Though the first modern parliament can be traced back to the Curia Regis in 13th century England, the origins of parliament go back to the sixth century when England was ruled by Anglo Saxon tribes. In each of the Anglo Saxon kingdoms, an assembly called the Witenagemot existed. It was composed of important churchmen, earls, and other members of the nobility.
The Witenagemot had considerable powers. The advices of the group were usually sought by the king in matters of laws, taxes, foreign negotiations, and national defense. The word Witenagemot is a combination of two old English words, ‘Witen’ which means wise men, and ‘gemot’ which means meeting- so the Witenagemot was considered to be a meeting of wise men.