The publishing of Anglo-Saxon England (ASE) is a source of pride for Cambridge University Press. The recent fiftieth anniversary of the journal provided a compelling moment to celebrate all that it has achieved, and assess its position within a field that has continued to flourish, grow and evolve.

Guided by feedback from a broad range of the journal’s readers and authors, we took a decision to build upon ASE’s legacy by relaunching it in 2024 with a refreshed and expanded scope, an enlarged international editorial team, a format that allows for more frequent and timely publication, with all research fully open to the public instead of behind a subscription paywall, and a more transparent editorial process for authors.

To reflect these changes we have updated the title. It is not uncommon for journal titles to change in order to highlight a relaunch, reflect developments in scope, or mirror the terminology used by the people who read and write for them. We have two other examples within the Cambridge University Press portfolio this year alone. The new title, Early Medieval England and its Neighbours (EMEN), aims to express a scope that incorporates, but extends beyond, “Anglo-Saxon England”.

To address misunderstandings we have received, EMEN has not banned the term “Anglo-Saxon” and does not discourage its use. Both the journal and Cambridge University Press, continue to welcome the use of “Anglo-Saxon” wherever and whenever an author considers it the most useful descriptive term to use within the context of their research.

“Anglo-Saxon” is an established and often valuable short-hand for a set of people groups who populated the region we now call England during the period, but it is not the only one; does not describe the full breadth of the island’s people, politics and influence during the 5th-11th centuries; and is not used consistently by all scholars.

It is our aim that EMEN will be a vibrant, accessible and impactful home for contemporary research in the field. New articles published in EMEN will be available online from October 2024.

Explore the journal: https://cup.org/3WBzRLV