The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle

A chronicle is a record of events in the order of when they took place. Annals (Latin annālis, yearly from annus, a year) are a concise form of historical representation which record events chronologically, year by year. In contrast to the chronicle, annals do not organize events by topics, such as the reigns of kings.

The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle is a collection of annals in Old English chronicling the history of the Anglo-Saxons. The annals were initially created late in the 9th century, probably in Wessex, during the reign of Alfred the Great. In the period of Alfred the Chronicle allowed to keep a record of everything happened in his kingdom. Indeed when feudalism was introduced governors lost most of their lands, given to vassals. The vassals managed large estate, becoming more powerful than governors. So the Chronicle had the purpose to control also the royal lands and all the kingdom.