THE SCENE: The early history of the Saxon people is so rife with betrayals that even Widukind of Covney, himself a Saxon, traces the origin of the word Saxon back to a famous act of dishonor.
THE TEXT: [The Thuringians] sent envoys to demand that unarmed representatives be chosen to treat once again of peace at an appointed place on a set day. The Saxons agreed to accede to these demands. However, the Saxons of those days carried large knives, such as the Angles still use today, following the custom of their ancestors. Armed with these knives underneath their cloaks they left their camp and met the Thuringians at the appointed place. When they saw that their enemies were unarmed, and that all the Thuringians chiefs were present, thinking that the time was ripe for them to obtain control of the whole region, they drew their knives and rushed upon the unarmed and unsuspecting enemy and slew them also that not a single man escaped. The Saxons then began to get a name for themselves and to inspire great terror among the neighboring peoples.
Some allege that their name was given to the Saxons by reason of this outrage. For in our language small knives are called “sah”. And from this the people were called Saxons, because they slew so many with their knives.
– The Deeds of the Saxons, Widukind of Corvey, 10th Century AD
