During the greater part of the first four centuries after the Saxon
conquest Britain was divided into a number of tribal settlements, or
petty kingdoms, held by Jutes, Angles, and Saxons, constantly at war
with each other. In the ninth century, the West Saxons, or
inhabitants of Wessex, succeeded, under the leadership of Egbert, in
practically conquering and uniting the country. Egbert now assumed
the title of Overlord or Supreme Ruler of the English people. In time
Britain came to be known, from the name of its largest tribe, the
Angles, as Angle-Land, or England. Meanwhile the Danes had obtained
possession of a large part of the country on the northeast, but they
eventually united with the English and became one people.