The Anglo-Saxons have made Britain their home for the last 300 years.

In that time, they've formed great kingdoms,

and developed a culture that was entirely their own.

They began to become the English.

It was a golden age for Anglo-Saxon society, but there were problems.

The increase in wealth and prosperity brought their own challenges.

It brought inequality and deep poverty for most.

For the burgeoning nobility, it brought greed and envy.

Virtually every English kingdom that acquired any degree of power

eventually found itself entangled in diagnostic intrigue and ruthless bloodfutes.

Kings, Aethlings, and nobles of all ranks were cut down by their rivals.

Sometimes, even by members of their own family.

As the wealth increased, so did the chaos.

Entire generations of nobles were wiped out on the whim of a single man.

How could anything unify the bella coasts and fractured English kingdoms?

Their newfound wealth was turning out to be a double-edged sword.

They couldn't have known it, but the riches that were flowing in Europe

were causing something far to the north to stir.

Once content to live on small farms and occasionally raid each other,

the isolated societies of the northern wilderness were beginning to organize into kingdoms of their own.

Merchant vessels were being sent out.

Trading stations were being established,

...