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*[[Essex]], covering another part of south-east England

*[[Essex]], covering another part of south-east England

The last three were a lot smaller than the others and survive today as [[county|counties]], but the others are much larger and cover many counties. There were also other small kingdoms that were absorbed by the larger ones.

The last three were much smaller than the others and survive today as [[county|counties]], but the others are much larger and cover many counties. There were also other small kingdoms that were absorbed by the larger ones.

The history of this period is one of almost constant conflict between the seven kingdoms, with each of them vying for dominance over the others. All of them except Essex experienced periods of dominance, but the most successful was Mercia, which was dominant from the mid 7th to the mid 9th centuries AD.

The history of this period is one of almost constant conflict between the seven kingdoms, with each of them vying for dominance over the others. All of them except Essex experienced periods of dominance, but the most successful was Mercia, which was dominant from the mid 7th to the mid 9th centuries AD.

It was also a period that began with the English still a [[pagan]] race, and saw the gradual introduction of [[Christianity]] to the various kingdoms at different times. By the end of the period the English were all officially Christian, though paganism survived in remote areas for centuries afterwards. The first [[Archbishop of Canterbury]] was a [[Roman Catholic]] [[monk]] named [[Augustine]] who arrived in England in 597 AD.

It was also a period that began with the English still a [[pagan]] race, and saw the gradual introduction of [[Christianity]] to the various kingdoms at different times. By the end of the period the English were all officially Christian, though paganism survived in remote areas for centuries afterwards. The first [[Archbishop of Canterbury]] was a Roman Catholic monk named [[Augustine]] who arrived in England in 597 AD.

The period of the Heptarchy begins with the collapse of central authority in England after the legendary time of [[King Arthur]] in the 6th century when [[Briton]]s and [[Anglo-Saxon]]s were fighting for possession of the land and also against invaders from [[Ireland]] and [[Scotland]]. It ends in the 9th century when the country faced another wave of invaders, the [[Vikings]], who were still pagans. In the face of this new threat the English put aside their differences and united under [[King]] [[Alfred the Great]] of [[Wessex]], the first true historical king of England.

The period of the Heptarchy begins with the collapse of central authority in England after the legendary time of [[King Arthur]] in the 6th century when [[Briton]]s and [[Anglo-Saxon]]s were fighting for possession of the land and also against invaders from [[Ireland]] and [[Scotland]]. It ends in the 9th century when the country faced another wave of invaders, the [[Vikings]], who were still pagans. In the face of this new threat the English put aside their differences and united under [[King]] [[Alfred the Great]] of [[Wessex]], the first true historical king of England.

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[[Category: United Kingdom History]]

[[Category:British History]]