Basingas facts for kids

The Basingas were an ancient Anglo-Saxon tribe. They lived in the Loddon Valley area of what is now Hampshire, England. Their land was like a special region within the early Kingdom of Wessex. The tribe got its name from their leader, Basa. You can still see their name in places like Old Basing and Basingstoke today! We know about them mostly because of these place names.

Where They Came From

Long before the Basingas, there was a town near where Basingstoke is now. It was close to an ancient fort called Winklebury. This was even before the Romans came to Britain. When the Romans arrived, this town was near Calleva Atrebatum. It was also located between two important Roman roads. These roads led to other Roman towns like Venta Belgarum and Noviomagus Reginorum. Most people living there at that time were from the Atrebates tribe.

Their Story

The Basingas tribe settled in the eastern parts of Basingstoke. This happened around the early 500s. Over time, they started to take charge of the town. They became part of the Kingdom of Wessex quite early on. This is why they are not listed as a separate tribe in old records like the Tribal Hidage.

The Battle of Basing

The Basingas' land, called Basengum, is mentioned in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. This old book tells us about a big battle that happened there. In 871 AD, the Basingas' territory was the site of a fight against Danish Vikings.

The village of Old Basing was first settled around the year 700. It was settled by this same Anglo-Saxon tribe, the Basingas. That's how the village got its name, which means "Basa's people." Old Basing was also where the Battle of Basing took place on January 22, 871. In this battle, a Danish army defeated Ethelred of Wessex, who was the King of Wessex. Old Basing is also mentioned in the Domesday Book from 1086.

Even after the Anglo-Saxon period, the Basingas' area remained important. Basingstoke continued to be a key administrative center. It managed a group of hundreds (smaller land divisions) within Hampshire throughout the Middle Ages.