ANGLO-SAXON, the name given kr modern historians to the Angles, Jutes aat Saxons who migrated to Britain from in the 5th and 6th centuries A.D. They emi grated from the districts about the mouths A the Elbe and Weser, and the first body of then. who gained a footing in England are said IC have landed in 449, and to have been lead b Hengist and Horsa. The Jutes settled chiefly in Kent, the Saxons in the southern and middle country, and the Angles in the northern Among the various Anglo-Saxon states that afterward arose those founded by the Angles first gained the preponderance, and gave to the whole country the name of Engla-land, that is the land of the Angles.
Among the Anglo-Saxons we find the Eng lish constitution already existing in all its essen tials, but its origin is not to be attributed to Alfred, though he brought it to a greater pitch of completeness. In a rudimentary form it was the common property of the Germanic peoples before the emigration of the Saxons and Angles from the Continent. It developed itself more independently, however, among the Anglo Saxons than among those Teutonic races who came into closer connection with the and afterward with the Roman hierarchy. The Anglo-Saxon community was frequently spoken of as consisting of the eorls and the ceorfs, or the nobles and common freemen. The former were the men of property and position, and were themselves divided into different ranks: the latter were the small landholders, handi craftsmen, etc., who generally placed them selves under the protection of some nobleman. who was hence termed their htaford or lord Besides these there was the class of the serfs or slaves (theowas), who might be either born slaves or freemen who had forfeited their lib erty by their crimes, or whom poverty or the fortune of war had brought into this position. They served as agricultural laborers on their masters' estates, and though mere chattels, as absolutely the property of their master as his cattle, their lot does not appear to have been very uncomfortable. They were frequently manumitted by the will of their master at his death, and were also allowed to accumulate sav ings of their own, so as to be able to purchase their freedom or that of their children.
One of the peculiar features of Anglo-Saxon society was the wergyld, or life-price, estab lished for the settling of feuds. tA sum, paid either in kind or in money where money existed, was placed upon the life of every freeman ac cordi to his rank in the state, his birth, or Lis . 4ce. A corresponding sum was settled mar every wound that could be inflicted upon Lis person; for nearly every injury that could i-e done to his civil rights, his honor, or his domestic peace; and further fines were ap pointed according to the peculiar adventitious circumstances that might appear to aggravate or extenuate the offense. From the operation of this principle no one was exempt, and the king as well as the peasant was protected by a wergyld, payable to his kinsmen and his people" (Kemble, 'Saxons in England' ).
The king (cyning, cyng) was at the head of the state; he was the highest of the nobles and the chief magistrate. He was not looked upon as ruling by any divine right, but by the will of the people, represented by the witan, or Great Council of the nation. Accordingly we find that the new king was not always the direct and nearest heir of the late king, but one of the royal family whose abilities and character recommended him for the office. The king was invested with certain honors and privileges in order that he might maintain his position with becoming dignity. Besides his wergyld as an wtheling or person of royal blood, his life was further guarded by a sum of equal amount, called cynebdt, or price of royalty, and the former sum was to be paid to his relations, the latter to the people. As king he held pos session of the Crown lands, which were national property, distinct from any private estates he might himself purchase. Among other privi leges he was entitled to a portion of the fines and confiscations laid upon offenders; he had the right of maintaining a standing army of household troops, the duty of calling together the Council of the Witan, and of laying before them measures which concerned the welfare of the state, with certain distinctions .of dress, dwelling, etc., all his privileges being possessed and exercised by the advice and consent of the witena-genft, or- Parliament.