Warlordism in Britain

Warlordism in Britain, circa AD 400–circa 700 examines a turbulent period following the collapse of Roman rule. As central authority disappeared, power shifted to local warlords who controlled territory through military strength, loyalty, and kinship. These leaders ruled small kingdoms, defended land, and competed for resources, shaping early medieval Britain. Warfare, alliances, and migration defined the era, alongside the arrival of Anglo-Saxon groups and the survival of Romano-British traditions. Fortified settlements, weapon burials, and place names provide archaeological evidence of this fragmented world. Warlordism laid the foundations for later kingdoms in England, Wales, and Scotland, influencing political structures, identity, and patterns of rule in early medieval society.