Widukind of Corvey’s Account of the Saxon Invasion, the Law of Hospitality and the Oral Transmission of Knowledge of the Past

What is it about?

The article revises some standard views about tenth-century historiographer Widukind of Corvey's description of Saxon origins, usually accepted as an in essence reliable account. The article produces evidence showing that Widukind used, among others, tenth-century elements of the law of hospitality in his explanation of alleged Saxon origins.

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Why is it important?

The article seeks to revise standard accounts of Saxon origins by producing evidence that a group of recognisable "Saxon" collective identity was not on record before the eighth century.