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The Earliest English Kings
The Earliest English Kings is a fascinating survey of Anglo-Saxon History from the sixth century to the eighth century and the death of King Alfred. It explains and explores the 'Heptarchy' or the seven kingdoms of Anglo-Saxon England, as well as the various peoples within them, wars, religion, King Offa and the coming of the Vikings. With maps and family trees, this book reveals the complex, distant and tumultuous events of Anglo-Saxon politics.
274 pages, Paperback
First published December 31, 1990
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 11, 2020
While this book was quite interesting, Kirby wrote the book not with a general audience in mind as there are a tsunami of names to keep track of and many of which are written much the same with only slight deviations so it is easy to get lost. Only would suggest this to those who are genuinely very curious and are ready to get lost on the way. Will likely go back to this book again in the future when I have a stronger foundation of knowledge on the topic in the future. For now I did learn a fair amount but certainly don't think it was as rewarding as it might have been if I had a stronger background on the topic.
February 12, 2020
There's a lot of interesting stuff in this book and Kirby makes some fascinating points. He enjoys a good dating discrepancy in the sources. Whether it be a question about when Edwin married Aethelburh or when a papal letter was sent, he likes to devote a lot of space to it. Kirby fully goes into the various dating problems with the length of reigns, particularly when it comes to the early West Saxon Kings. However, whilst I think this is an important issue, it would probably be better addressed as footnotes, or in an introduction and then taken as read, because the continual referencing of it with almost every king/event drives a horse and cart through his prose. It only really becomes an easier read once he gets beyond that and into more securely dated events.
I enjoyed his thinking behind the nomenclature of kingdoms. Kirby suggests that the East/Middle/South and West Saxons make sense if seen from Canterbury and that the naming came about with the creation of more bishoprics, which required distinguishing from each other. I'm not totally convinced by this and think that the Synod of Hertford is a more logical time and place, because that works better geographically. Similarly his idea of Offa possibly building a South Anglian confederation is intriguing even if not totally persuasive.
This book is worth a read, even if it's hard not be overwhelmed by a sea of names and dates during the chapters on the 7th century.
Three things you'll take away from this:
1, Kirby makes a very good argument for a Kentish revival under Ecgberht, king of Kent, showing that Offa's imperium was like many others, heavier at some times and not so at others,
2, the power of kings and kingdoms was in a constant state of flux and nothing can be assumed,
3, that some of the fighting was over areas smaller than the size of a district council
I enjoyed his thinking behind the nomenclature of kingdoms. Kirby suggests that the East/Middle/South and West Saxons make sense if seen from Canterbury and that the naming came about with the creation of more bishoprics, which required distinguishing from each other. I'm not totally convinced by this and think that the Synod of Hertford is a more logical time and place, because that works better geographically. Similarly his idea of Offa possibly building a South Anglian confederation is intriguing even if not totally persuasive.
This book is worth a read, even if it's hard not be overwhelmed by a sea of names and dates during the chapters on the 7th century.
Three things you'll take away from this:
1, Kirby makes a very good argument for a Kentish revival under Ecgberht, king of Kent, showing that Offa's imperium was like many others, heavier at some times and not so at others,
2, the power of kings and kingdoms was in a constant state of flux and nothing can be assumed,
3, that some of the fighting was over areas smaller than the size of a district council
September 29, 2019
Virtually unreadable. Essentially a list of unpronounceable names. If I could give it fewer stars, I would.
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October 8, 2025Read chapters on Wessex, Ælfred, and Danish conquest.
May 1, 2014
A very thorough, dense, not-for-the-general-public work. However, it does give a lot of information for the period after the Romans left England to the reign of Alfred the Great and the coming of the Vikings. It breaks down each of the kingdoms and covers the political movements within them and also between them. The A/S period has often been neatly divided into a heptarchy but Kirby shows that the borders of the kingdoms were constantly changing. Reading about this period before taking on this work is recommended. It is a period where not much is known but what is known can be quite confusing. Definitely not a time when nothing was going on!
July 31, 2013
Dr D. P. Kirby has taken over from Sir Frank Stenton as the authority on 'Dark Age' history.
May 25, 2014
Plenty of historical information, but found it difficult to get through because it was very dry.
May 23, 2015
A touch on the dry textbook-ish side; however, informative and well-researched.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews