from those of Wales. (Just after the period being discussed, the Battle of Chester in 611 might have separated the latter from those of the north of England.) Until the 570s, Britons were still in control of about half of England and Wales. Kingdoms Various British kingdoms existed at some point in the period. Some changed their names and some were absorbed by others. Not all of their names, especially in the southeast, are known, nor are the details of their political development; some authority structures left from the Roman period may have continued in charge of some areas for some time. At times some of the kingdoms were united by a ruler who was an overlord, while wars occurred between others. During the period the boundaries are likely to have changed. The major ones were: Bryneich – Northumberland; eventually taken by the Angles of Bernicia Dumnonia – south west England, Cornwall and much of Devon Lindinis – Somerset, Bristol, and parts of Devon, north Dorset, and western Wiltshire. Dyfed – south west Wales Ergyng – south west Herefordshire, northern Monmouthshire and the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire Gwent, Brycheiniog and Glywysing – south Wales Powys – mid Wales Gwynedd – north Wales Elmet – south west Yorkshire Rheged – Cumbria and Lancashire Ebrauc – around York and northern Yorkshire Strathclyde – ( – ) in south west Scotland, Cumberland, Westmorland Gododdin – centred on Traprain Law in Lothian Some areas fell under the domination of Anglian or Saxon chieftains, later kingdoms: Bernicia – the Anglian kingdom of Bernicia before joining with Deira to become Northumbria Deira – the Anglian kingdom of Deira before joining with Bernicia to become Northumbria (East Yorkshire) East Anglia – including Suffolk and Norfolk Kent Hwicce – most of Gloucestershire except the Forest of Dean and western Oxfordshire. Sussex - including the settlement of Haestingas, containing people of possibly Jutish origin. Essex – including Middlesex and Surrey Wessex – formed from areas in the upper Thames valley and later incorporating an area of Jutish settlement in the Meon Valley and around Southampton (including Isle of Wight) Mercia – centred on Repton Middle Anglia – east Midlands, later joined with Mercia Northumbria – formed from Bernicia and Deira Wihtwara Religion Officially the Roman Empire was Christian at the start of the 5th century, but there is evidence of rural pagan temples being refurbished at the start of