The departure of the Romans from Britain was a gradual process, but 410 AD is a commonly quoted date for the end of Roman influence over the island. Over the course of the fifth century, various Germanic tribes migrated to England. Angles, Saxons, and Jutes came over in successive and overlapping waves. Steadily, the British population was defeated and pushed back by the invaders, although what exactly happened is unclear. This is probably the least documented periods of English history.

Kingdoms formed, such as Kent, Wessex, Mercia and Northumbria. Although many different tribes and groups made up this new population, there nevertheless seems to have been some sense of common feeling among them. Bretwaldas were acknowledged as the foremost king in Britain, though only a nominal title without real power.

Then in 793, a Viking raid on the monastery at Lindisfarne signalled the beginning of many decades of Scandinavian raids and attacks. At first these raids were quick and short-lived. As times went on, whole armies came to Britain and stayed months on campaign. The English kingdom of Wessex survived where others, like Mercia, did not. After much struggle, Alfred eventually forced the leader of the Norsemen to agree a peace treaty. Two lands then existed side-by-side, Wessex and the Danelaw.

The kings of Wessex steadily won back land over the following decades, until eventually the kingdom of Wessex became the Kingdom of England. Then the Vikings returned, and harried England once more. A Scandinavian king, Cnut, even gained the crown for himself. But it was an English king, Harold who was the last Anglo-Saxon king of England. After defeated a Norse army in the North, he was defeated by William of Normandy at Hastings. Anglo-Saxon England was no more.