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The Danelaw, in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles also known as the Danelagh, (Old English: Dena lagu; Danish: Danelagen), is a name given to a part of Great Britain, now northern and eastern England, in which the laws of the "Danes"^[1] held predominance over those of the Anglo-Saxons. Its origins lie in the Viking expansion of the 9th century. With the increase in population and productivity in Scandinavia, Viking warriors sought treasure and glory in nearby Britain. Its name is also used to describe the set of legal terms and definitions created in the treatises between the English king Alfred the Great and the Norwegian warlord Guthrum, written down following Guthrum's defeat at the Battle of Edington, in 878. Later, in 886, the Treaty of Alfred and Guthrum was formalised, founding the boundaries of their kingdoms, with provisions for peaceful relations between the English and the Vikings. Image File history File links Mergefrom. ... The Danelaw, also known as the Danelagh, was the name given to that part of Great Britain during the 9th and 10th centuries in which the laws of the Danes[1] predominated over those of the Anglo-Saxons. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (693x879, 79 KB)England and Wales at the time of the Treaty of Chippenham (AD 878). ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (693x879, 79 KB)England and Wales at the time of the Treaty of Chippenham (AD 878). ... The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle is a collection of (mainly) secondary source documents narrating the history of the Anglo-Saxons and their settlement in Britain. ... Old English redirects here. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Anglo-Saxon. ... For other uses, see Viking (disambiguation). ... As a means of recording the passage of time the 9th century was the century that lasted from 801 to 900. ... For the 10th century Bishop of Sherborne, see Alfred (bishop). ... Guthrum (died c. ... The Battle of Edington (May 878) was a battle which took place near Edington in the county of Wiltshire in the south-west of England. ... Events The Danes force king Alfred the Great of Wessex to retreat to a fort in Athelney, Somerset. ... Events The Glagolitic alphabet, devised by Cyril and Methodius, missionairies from Constantinople, is adopted in the Bulgarian Empire. ... and then the king did a poo in battle The Treaty of Alfred and Guthrum is an agreement between Alfred of Wessex and Guthrum, the Viking ruler of East Anglia. ...

The Danish laws held their sway with kingdoms in regions known as Northumbria and East Anglia, and the lands of the Five Boroughs, one might say counties, known as Leicester, Nottingham, Derby, Stamford and Lincoln. The prosperity of the Danelaw, especially in York, was to lead to it itself becoming the target of Viking raiders. Conflict with Wessex and Mercia sapped the strength of this Norse culture, and the waning of its military power together with the Viking onslaughts led to its submission to Edward the Elder in return for protection. It was to be part of his Kingdom of England, and the province of Denmark no longer, as the English lay final claim on it. Section from Shepherds map of the British Isles about 802 AD showing the kingdom of Northumbria Northumbria is primarily the name of a petty kingdom of Angles which was formed in Great Britain at the beginning of the 7th century, from two smaller kingdoms of Bernicia and Diera, and... Norfolk and Suffolk, the core area of East Anglia. ... The Five Burghs or more usually The Five Boroughs or The Five Boroughs of the Danelaw were the five main towns of Danish Mercia. ... Originally, a county was the land under the jurisdiction of a count (in Great Britain, an earl, though the original earldoms covered larger areas) by reason of that office. ... Leicester city centre, looking towards the Clock Tower Leicester (pronounced ) is the largest city and unitary authority in the English East Midlands. ... For other uses, see Nottingham (disambiguation). ... Derby (pronounced dar-bee ) is a city in the East Midlands of England. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Lincoln (pronounced //) is a cathedral city and county town of Lincolnshire, England. ... Capital York Religion Norse Paganism Roman Catholicism Government Monarchy History  - Established 876  - Disestablished 954 The Kingdom of Jórvík was a Norse Viking kingdom, covering the area of what is now Yorkshire and further parts of Northern England. ... For other uses, see Viking (disambiguation). ... For the helicopter, see Westland Wessex. ... The Kingdom of Mercia at its greatest extent (7th to 9th centuries) is shown in green, with the original core area (6th century) given a darker tint. ... Edward the Elder (Old English: Ä’adweard se Ieldra) (c. ... Motto Dieu et mon droit(French) God and my right Territory of the Kingdom of England Capital Winchester; London from 11th century Language(s) Old English (de facto, until 1066) Anglo-Norman language (de jure, 1066 - 15th century) English (de facto, gradually replaced French from late 13th century) Government Monarchy...

History

From about AD 800 waves of Danish assaults on the coastlines of the British Isles were gradually followed by a succession of Danish settlers. Danish raiders first began to settle in England starting in 865, when brothers Halfdan Ragnarsson and Ivar the Boneless wintered in East Anglia. They soon moved north and in 867 captured Northumbria and its capital, York, defeating both the recently deposed King Osberht of Northumbria, as well as the usurper Ælle. The Danes then placed an Englishman, Ecgberht, on the throne of Northumbria as a puppet.^[2] Events December 25, Rome, coronation of Charles the Great (Charlemagne) as emperor by Pope Leo III. Celtic monks begin work on the Book of Kells on the Island of Iona. ... This article describes the archipelago in north-western Europe. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... Halfdan was one of the sons of Ragnar Lodbrok. ... Ivar the Boneless (Ivar inn beinlausi) (c. ... Norfolk and Suffolk, the core area of East Anglia. ... Section from Shepherds map of the British Isles about 802 AD showing the kingdom of Northumbria Northumbria is primarily the name of a petty kingdom of Angles which was formed in Great Britain at the beginning of the 7th century, from two smaller kingdoms of Bernicia and Diera, and... York shown within England Coordinates: , Sovereign state Constituent country Region Yorkshire and the Humber Ceremonial county North Yorkshire Admin HQ York City Centre Founded 71 City Status 71 Government  - Type Unitary Authority, City  - Governing body City of York Council  - Leadership: Leader & Executive  - Executive: Liberal Democrat  - MPs: Hugh Bayley (L) John... A silver styca of King Osberht, minted at York. ... Aelle sealing his own fate by murdering Ragnar Lodbrok Aelle II (died 867), king of the Northumbrians, became king about 862 on the deposition of Osbeorht, although he was not of royal birth. ...

In response to this Danish invasion, King Æthelred of Wessex and his brother, Alfred, led their army against the Danes at Nottingham, but the Danes refused to leave their fortifications. King Burgred of Mercia then negotiated peace with Ivar, with the Danes keeping Nottingham in exchange for leaving the rest of Mercia unmolested. Life King Ethelred I (Old English: Æþelræd) (c. ... For the helicopter, see Westland Wessex. ... For the 10th century Bishop of Sherborne, see Alfred (bishop). ... For other uses, see Nottingham (disambiguation). ... Burgred or Burhred or Burghred was the last king of Mercia (852 - 874). ... Ivar the Boneless (Ivar inn beinlausi) (c. ... The Kingdom of Mercia at its greatest extent (7th to 9th centuries) is shown in green, with the original core area (6th century) given a darker tint. ...

The Danes under Ivar the Boneless continued their invasion in 870 by defeating King Edmund at Hoxne and thereby conquering East Anglia^[3]. Once again, the brothers Æthelred and Alfred attempted to stop Ivar by attacking the Danes, this time at Reading. However, this time they were repulsed with heavy losses. The Danes pursued, and on January 7, 871, Æthelred and Alfred defeated the Danes at Ashdown. The Danes retreated to Basing (in Hampshire), where Æthelred attacked and was, in turn, defeated. Ivar was able to follow up this victory with another in March at Meretum (now Marton, Wiltshire). Edmund the Martyr (circa 840 - November 20, 870) was a King of East Anglia. ... Hoxne is a village in the Mid Suffolk district of Suffolk, England, about five miles east of Diss. ... Norfolk and Suffolk, the core area of East Anglia. ... , Reading is a town, unitary authority (the Borough of Reading) and urban area in the English county of Berkshire. ... is the 7th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events Nine battles are fought between the Danes and Wessex. ... The Battle of Ashdown, in Berkshire, took place on the 8th January 871. ... Basing, now known as Old Basing, is situated a few miles NE of the modern town of Basingstoke, Hampshire, England. ... For other uses, see Hampshire (disambiguation). ...

Shortly thereafter, on April 23, 871, King Æthelred died and Alfred succeeded him as King of Wessex. However, his army was weak and he was forced to pay tribute to Ivar in order to make peace with the Danes. During this peace the Danes turned to the north and attacked Mercia, a campaign that would last until 874. The Danish leader, Ivar, and the Mercian leader, Burgred, would die during this campaign, with Ivar being succeeded by Guthrum the Old, who finished the campaign against Mercia. The Danes had in ten years gained control over East Anglia, Northumbria and Mercia, leaving only Wessex to resist.^[4] is the 113th day of the year (114th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events Nine battles are fought between the Danes and Wessex. ... For the 10th century Bishop of Sherborne, see Alfred (bishop). ... Burgred or Burhred or Burghred was the last king of Mercia (852 - 874). ... Guthrum (died c. ... Norfolk and Suffolk, the core area of East Anglia. ... Section from Shepherds map of the British Isles about 802 AD showing the kingdom of Northumbria Northumbria is primarily the name of a petty kingdom of Angles which was formed in Great Britain at the beginning of the 7th century, from two smaller kingdoms of Bernicia and Diera, and... The Kingdom of Mercia at its greatest extent (7th to 9th centuries) is shown in green, with the original core area (6th century) given a darker tint. ... For the helicopter, see Westland Wessex. ...

Guthrum and the Danes brokered peace with Wessex in 876, when they captured the fortresses of Wareham and Exeter the following year. Alfred laid siege to the Danes, who were forced to surrender after reinforcements were lost in a storm. Two years later, Guthrum once again attacked Alfred, this time surprising him by attacking him while he wintered in Chippenham, Wiltshire. King Alfred was saved when the Danish army coming from his rear was miraculously destroyed by inferior forces at Countisbury Hill. Alfred was forced into hiding for a time, returning in the spring of 878 to gather an army and attack Guthrum at Edington. The Danes were defeated and retreated to Chippenham, where King Alfred laid siege and soon forced them to surrender. As a term of the surrender, King Alfred demanded that Guthrum be baptized a Christian, which he did (with King Alfred serving as his godfather).^[5] Guthrum (died c. ... Wareham is a historic market town in the Purbeck district of Dorset, England. ... The city of Exeter is the county town of Devon, in the southwest of England, also known as the West Country. ... For the 10th century Bishop of Sherborne, see Alfred (bishop). ... Statistics Population: 30,000 Ordnance Survey OS grid reference: ST919733 Administration District: North Wiltshire Shire county: Wiltshire Region: South West England Constituent country: England Sovereign state: United Kingdom Other Ceremonial county: Wiltshire Services Police force: Wiltshire Constabulary Fire and rescue: Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service Ambulance: Great Western Post office... The Battle of Edington (May 878) was a battle which took place near Edington in the county of Wiltshire in the south-west of England. ... Statistics Population: 30,000 Ordnance Survey OS grid reference: ST919733 Administration District: North Wiltshire Shire county: Wiltshire Region: South West England Constituent country: England Sovereign state: United Kingdom Other Ceremonial county: Wiltshire Services Police force: Wiltshire Constabulary Fire and rescue: Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service Ambulance: Great Western Post office... This article is about the Christian religious act of Baptism. ... For other uses, see Christian (disambiguation). ... A godparent, in many denominations of Christianity, is someone who sponsors a childs baptism. ...

This peace lasted until 884, when Guthrum once again attacked Wessex. He was defeated, with Guthrum and Alfred agreeing to peace through the aptly named Treaty of Alfred and Guthrum.^[6] The treaty outlined the boundaries of the Danelaw and allowed for Danish self-rule in the region. The Danelaw represented a consolidation of power for Alfred; the subsequent conversion of Guthrum to Christianity underlines the ideological significance of this shift in the balance of power. and then the king did a poo in battle The Treaty of Alfred and Guthrum is an agreement between Alfred of Wessex and Guthrum, the Viking ruler of East Anglia. ...

The reasons for these waves of immigrations are complex and bound to the political situation in Scandinavia at that time; moreover, they occurred at a time when the Viking forces were also establishing their presence in the Hebrides, in Orkney, the Faroe Islands, in Iceland, in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine (see Kievan Rus'). For other uses, see Scandinavia (disambiguation). ... This article is about the Hebrides islands in Scotland. ... Location Geography Area Ranked 16th  - Total 990 km²  - % Water  ? Admin HQ Kirkwall ISO 3166-2 GB-ORK ONS code 00RA Demographics Population Ranked 32nd  - Total (2006) 19,800  - Density 20 / km² Scottish Gaelic  - Total () {{{Scottish council Gaelic Speakers}}} Politics Orkney Islands Council http://www. ... Trydent of Yaroslav I Map of the Kievan Rus′, 11th century Capital Kiev Religion Orthodox Christianity Government Monarchy Historical era Middle Ages  - Established 9th century  - Disestablished 12th century Currency Hryvnia Kievan Rus′ was the early, predominantly East Slavic[1] medieval state of Rurikid dynasty dominated by the city of Kiev...

Scandinavia was never to give up its ambitions on England. From 1016 to 1035 the whole of the English kingdom was ruled by Canute the Great as part of a northern empire which saw Danish sovereignty at its height. In 1066 two rival Vikings led invasions of England. One, under Harald Hardrada, was able to sack York, yet, at the Battle of Stamford Bridge, it was to concede his death and defeat. Another, under one William the Conqueror and his Normans, was victorious over the Anglo-Saxon armies at the Battle of Hastings, and the submission was given by the child Edgar last in the line of Wessex kings at Berkhamsted. Canute II, or Canute the Great, in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles also known as Cnut (Old Norse: Knútr inn ríki, Norwegian: Knut den mektige, Swedish: Knut den store, Danish: Knud den Store) (c. ... Events January 6 - Harold II is crowned September 20 - Battle of Fulford September 25 - Battle of Stamford Bridge September 29 - William of Normandy lands in England at Pevensey. ... Harald III (1015–September 25, 1066) was the king of Norway from 1046 together with the son of Olaf Haraldsson (St. ... Combatants Norwegians, Northumbrian rebels, Scots Anglo-Saxon England Commanders Harald Hardråde† Tostig Godwinson† Harold Godwinson Strength Around 7,500 Around 7,000 Casualties Unknown, around 7,000 Unknown, around 2,000 The Battle of Stamford Bridge in England took place on September 25, 1066, shortly after an invading Norwegian... William I ( 1027 – September 9, 1087), was King of England from 1066 to 1087. ... Norman conquests in red. ... Combatants Normans supported by: Bretons (one third of total), Flemings, French Anglo-Saxons Commanders William of Normandy, Odo of Bayeux Harold Godwinson † Strength 7,000-8,000 7,000-8,000 Casualties Unknown, thought to be around 2,000 killed and wounded Unknown, thought to be around 4,000, but... Edgar Ætheling[1], also known as Edgar the Outlaw, (c. ...

The Danelaw was to appear in legislation as late as the early twelfth century with the Leges Henrici Prime, being referred to as one of the laws together with those of Wessex and Mercia into which England was divided.

Geography

The area occupied by the Danelaw was roughly the area to the north of a line drawn between London and Chester, excluding the portion of Northumbria to the East of the Pennines. This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... , For the larger local government district, see Chester (district). ...

Five fortified towns became particularly important in the Danelaw: Leicester, Lincoln, Nottingham, Stamford and Derby, broadly delineating the area now called the East Midlands. These strongholds became known as the "Five Boroughs". Borough derives from the Old English word burg, meaning a fortified and walled enclosure containing several households — anything from a large stockade to a fortified town. The meaning has since developed further. Leicester city centre, looking towards the Clock Tower Leicester (pronounced ) is the largest city and unitary authority in the English East Midlands. ... Lincoln (pronounced Lin-kun) is a cathedral city and county town of Lincolnshire, England, a bridging point over the River Witham that flows to Boston. ... For other uses, see Nottingham (disambiguation). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article is about the city of Derby in England. ... The East Midlands is one of the regions of England and consists of most of the eastern half of the traditional region of the Midlands. ... The Five Burghs or more usually The Five Boroughs or The Five Boroughs of the Danelaw were the five main towns of Danish Mercia. ... Look up Borough in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Legal concepts of the Danelaw

The Danelaw was an important factor in the establishment of a civilian peace in the neighbouring Anglo-Saxon and Viking communities. It established, for example, equivalences in areas of legal contentiousness, such as the amount of reparation that should be payable in weregild. Look up wergeld in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Many of the legalistic concepts were very compatible; for example the Viking wapentake, the standard for land division in the Danelaw, was effectively interchangeable with the hundred. A wapentake is a term derived from the Old Norse, the rough equivalent of an Anglo-Saxon hundred. ... A hundred is an administrative division, frequently used in Europe and New England, which historically was used to divide a larger region into smaller geographical units. ...

Enduring impact of the Danelaw

The influence of this period of Scandinavian settlement can still be seen in the North of England and the East Midlands, most evidently in place names: name endings such as "by" or "thorp" being particular giveaways. For other uses, see Scandinavia (disambiguation). ... British toponymy (relating to the mainland and islands closely linked to it including the Shetland Islands, the Orkneys, and the Channel Islands) is the study of place names, their origins and the trends associated with naming places in specific regional areas. ...

Old Norse and Old English were still mutually comprehensible to a small degree and the mixed language of the Danelaw caused the incorporation of many Norse words into the English language, including the word law itself, as well as the third person plural pronouns they, them and their. Many Old Norse words still survive in the dialects of Northeastern England. Old Norse or Danish tongue is the Germanic language once spoken by the inhabitants of the Nordic countries (for instance during the Viking Age). ... Old English redirects here. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... For other uses, see Law (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Point of view (literature). ... Look up plural in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... In linguistics and grammar, a pronoun is a pro-form that substitutes for a noun or noun phrase with or without a determiner, such as you and they in English. ...

Four of the five boroughs became county towns — of the counties of Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. However, Stamford failed to gain such status — perhaps because of the nearby autonomous territory of Rutland. A county town is the capital of a county in the United Kingdom or Republic of Ireland. ... Leicestershire ( IPA: (RP), IPA: (locally)), abbreviation Leics. ... For other places with the same name, see Lincolnshire (disambiguation). ... Nottinghamshire (abbreviated Notts) is an English county in the East Midlands, which borders South Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire and Derbyshire. ... Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Oakham Castle Rutland is traditionally Englands smallest county and is bounded on the west and north by Leicestershire, northeast by Lincolnshire, and southeast by Northamptonshire. ...

Genetic heritage

In 2000 the BBC conducted a genetic survey of the British Isles for its program 'Blood of the Vikings' with the conclusion that the Norse invaders settled sporadically throughout the British isles with a particular concentration in certain areas such as Orkney and Shetland. For other uses, see BBC (disambiguation). ... == Julian Richards is a presenter on television and radio, a writer and an archaeologist with over 30 years experience of fieldwork and publication. ... Location Geography Area Ranked 16th  - Total 990 km²  - % Water  ? Admin HQ Kirkwall ISO 3166-2 GB-ORK ONS code 00RA Demographics Population Ranked 32nd  - Total (2006) 19,800  - Density 20 / km² Scottish Gaelic  - Total () {{{Scottish council Gaelic Speakers}}} Politics Orkney Islands Council http://www. ... For other uses, see Shetland (disambiguation). ...

Archaeological sites and the Danelaw

Major archaeological sites that bear testimony to the Danelaw are few, but perhaps the most famous is the site at York, which is often said to derive its name from the Norse, Jorvik, though that name is itself a borrowing of the Old English Eoforwic (the Old English diphthong eo being cognate with the Norse diphthong jo, the Old English intervocalic f typically being pronounced softly as a modern v, and wic being the Old English version of the Norse vik), which in turn was derived from a preexisting name for the town, spelled Eboracum in Latin sources. Other sites include the cremation site at Ingoldsby. York shown within England Coordinates: , Sovereign state Constituent country Region Yorkshire and the Humber Ceremonial county North Yorkshire Admin HQ York City Centre Founded 71 City Status 71 Government  - Type Unitary Authority, City  - Governing body City of York Council  - Leadership: Leader & Executive  - Executive: Liberal Democrat  - MPs: Hugh Bayley (L) John... Old Norse is the Germanic language spoken by the inhabitants of Scandinavia and their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300. ... Jorvik was the Viking name for the English city of York and the kingdom centered there. ... This article is about the English city. ...

When considering the Danelaw as agreed in the treaty with Alfred the Great, in general, archaeological sites do not bear out the historically defined area as being a real demographic or trade boundary. This could be due to misallocation of the items and features on which this judgement is based as being indicative of either Anglo-Saxon or Norse presence. Otherwise, it could indicate that there was considerable population movement between the areas, or simply that after the treaty was made, it was ignored by one or both sides. For the 10th century Bishop of Sherborne, see Alfred (bishop). ...

References

1. ^ "The Old English word Dene ‘Danes’ usually refers to Scandinavians of any kind; most of the invaders were indeed Danish (East Norse speakers), but there were Norwegians (West Norse [speakers]) among them as well." —Lass, Roger, Old English: A Historical Linguistic Companion, p.187, n.12. Cambridge University Press, 1994.
2. ^ Flores Historiarum: Rogeri de Wendover, Chronica sive flores historiarum, p. 298-9. ed. H. Coxe, Rolls Series, 84 (4 vols, 1841-42)
3. ^ Haywood, John. The Penguin Historical Atlas of the Vikings, p.62. Penguin Books. ©1995.
4. ^ Carr, Michael. Alfred the Great Strikes Back, p. 65. Military History Journal. June 2001.
5. ^ Hadley, D. M. The Northern Danelaw: Its Social Structure, c. 800-1100. p. 310. Leicester University Press. ©2000.
6. ^ The Kalender of Abbot Samson of Bury St. Edmunds, ed. R.H.C. Davis, Camden 3rd ser., 84 (1954), xlv-xlvi.

Old English redirects here. ... For other uses, see Scandinavia (disambiguation). ... Old Norse or Danish tongue is the Germanic language once spoken by the inhabitants of the Nordic countries (for instance during the Viking Age). ... Old Norse or Danish tongue is the Germanic language once spoken by the inhabitants of the Nordic countries (for instance during the Viking Age). ... The Rolls Series, official title The Chronicles and Memorials of Great Britain and Ireland during the Middle Ages, is a major collection of Britich and Irish historical materials and primary sources, published in the second half of the nineteenth century. ...

In literature

• Types of Manorial Structure in the Northern Danelaw, Frank M. Stenton, London, 1910

Sir Frank Merry Stenton (1880–September 15, 1967) was a noted 20th century historian of Anglo-Saxon England. ... Year 1910 (MCMX) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Friday [1] of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ...

External links

• [1] News Item: BBC Blood of the Vikings
• [2] BBC Viking History Links

See also

• List of generic forms in British place names
• UK topics
• Danelaw (Timeline)