The Historiography of the Late Anglo-Saxon State (original) (raw)

This essay has two aims: firstly, to examine how historians' opinions on the late Anglo-Saxon state have developed, and to critically assess relevant literature; secondly, to examine and assess how historians have conceived of the phenomena which some have labelled the state, and if the word state is appropriate for (early) medieval political structures. The essay takes a chronological approach, beginning with the view that the Anglo-Saxons were degenerates and proceeding from there through the reassessments of the twentieth century, culminating with the maximum view of James Campbell and its subsequent critiques and refinements. The paper also examines how Anglo-Saxonists, and medieval historians more generally, have conceived of the medieval state; it examines debates between proponents and critics of the term state. Though they, to an extent, problematised the term state, these debates ultimately proved fruitful. This essay demonstrates how drastically opinions on the late Anglo-Saxon state have changed since the nineteenth century. It also argues that, whilst it is not possible to resolve the debate over the state, and the term is in some respects problematic, it is an acceptable term for historians to use; provided they define their terminology and elucidate how they perceive of medieval political organisation.