They research and reenact the period of British history known as "Anglo-Saxon England",
which begins during the late Imperial Roman colonial era of the 5th century and continues up to the 11th century and the battle of Hastings,
when this land became "Norman England".
This time period, around 600 years, saw great changes in the political landscape of the British Isles,
in the culture, customs and in the traditions and lifestyles of the Anglo-Saxon people themselves.
During this time, England as a nation was born, the English language went through it's formative stages,
along with the first structured English alphabet, and the concept of the constitutional monarchy was born.
England still had a way to go before it resembled what we would recognise as our nation today,
however the Anglo-Saxon period was instrumental in its formation, and that is why we have chosen this time period for their reenactment society.
The word "SÆXIA" essentially means the combined historical Anglo-Saxon territories that were ruled by the Saxons, as opposed to the Angles, Frisians, or Jutes. The present day regions of Wessex, Sussex, Middlesex, and Essex all began as the relevant Saxon territories:
the lands of the West Saxons, the "Mid" region of Saxon dominance, the Southerly Saxon lands, and the realm of the East Saxons.
During the times of the development of the first "English" language, and into more modern times too, names and terminology often borrow from old Latin.
It is from the Latin linguistic influence that we have the modern word "area", which when applied geographically means an expanse or designated space, such as a "live firing area" on an army range, a "wooded area" on a map, or a telephone "area code" for a designated residential/commercial "area".
This is used today in the names of some of the worlds nations albeit with the slight variation of using "ia" instead of "ea": examples are "Bulgaria", the historic homelands of the Bulgar people, and so being the "area of the Bulgars = Bulgar - ia". Romania is the traditional home of the Romany people, although some scholars claim this name goes right back to it actually being a Roman province settled by colonists and veterans of the old Roman Empire. Russia is reputed to be so named for the Rus, norse traders from present day Sweden who settled in that region and formed a nation. And also in history well known nations were referred to by slightly different names more dependent on the Latin language for meaning: France was referred to historically in the early medieval era as "Frankia", the "area belonging to the Franks", a Germanic people who took over the former Roman territorial province of Gaul.
But how does this apply to the Saxons?
The Saxon people have their origins in the region still called Saxony in north Germany today.
Although there is no unanimous agreement amongst scholars, a plausible reason for their name was that they carried and used the very distinctive "Seax" or "Long knife", which could be a tool or weapon as there were many different shapes and sizes developed.
To understand the Saxons, a big part of any study cannot avoid exploring the Seax, and it's totally unique place in early medieval history.
SÆXIA is managed and run by a core leadership team made up of three founding members, and who collectively have prior experience in the world of historical reenactment, performance combat for stage & screen, modern military field training in bushcraft and the outdoors, and martial arts.
In Anglo-Saxon society all important affairs were dealt with by the Witan, essentially an early form of Parliament, who were of such influence that even the succession of the monarchy was subject to their decisions. The SÆXIA Witan at this time comprises of the formative members:
Ældorman Wulfhelm
(Joey Ram)
(Joey Ram)
Ældorman Wulfhelm oversees one of the smaller regions of West Sæxia, the Isle of Purbeck. This region begins at the fortress Burh of Wareham, crossing the Frome eastward across the old Roman causeway, and includes such diverse locations as Swanwic, the "Long town" (Langton Matravers), Studlund, the Purbeck Ridgeway, and southward towards Tyneham and Lulworth Cove. He resides in a Hall at the settlement of Kingston, from which he oversees the innovative construction of the new stone Royal Hall at Corfe Passage.
Thegn Ædwulf
(Ads Watson)
Thegn Ædwulf, a young and already experienced warrrior from the trading, fishing and market town of Swanwic. His favourite pursuits, when not on campaign with the West Sæxian army, are hunting and the sampling of mead and ale brewed on his lands...
Thegn Hærward
(Henry Eakins)
Thegn Hærward has his fine Sæxian Hall on the opposite banks of the river Frome, at the settlement known as Sto-Burh, or "the holy-Burh". He assists the Reeve of the fortress market town of Wareham, and his Hall guards the route inland to inner Purbeck, via Corfe Passage. Thegn Hærward is an educated warrior, and when not on military duties can be found assisting in the learning and education of the common folk of Purbeck, and assisting with administrative duties in Wareham, as he is also a trained scribe. A favourite at the court and Witan of King Ælfred, Hærward shares a love of hunting. Whenever duties permit, he can often be found with Thegn Ædwulf, using his skills with the bow to bring down some tasty venision for a banquet in his Mead Hall...
