceding from the Kingdom of Kent", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1340793725#Britannia", "title": "527", "revid": 1340793725, "section": "Events › By place › Britannia"}}, {"year": 556, "year_label": "556 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "King Chlothar I suppresses a revolt of the Saxons and Thuringi in Saxony (Germany). For some time he exacts a tribute of 500 cows every year.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1364739824#Europe", "title": "556", "revid": 1364739824, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 568, "year_label": "568 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "The Byzantines abandon present-day Lombardy and Tuscany, to establish a frontier march in the hills south of Ravenna (still known as Le Marche). Bavarians, Sarmatians, Saxons and Taifali, join the invasion en route. As they advance, the vacuum left behind them on the Balkan Peninsula is filled by Avars, Bulgars and Slavs.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1364751316#Europe", "title": "568", "revid": 1364751316, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 631, "year_label": "631 CE", "section": "Climate & Environment", "date": null, "text": "The Saxons (Northern Germany) appeal to Dagobert I, against the yearly tribute (500 cows) which they still pay (approximate date).", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1364749921#Europe", "title": "631", "revid": 1364749921, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 665, "year_label": "665 CE", "section": "Religion & Belief", "date": null, "text": "Jaruman, bishop of Mercia, is dispatched with Christian missionaries to reconvert Saxon tribes, which have returned to paganism.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1340805187#Religion", "title": "665", "revid": 1340805187, "section": "Events › By topic › Religion"}}, {"year": 695, "year_label": "695 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "The Saxons defeat the Bructeri between the Lippe and the Ruhr, and occupy Westphalia in Germany (approximate date).", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1340806239#Europe", "title": "695", "revid": 1340806239, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 717, "year_label": "717 CE", "section": "Religion & Belief", "date": null, "text": "Charles Martel consolidates his power, proclaims Clotaire IV king of Austrasia in opposition to Chilperic, and deposes Rigobert, bishop of Reims, replacing him with Milo. He marches against Radbod, king (or duke) of the Frisians, and pushes him back into his territory (later part of the Netherlands). Charles sends the Saxons back over the Weser River, and secures the Rhine border—in the name of Clotaire.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1340808622#Western_Europe", "title": "717", "revid": 1340808622, "section": "Events › By place › Western Europe"}}, {"year": 718, "year_label": "718 CE", "section": "Religion & Belief", "date": null, "text": "The Wessex-born missionary Boniface sets out for Frisia a second time. He travels to Rome, where Pope Gregory II sends him on a mission to convert the Saxons in Lower Saxony (modern-day Germany).", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1367661186#Religion", "title": "718", "revid": 1367661186, "section": "Events › By topic › Religion"}}, {"year": 730, "year_label": "730 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Charles Martel defeats the last independent dukedom of Alamannia, and incorporates it into the Frankish Empire. He also launches raids on the Saxons beyond the Rhine.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1340808684#Europe", "title": "730", "revid": 1340808684, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 738, "year_label": "738 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Charles Martel, Merovingian mayor of the palace, begins a campaign against the Saxons (in modern-day Westphalia) on the northeast frontier. They are subdued and must pay him tribute.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1340809691#Europe", "title": "738", "revid": 1340809691, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 772, "year_label": "772 CE", "section": "Exploration & Expansion", "date": null, "text": "Saxon Wars: King Charlemagne leads a Frankish expedition from the Middle Rhine into disputed territory lost by the Franks in 695. He starts a campaign against the Saxons and seizes Eresburg, destroying the Irminsul (Saxon sacred tree) near Paderborn. Charlemagne devastates several major Saxon strongholds, and forces them to retreat beyond the Weser River. After negotiating with some Saxon nobles and obtaining hostages, he installs a number of garrisons.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1359487792#Europe", "title": "772", "revid": 1359487792, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 773, "year_label": "773 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Saxon Wars: Saxon forces seize upon Charlemagne's preoccupation with Italy to retake Eresburg and Syburg (near Dortmund). They unsuccessfully attack the episcopal centre of Büraburg, which had been established by St. Boniface (see 723).", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1369635460#Europe", "title": "773", "revid": 1369635460, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 775, "year_label": "775 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Saxon Wars: King Charlemagne holds a major assembly at Quierzy (Northern France). He leads a Frankish army into Saxony to retake the castrum of Syburg (near Dortmund), then rebuilds and garrisons fortified Eresburg. He reaches the Weser at a place called Braunsberg, where the Saxons stand for battle, but are defeated when Frankish troops cross the river.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1340848014#Europe", "title": "775", "revid": 1340848014, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 776, "year_label": "776 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Saxon Wars: The Saxons again revolt against Christianity and Frankish rule. Eresburg falls, but a Saxon assault upon the castle of Syburg fails. Charlemagne hurriedly returns from Italy, launching a counter-offensive which defeats the Saxons. Most of their leaders are summoned to the Lippe at the town of Bad Lippspringe (North Rhine-Westphalia), to submit formally to Charlemagne.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1340848048#Europe", "title": "776", "revid": 1340848048, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 777, "year_label": "777 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Saxon Wars: King Charlemagne spends Easter in Nijmegen, and leads a large Frankish army to Paderborn, where a general assembly of Carolingian and Saxon leaders had been summoned. Saxon lands are integrated into the Frankish Kingdom, and divided into missionary parishes. Duke Widukind and his followers flee to King Sigfred of Denmark, seeking refuge and support.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1348716720#Europe", "title": "AD 777", "revid": 1348716720, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 779, "year_label": "779 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Saxon Wars: King Charlemagne assembles a Frankish army at Düren, crosses the Rhine at the modern town of Wesel, and defeats the Saxons in battle near Bocholt (North Rhine-Westphalia). All the main Westphalian leaders are captured, except Widukind. Charlemagne crosses the Weser, Oker and Ohre rivers into Eastphalian territory, where local leaders submit to Frankish rule and hand over hostages. Widukind remains in northern Saxony, and relies on guerrilla warfare.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1340848243#Europe", "title": "779", "revid": 1340848243, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 780, "year_label": "780 CE", "section": "Religion & Belief", "date": null, "text": "Saxon Wars: King Charlemagne decrees the death penalty for any subdued Saxon refusing Christian baptism. Meanwhile Widukind builds up rebel strength in northern Saxony.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1364753540#Europe", "title": "780", "revid": 1364753540, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 782, "year_label": "782 CE", "section": "Exploration & Expansion", "date": null, "text": "Summer – Saxon Wars: King Charlemagne sends a punitive expedition (an elite force of Eastern Frankish troops) under the command of Adalgis the Chamberlain, Gallo, and Worad, supported by Saxon forces, to deal with the Saxons and Sorb raiders in Thuringia.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1267081621#Europe", "title": "782", "revid": 1267081621, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 783, "year_label": "783 CE", "section": "Culture & Society", "date": "October", "text": "October – Charlemagne marries Fastrada, the 18-year-old daughter of a Frankish count named Rudolph, and makes her his queen at Worms. The probable reason behind the marriage is to solidify a Frankish alliance east of the Rhine, against the Saxons in Lower Saxony (modern Germany).", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1351342197#Europe", "title": "783", "revid": 1351342197, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 784, "year_label": "784 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Saxon Wars: King Charlemagne begins a campaign in northern Saxony. He ravages Eastphalian territory as far as the Elbe River, while his son, Charles the Younger, defeats a Saxon force in the Lippe Valley. Bad weather hinders Charlemagne's winter campaign in southern Saxony.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1340848263#Europe", "title": "784", "revid": 1340848263, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 785, "year_label": "785 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Saxon Wars: King Charlemagne summons a major assembly of Saxon and Frankish lords at Paderborn, then leads his army across Saxony as far as the Lower Elbe, without significant resistance. Duke Widukind retreats with his 'rebel' forces beyond the Elbe, but then negotiates and exchanges hostages. Charlemagne returns to his palace at Attigny (Ardennes), followed by Widukind; here the Saxon leaders are baptized as Christians on Christmas Day. Widukind and the Saxon nobility swear fealty to Charlemagne.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1351342449#Europe", "title": "785", "revid": 1351342449, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 789, "year_label": "789 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "King Charlemagne crosses the Elbe River with a Frankish-Saxon army into Obotrite territory. He subdues the Wiltzes, and reaches the Baltic.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1340848283#Europe", "title": "789", "revid": 1340848283, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 791, "year_label": "791 CE", "section": "Health & Medicine", "date": null, "text": "Summer – Charlemagne loses most of his riding and baggage horses during an equine epidemic; many Saxons take advantage of Charlemagne's Avar setback and rebel once more.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1364749143#Europe", "title": "791", "revid": 1364749143, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 792, "year_label": "792 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "The Westphalians rise up against the Saxons, in response to a forcible recruitment for wars against the Avars. However, Pepin, sub-king of Northern Italy and son of King Charlemagne, continues the war, and wins considerable booty from the Avars.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1364906591#Europe", "title": "792", "revid": 1364906591, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 793, "year_label": "793 CE", "section": "Crime & Justice", "date": null, "text": "Frisian–Frankish War: Count Theoderic is sent to Frisia, to muster troops for another offensive against the Avar Khaganate. He is attacked and probably killed by Saxon rebels, near the mouth of the Weser River. The Frisians revolt, and Charlemagne deports Saxon families from north of the river Elbe.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1364906953#Europe", "title": "793", "revid": 1364906953, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 794, "year_label": "794 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "King Charlemagne abandons his channel project (see 793), and attacks the Saxon rebels from the north, supported by a second Frankish army under his son Charles the Younger, which crosses the Rhine at Cologne from the west; threatened from two directions, the Saxons surrender near Paderborn (Westphalia).", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1340848638#Europe", "title": "794", "revid": 1340848638, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 795, "year_label": "795 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Saxon War: The Slav Obodrites, under their ruler Witzan, attack the northern Saxons in Liuni. He is killed in an ambush and succeeded by his son Drożko (Thrasco), who becomes a Carolingian dux. King Charlemagne leads a Frankish expeditionary force north from Mainz, and marches to the Elbe, where eastern Saxon rebels again surrender.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1340848647#Europe", "title": "795", "revid": 1340848647, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 798, "year_label": "798 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Battle of Bornhöved: King Charlemagne forms an alliance with the Obodrites. Together with Prince Drożko (Thrasco), he defeats the Nordalbian Saxons near the village of Bornhöved (modern-day Neumünster), obliging these 'northerners' to submit and give hostages against their future good behavior. In the coming years they are granted areas of present-day Hamburg.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1340848766#Europe", "title": "798", "revid": 1340848766, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 802, "year_label": "802 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Pagan Danes invade Obodrite-ruled Schleswig, to take over territory almost emptied by the forcible deportations of the Saxons by emperor Charlemagne.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1340848783#Europe", "title": "802", "revid": 1340848783, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 851, "year_label": "851 CE", "section": "Deaths", "date": "August 22", "text": "August 22 – Battle of Jengland: Duke Erispoe takes command of the Breton forces after his father Nominoe, king of Brittany, dies. He continues an offensive against the Franks in alliance with Lambert II of Nantes. In Ille-et-Vilaine near Grand-Fougeray (Brittany), Erispoe defeats a Frankish-Saxon army (4,000 men) led by King Charles the Bald.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1267073715#Europe", "title": "851", "revid": 1267073715, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 863, "year_label": "863 CE", "section": "Exploration & Expansion", "date": null, "text": "Danish Vikings loot along the Rhine. They settle on an island near Cologne, but are driven off by the combined forces of Lothair II and the Saxons.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1322668706#Europe", "title": "863", "revid": 1322668706, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 880, "year_label": "880 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "February 2", "text": "February 2 – Battle of Lüneburg Heath: King Louis III is defeated by the Norse Great Heathen Army at Lüneburg Heath. The Saxons are routed in a snowstorm; many drown in the river or are captured during the retreat.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1372561483#Europe", "title": "880", "revid": 1372561483, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 1147, "year_label": "1147 CE", "section": "Exploration & Expansion", "date": "June", "text": "June – The Wendish Crusade: An expedition of Crusaders – composed of Germans, Saxons and Danes – expels the Obotrites from Wagria (Schleswig-Holstein). Two Danish fleets led by King Canute V in alliance with co-ruler Sweyn III, ravage the northern coast. The countryside of Mecklenburg and Pommerania is plundered and depopulated with much bloodshed, especially by German forces under Henry the Lion.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1362163362#Europe", "title": "1147", "revid": 1362163362, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}]}