The success of the first band of sea robbers in Britain (S36)
stimulated other bands to invade the island (477-541). They
slaughtered multitudes of Britons and made slaves of many more. The
conquerors named the parts of the country which they settled, from
themselves. Each independent settlement was hostile to every other.
Thus Sussex was the home of the South Saxons, Wessex of the West
Saxons, Essex of the East Saxons. (See map opposite.) Finally, a
band of Angles came from a little corner, south of the peninsula of
Denmark, which still bears the name of Angeln. They took possession
of all of eastern Britain not already appropriated. Eventually, they
came to control the greater part of the land, and from them, all the
other tribes, when fused together, got the name of Angles or English
(S50). (See map opposite.)