SAXONS is the name of a branch of the German nation. Their name is derived by some from that of the Sates on the Indus, by others from sex, a weapon, probably of the nature of a stone axe, and by others it is traced to the work sasses, that is settled,' in contra distinction from those German tribes who led a sort of nomadic life. The earliest writers who mention the Saxons describo them as neighbours of the Danes, south of the Cimbrian Chersonesus. (' Geograph. Ravennas; iv. 17.) Ptolemieus also speaks of the islands of the Saxons. which were probably the modern islands of Eiderstedt, Nordatrand. Wicking Harde, and Biking Harde. Orosius (vii. 32) says that they inhabited a marshy country which was almost inacces sible to strangers. Towards the south-west they seem at first not to have extended beyond the Elbe. Tacitus, though he speaks of the Angli and Varini, who must have been close neighbours to the Saxons, does not mention them.
The similarity of their language to that Of the Persians and ancient Indians affords reason for believing that the Saxons were of eastern origin; but how and when they came to occupy the north-western extremity of Germany, are questions which history cannot answer. Thus much only is certain, that at first they occupied a great part of the country between the Elbe and the Cimbrian Chersonesus; but when, during the migration of the barbarians, the neighbouring tribes changed their countries and migrated towards the south, the Saxons likewise began to extend in the same direction, and at last we find them occupying the country between the Elbe, the Rhine, the Lippe, and the German Ocean. This extensive tract of land is called by Anglo-Saxon writers Old Saxony, to distinguish it from New Saxony, of England.
In the 3rd century the Saxons often landed on the coasts of England and France, and ravaged the maritime districts; but about the middle of the 5th century (449) a largo body of Saxons and Angles established permanent settlements in this island. The Angles, however, seem to have prevailed in numbers or influence, for it was they that gave the name to their new country, Angel-land, Anglia (England), though it was sometimes called Saxonia Transmarina. The name Anglo Saxona, which comprises both Angles and Saxons [ANGLES and ENGLAND, in 0t00. Div.] was invented by later historians for the sake of convenience. The history of the Saxons, who settled in
England, and here, together with the Angles, became the origin of a new population, henceforth forms part of the history of England.
Those Saxons who remained in Germany conquered, about 530, conjointly with the Franks, the northern part of Thuringia as far as the little river Unstrut, but soon after gave up the eastern part of their conquest to a Slavonic tribe. The southernmost of the Saxons, about 550, became tributary to the Franks, to whom they paid an annual tribute of 500 cows. In proportion as the Saxons advanced towards the interior of Germany, and became better acquainted with the advantages of agriculture and the breeding of cattle, they gradually abandoned their former piratical mode of living, but remained never theless a spirited and warlike people.
Towards the close of the 7th century we find the Saxons divided into three great tribes, namely, the Oatfali ou the western side of the Elbe, the Weatfali In the country between the Rhine, Lippe, and Ems, and the Engeri in the centre, between the two former tribes, that is, on both banks of the Weser. Their hostile feeling towards the Franks was kindled into a war Charles 31artel, who conquered some Saxon districts on the northern banks of the Lippe, and made their inhabitants tributary. This, however, was only a prelude to the greet and bloody wars which, with several interruptions, were carried on by Charlemagne from 772 till 803. During these wars many thousand Saxons fell in battle, and thousands were put to death because they refused to adopt Christianity. But they held out to the last, even after their chief Wittekind had submitted and becomo a Christian. The treaty of Selz on the Saalo (803) at last terminated the war : the Saxons agreed to become Christians, and were put on a footing of equality with the Franks. Henceforth their history forms a part of that of the Carlovingian empire. To diffuse a knowledge of Christianity among them, and to establish the new religion more firmly, Charlemagne founded seven bishoprics, and from the places he appointed as tho seats for these new ecclesiastical dignities, we may see the extent of country which they then occupied. The seats of the bishops were Orsualsrtick, Vcrden, Bremen, Paderborn, Minden, Hilda heim, and Munster.