Do the English see themselves as Anglo-Saxons?

[Albion]

I think the English tend to identify as Anglo-Saxons.

In France they see themselves as the Gauls, Sweden the Vikings, etc...

Although England has received Viking settlements as well as a small Norman elite and might have assimilated some Celts, I think most of us see ourselves as descending from Anglo-Saxons.

Do you think this is about right or are there many English who identify as something else?

[The Alchemist]

From what i know, i would say yes, for sure

[Óttar]

In France they see themselves as the Gauls, Sweden the Vikings, etc...

They might have their catchy black lung cigarettes (Gauloises, now owned by a Spanish company), but does a "Gaulish" identity really stand up to historical scrutiny? Swedes? Vikings? Then why are they still in Sweden?



Sometimes terminology is not always correct, like the usage of the erroneous term "Anglo-Saxon" in the US, "Hispanic" in "Latin" America.

One might even criticise "British" as an ethnic term, instead of say, geographical or political. Just because the monarch doesn't respect his German roots (Saxe-Coburg Gotha), doesn't all of a sudden make Britons descendants of King Arthur, however much they'd like to be "Celts" while dressed up in medieval French clothing in the 19th century.

[Albion]

Swedes? Vikings? Then why are they still in Sweden?

I said something like that to a Dane on SF before when they were claiming no Vikings went to England, lol, big mistake, epic flame war.

[Wulfhere]

Yes, obviously they do. But few, unfortunately, have the historical literacy draw a distinction between Angles and Saxons, even though that distinction is, in fact, very pronounced in English society. The Saxons are southerners.

[SaxonCeorl]

No, I don't think being Anglo-Saxon is part of most Englishmen's consciousness; they just see themselves as "English".

[Logan]

Difficult question for one having grown up around Bodmin in Cornwall. My family there with no doubt. I'll go with my fellow countrymen and the lady.

[Balmung]

Swedes? Vikings? Then why are they still in Sweden?

Well, i'll have you know one is in America getting his raping & pillaging on regularly. Doesn't Skarsgard live here now too? Ok,make that two vikings raping and pillaging all across America.

Look for us in the rape & pillage statistics 2011.

[Óttar]

Well, i'll have you know one is in America getting his raping & pillaging on regularly. Doesn't Skarsgard live here now too? Ok,make that two vikings raping and pillaging all across America.

Look for us in the rape & pillage statistics 2011.

Maybe this VI1king should join you two and make a contribution.

[supergiovane]

I'm not sure how many full blooded english people are still around, they all seem to be mixed with other british or irish.