The Danelaw was a region of England that was predominantly under Danish (Viking) rule during the late 9th and 10th centuries. The term “Danelaw” comes from the Old English words “Dena lagu,” which means “Danish law.”
The Danelaw covered much of the eastern and northern parts of England, including modern-day Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, and parts of Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire, and Bedfordshire. The boundary between the Danelaw and the rest of England was known as the “Danelaw boundary” and ran roughly from London to Chester.
The Danelaw was established after the Viking invasion and conquest of England in the late 9th century. The Danish settlers established their own system of government and law, which was based on their own customs and traditions. This included a different system of land tenure, taxation, and legal procedures.
Despite the differences in law and customs, the Danelaw was not entirely separate from the rest of England. There were still interactions and occasional conflicts between the Danes and the Anglo-Saxons who lived in the surrounding regions.
The Danelaw came to an end in the 10th century, when the Danish king, Sweyn Forkbeard, conquered England and established a unified kingdom. However, some aspects of Danish law and culture continued to influence English law and society for many years to come.