History

 After the Danes occupied England in the 9th century, the body of law that prevailed was called Danelaw. The Danelaw had was in effect in the following regions:

1) Northumbria (around and including Lincoln, Nottingham, Derby, Leicester, and Stamford)
2) East Anglia
3) The southeast Midlands.

Another term associated with Danelaw is carcurate. This is a measurement of land equal to a hide.

In Britain, after the Romans left and the Anglo-Saxons invaded, coins stopped being used as money (from about 61 AD - 261 AD). The bottom line was due to the collapse of the Roman Empire coinage that ceased to be minted. However, the Viking invasions stimulated the need for coinage. Danegeld (a tribute paid to the Danes) was created by the British to buy off the Viking Invaders.


For further information on Danelaw and the Danegeld see the following websites:

The Viking Network: England and The Danelaw
http://viking.no/e/england/danelaw/ekart-danelaw.htm
The website listed above provides a map of England showing the area occupied by the Danes. The map shows where settlement or parish place-names, which are of Scandinavian language origin, are mainly found.

Sovereignty and Money: Past, Present and Future
http://www.gold-eagle.com/editorials/sovereignty.html
The website listed above provides more information about coinage.


(NOTE:  This is an answer to a question that I wrote for the America Online Knowledge Database.)
Prepared by AACMsSwan, AAC Staff
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