Anglo-Saxon Normandy

What if the Anglo Saxons have had a prominent role in establishing Duchies on the French coast instead of Normans , which are closely connected to the Saxon rule in Britannia ? Somehow the Norman expansion in Europe is halted early ( Normans might also fail in Italy) and the Anglosaxons are the real players. Also the Danish and Norwegian kingdoms and "Viking" raiders have had a more tough time with the Saxons. Thus no William of Normandy, no Hastings. Also the French Anglo-Saxons are Allies against Scandinanvian foes of Saxon rule ala Harald Haralda.
 
How and why ? These are the questions you need to answer if you want to make some good stuff.

The fact is that then never did OTL.

The normans did it there because they went up rivers and here was the Seine river. I don't think angles and saxons especially used to go up rivers. And they still did not control all Britain so still had "work" to do there.
 
The Anglo-Saxons?
I could see the Angles and Saxons taking control over northern Gaul in the 5th century but I am not sure if the Anglo-Saxons based in Britain could succeed with the same task. It seems that the constant conflicts on the island would have them pretty busy.
 
I'm not sure I understand the premise/question. Are you suggesting that Normandy never was, but rather an AS presence precluded Rollo? If so, the Normans don't 'probably' fail in Italy, the issue never even arises. Or do you mean the AS expands to Normandy before it becomes too expansive, ie the inverse of the actuality? There are issues to overcome with that...mainly that if/when the AS we're going to expand there were many more viable/integral avenues than Normandy and a king would be hard pressed to sell such a venture while leaving the Welsh/Scottish borders unresolved, but this can be overcome with narrative/personality.
 
Well, the region was called the "Saxon Coast" in OTL, probably because there was substantial Saxon settlements on both sides of it in late Antiquity. I don't think its unreasonable to have an Anglo-Saxon kingdom emerge there at the time at the same time the kingdoms in Britain are emerging. However, the biggest issue will be allowing them to maintain their identity when the Franks sweep into the area. Not impossible, since the Bretons were able to do it, but difficult all the same.
 
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