Riders Of Rohan - Anglo Saxons?

[The Might]

The Romans for sure.

There is some doubt about the scale of Germanic peoples' presence in Britain before the abandonment of the island by Rome. It is known, however, that Germanic auxiliary troops had been used for centuries by Rome.
So it is pretty clear that Tolkien meant the Romans in this context.

[Lalwendë]

I'm not sure its the Romans. Tolkien says "occupying lands that once had been part of its domain", which would suggest a culture that had retreated and might suggest Britain after the Romans had left. But he also says "living in contact with", which would not suggest The Romans. Not only had they left by that time, but the Anglo-Saxons pointedly avoided anything which remained of the Romans; they were deeply superstitious of what remained and would simply not contemplate living in the old villas (as the Britons were quite happy to do. Anglo-Saxon culture seemed to wholly deny that the Romans had even existed. So I don't think it was the Romans.

But it could have been the Romano-British. The Saxons took over land that had belonged to these people, pushing them back to the edges - 'lands that had once been its domain' and they lived 'in contact with' them by marrying their women (the Anglo-Saxons forbade British men from marrying during the early days at least).

Originally Posted by Lalwendë

I'm not sure its the Romans. Tolkien says "occupying lands that once had been part of its domain", which would suggest a culture that had retreated and might suggest Britain after the Romans had left. But he also says "living in contact with", which would not suggest The Romans. Not only had they left by that time, but the Anglo-Saxons pointedly avoided anything which remained of the Romans; they were deeply superstitious of what remained and would simply not contemplate living in the old villas (as the Britons were quite happy to do. Anglo-Saxon culture seemed to wholly deny that the Romans had even existed. So I don't think it was the Romans.

But it could have been the Romano-British. The Saxons took over land that had belonged to these people, pushing them back to the edges - 'lands that had once been its domain' and they lived 'in contact with' them by marrying their women (the Anglo-Saxons forbade British men from marrying during the early days at least).

The 'Romans' didn't leave Britain, in fact. The LEGIONS were recalled. Romano-Brits had been declared Roman citizens in 212 by Caracalla (along with all other free men & their households throughout the Empire). So by 410, when Constantine II marched out to try to become Emperor, the civilians running the show were all Romans.
The Angles, Jutes & Saxons have been shown archeologically to have lived side by side with the Britons for a long time (at least a century) with only fitful raiding on both sides. The Britons were busy fighting each other for the High Kingship (or whatever) & trying to reestablish the glory of Empire, while the Germanic tribes were basically farmers.
I am very sure Tolkien stated he wanted to have an idealized form of Anglo-Saxons, complete with horses, etc - I'm probably remembering Shippey but I don't have the book here with me.
BB
Teleri

[MatthewM]

Mucho thanks to you both!

[Wayland]

Some very informed replies there - much for me to ponder. I think someone once told me that Tolkein was a professor of Anglo Saxon, so I guess that got me looking out for hints of it in his work.

[Lalwendë]

Originally Posted by teleriferchnyfain

The 'Romans' didn't leave Britain, in fact. The LEGIONS were recalled. Romano-Brits had been declared Roman citizens in 212 by Caracalla (along with all other free men & their households throughout the Empire). So by 410, when Constantine II marched out to try to become Emperor, the civilians running the show were all Romans.
The Angles, Jutes & Saxons have been shown archeologically to have lived side by side with the Britons for a long time (at least a century) with only fitful raiding on both sides. The Britons were busy fighting each other for the High Kingship (or whatever) & trying to reestablish the glory of Empire, while the Germanic tribes were basically farmers.
I am very sure Tolkien stated he wanted to have an idealized form of Anglo-Saxons, complete with horses, etc - I'm probably remembering Shippey but I don't have the book here with me.
BB
Teleri

They may well have legally been Romans (well, most of them were) but they were still Romano-British. This moniker refers to the fact that the wealthier Britons took on some 'Roman ways' and many actual Romans stationed here took on British wives. It was a distinctive culture. Just calling them Romans denies that - hence modern day cultural monikers such as French-Canadian, African-American - such names identify distinct cultures. It also acknowledges that some were more Romanised than others.

The very first Saxons to come here were farmers, but this didn't last very long at all and they were very sparse in number. After the Jutes were asked to help fight against the Picts they demanded land and were refused it so they turned on the Britons. The Anglo-Saxons were brutal and ruthless fighters - an account (a very polemical account and it attacks everyone seemingly, but is a good source for the reality of Anglo-Saxon behaviour) is given in St Gildas De Excidio Britanniae - On The Ruin Of Britain.

Indeed, the Britons were no angels (though a lot of them ended up as Saints ) but then they were defending their land - it was rather like inviting a guest into your home who then decides he is going to take over, take your wife, kill your children and finally demolish your house and go off to live in the shed. And then write Beowulf.

[Gil-Galad]

short anwser

read Lord of the Rings, read beowulf, note very many silmarilities with characters, then note that Beowulf was an Anglo-Saxon story

so The Rohirrim were taken from Beowulf.