Oxford was first occupied in Saxon times, and was initially known as “Oxenaforda”. It began with the foundations of St Frideswide’s nunnery in the 8th century, and was first mentioned in written records in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle for the year 912. In the 10th century Oxford became an important military frontier town between the kingdoms of Mercia and Wessex and was on several occasions raided by Danes. St Frideswide is the patron saint of both the city and university.
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