Jutes

Around 1,500 years ago, Britain was going through major changes. The Roman Empire had left, taking their soldiers and government with them. What was left behind was a land full of abandoned cities, falling roads, and people unsure of what would happen next. In this time of uncertainty, a group from northern Europe known as the Jutes began to make their mark on England’s future.

The Jutes came from the Jutland Peninsula, an area that is part of modern-day Denmark. They lived near the North Sea, which acted like a huge highway for travel and trade. Around 200 AD, new tribes such as the Danes started pushing into Jutish lands. Some Jutes moved west to the Frisia region, and eventually, others sailed across the sea to Britain, looking for a new place to live.

The story of the Jutes in Britain begins in 449 AD. Two Jutish brothers, Hengist and Horsa, were invited by a British leader named Vortigern to help defend against northern enemies like the Picts. They landed at a place called Ebbsfleet, fought successfully, and earned a strong reputation. Their success inspired other Jutes—as well as Saxons and Angles—to come to Britain too.

Once in Britain, the Jutes didn’t act like conquerors. They settled peacefully in regions like Kent, the Isle of Wight, and parts of Hampshire. Instead of forcing people out, they often lived alongside them, using old Roman buildings and roads, and trading with locals. Archaeologists have found tools, jewelry, and pottery that show a mix of Jutish and Roman styles, proving how the two cultures blended. Kent became the center of Jutish settlement. They built a strong community there, especially in Canterbury, a city that had once belonged to the Romans. The Jutes introduced their own way of dividing land, known as "gavelkind," where each son received an equal share of the family property. This system was unique for the time and stayed in place in Kent until the early 1900s.

As time passed, other powerful kingdoms wanted control over Jutish lands. In 676 AD, King Æthelred of Mercia attacked Kent and damaged many churches. A few years later, King Cædwalla of Wessex invaded the Isle of Wight and parts of Hampshire, trying to remove the Jutes and replace them with his own people. Despite these attacks, the Jutes weren’t wiped out. Some moved inland while others blended in with the new rulers. Even when they lost power, their traditions and ways of life continued.

Around 580 AD, Bertha, a Christian princess from France, came to marry King Æthelberht of Kent. She brought a bishop with her and helped restore a Roman church in Canterbury. Because of her, the people of Kent began learning about Christianity. In 597 AD, Pope Gregory sent Augustine to Britain to spread the Christian religion. Thanks to Bertha’s earlier influence, King Æthelberht welcomed Augustine. Many people in southern England, including the Jutes, converted to Christianity. Churches and religious buildings soon became a regular part of life.

Historians are still unsure where exactly the Jutes came from. Some think they were related to the Geats from Sweden, the tribe mentioned in the story of Beowulf. Others believe they were more like the Frisians from what is now the Netherlands. It’s possible they were related to both groups, or that names just changed over time. In early history, group identities weren’t always clear or consistent.

Even though the Jutes are no longer around as a separate group, their impact remains. Some place names in areas like the Meon Valley hint at their presence. Their building styles, burial practices, and farming methods may still be seen in parts of southern England.

When you visit cities like Canterbury or drive through the countryside of Hampshire or the Isle of Wight, you’re traveling through places shaped in part by the Jutes. They may not be as well-known as the Romans, Vikings, or Normans, but they were important in early English society. The Jutes were more than just settlers—they were builders of a new future.