[TW: racism] Thread: In 1849, a London periodical called The Anglo-Saxon appeared with the stated goal of popularizing the term "Anglo-Saxon"as a racial & linguistic term tied to the early Middle Ages and intended to justify colonization as the race's right. 1/11 #MedievalTwitter

The periodical's idea of a transhistorical "Anglo-Saxon" race of colonizers can be summarized in these two "Anglo-Saxon chieftains" depicted in the first issue: one medieval, standing in England, and one modern, standing in a colonized space in the global south. 2/11

They stated that they wanted to make the term "Anglo-Saxon" into a "Family Name" for all of the UK's current and former colonies, uniting them not under the banner of nationalism but that of "Pride of Race." 3/11

The destiny of the "Anglo-Saxon race," they argued, was colonization. The Anglo-Saxon was "pre-eminently the colonist of the world," the editors proclaimed. 4/11

With every issue, the periodical reported on the enthusiasm for this new term among its readers and described the term as a flag designed for white people around the world to rally around and to promote "Family Feeling of the Race." 5/11

They tied the term to the early medieval English. The journal published long articles on the customs of the medieval "Anglo-Saxons" and its motto ("Non angli sed Angeli") was taken from Pope Gregory's fabled meeting with enslaved English boys (also depicted on the cover). 6/11

The journal printed scholarship from medievalists of the day such as John Kemble that they felt spoke to their concerns and showed how--as they imagined--the roots of the modern "Anglo-Saxon institutions" appeared first in early medieval England. 7/11

They also drew upon race scientists of the day to justify their claims, including the notorious Robert Knox, whose book "The Races of Man" was quoted heavily within the journal's pages to justify their glowing image of the "Anglo-Saxon race." 8/11

The periodical was not long-lived, but it is quoted in other publications of the time. The periodical tried hard to get United States readers interested in adopting the term, including a larger open letter titled A Word to the Yankees, which produced many US responses. 9/11

It also organized (with medievalists) a Jubilee celebrating King Alfred, which led to the production of much Alfred scholarship, including a complete translation of his works. Medieval studies and popular racial Anglo-Saxonism fed into each other in these pages. 10/11

This is part of the legacy of the term "Anglo-Saxon" in British & American white supremacy, but it also shows how intertwined medievalisms & medieval studies were with white supremacy throughout the 19th century on beyond. This is the legacy we need to deal with today. 11/11