OCR Specification focus:
‘Definitions, origins (links with raids); growth; organisation; response from Anglo-Saxons (relationships between inhabitants and colonists).’
The causes and motives behind the Danelaw are rooted in the interplay of Viking expansion, Anglo-Saxon resilience, and the emergence of a distinctive northern English society under Scandinavian influence.
Definitions and Origins
What is the Danelaw?
Danelaw: The area of England under Viking control from the late ninth century, distinguished by its laws, customs, and Scandinavian cultural influence.
The Danelaw originated from Viking raids in the late eighth and ninth centuries. These raids escalated into more permanent forms of settlement after the arrival of the Great Heathen Army in the 860s. Unlike earlier hit-and-run attacks, this force aimed at conquest and territorial domination.
The origins of the Danelaw are therefore deeply linked with the transition from raiding to settlement, as Scandinavian groups shifted from seeking plunder to seeking land and stable communities.
Motives for Viking Expansion
Economic Motives
Viking interest in establishing the Danelaw was significantly driven by economic motives:
Access to fertile land in eastern and northern England for farming.
Control over trade routes across the North Sea and into inland England.
Desire to exploit wealth from towns and monasteries, shifting from pillage to taxation and long-term gain.
This economic motive explains why the Danelaw developed strong urban centres, such as York (Jórvík), which flourished as hubs of commerce and craftwork.
Political Motives
Viking leaders sought not only wealth but political authority:
Establishing kingdoms in England reinforced their power at home in Scandinavia.
Control of territory demonstrated status and legitimacy among rival Viking leaders.
The Danelaw provided a power base from which leaders could engage in both warfare and diplomacy with Anglo-Saxon rulers.
Social Motives
Viking settlement also met social needs:
Population pressures and limited arable land in Scandinavia encouraged outward migration.
Opportunities in England attracted not only warriors but also farmers, craftsmen, and families.
Establishing new communities gave Viking settlers greater independence from traditional Scandinavian hierarchies.
Growth of the Danelaw
The Danelaw expanded as Viking armies consolidated control over eastern and northern England. Its growth was marked by:
The capture and fortification of urban centres such as York, Leicester, and Nottingham.
A labelled map of the Five Boroughs—Derby, Leicester, Lincoln, Nottingham, and Stamford—showing the fortified towns that formed a strategic backbone of Viking authority in the Midlands. Source
The introduction of Scandinavian systems of law and landholding, which coexisted alongside or replaced Anglo-Saxon traditions.
The integration of coinage and markets into Viking settlement strategies, ensuring long-term prosperity.
A silver St Peter “Sword” penny from the Viking kingdom of York, minted between 921–927. It combines Christian imagery with symbols of Scandinavian power, showing the integration of economic and political authority in the Danelaw. Source
Organisation of the Danelaw
Thing: A Viking assembly or court where free men gathered to make decisions and resolve disputes, central to Scandinavian governance.
The Danelaw was organised around Scandinavian principles:
Law codes and assemblies governed disputes, blending Norse customs with Anglo-Saxon traditions.
Land was divided into wapentakes, Viking administrative units comparable to Anglo-Saxon hundreds.
Leadership was often shared among multiple rulers, reflecting Viking traditions of consensus and alliance.
The Danelaw’s organisation emphasised local governance and practical law, with an emphasis on custom rather than centralised royal control.
Anglo-Saxon Responses
Resistance and Negotiation
The Anglo-Saxons, particularly under Alfred the Great and later kings, responded to the rise of the Danelaw through a mix of resistance and negotiation.
Military campaigns sought to reclaim land, particularly in Wessex and Mercia.
The Treaty of Wedmore (878) between Alfred and Guthrum formalised divisions of land, acknowledging the Danelaw while securing Wessex independence.
A map of England c.878 showing the Danelaw and Alfred’s Wessex after the Treaty of Wedmore. It situates the territorial division that underpinned later Scandinavian settlement. Source
Coexistence and Cultural Exchange
Over time, Anglo-Saxons and Viking settlers developed complex relationships:
Intermarriage and cultural exchange blurred distinctions between colonists and natives.
Place names, language, and law codes reflected a fusion of Scandinavian and Anglo-Saxon traditions.
Christianity spread among the Vikings, aided by contact with Anglo-Saxon religious institutions.
Long-term Impact
The Anglo-Saxon response ensured that the Danelaw remained distinct yet interconnected with the rest of England. This duality shaped the political, social, and economic landscape of the kingdom until its gradual reconquest in the tenth century.
Key Motives Summarised
The causes and motives for the Danelaw can be summarised as follows:
Definitions and Origins: Rooted in Viking raids and settlement following the Great Heathen Army.
Growth: Expansion through conquest, trade, and administration.
Organisation: Structured around Scandinavian governance and law.
Anglo-Saxon Responses: Military opposition, treaties, and eventual cultural integration.
The Danelaw stands as a testament to the interplay of Viking ambition and Anglo-Saxon resilience, producing a hybrid society with enduring influence on English history.
FAQ
The fertile river valleys of eastern and northern England, particularly around the Humber and Trent, provided rich agricultural land attractive to settlers.
Access to navigable rivers allowed Viking ships to penetrate far inland, supporting both raiding and trading. Coastal proximity also ensured continued links with Scandinavia, strengthening the case for long-term settlement.
Short-term plunder proved unsustainable once monasteries and towns were repeatedly attacked.
Permanent settlement provided:
Stability for families accompanying warriors.
Greater wealth from farming and trade than single raids.
A stronger political base in England to rival Anglo-Saxon kingship.
The treaty not only marked borders but also provided political legitimacy for Guthrum and other Viking leaders.
It enabled:
Recognition of Viking authority within agreed areas.
A framework for coexistence with Wessex.
Space for Norse customs and law to flourish without constant conflict.
Viking law codes emphasised community assemblies (Things) and collective decision-making.
By contrast, Anglo-Saxon codes often relied more heavily on royal authority.
Key differences included:
Greater focus on compensation payments rather than corporal punishment.
Local consensus in legal disputes rather than centralised judgement.
Many Anglo-Saxon communities adjusted by absorbing Scandinavian customs, particularly in language and local governance.
Place names with endings like -by or -thorpe reveal settlement blending.
Over time, intermarriage blurred cultural distinctions, while the adoption of Norse practices in farming and trade increased prosperity for mixed communities.
Practice Questions
Question 1 (2 marks)
Identify two economic motives that encouraged Viking settlement in the Danelaw.
Mark scheme:
1 mark for each correct motive, up to a maximum of 2 marks.
Correct answers include:
Access to fertile land for farming (1 mark).
Control of profitable trade routes (1 mark).
Opportunities to exploit wealth from towns and monasteries (1 mark).
Long-term gain through taxation rather than raiding (1 mark).
Question 2 (5 marks)
Explain how Anglo-Saxon responses influenced the development of the Danelaw.
Mark scheme:
Up to 5 marks available.
1–2 marks: General description with little specific detail (e.g. "The Anglo-Saxons fought the Vikings").
3–4 marks: Clear explanation with some supporting examples (e.g. reference to Alfred the Great’s campaigns or the Treaty of Wedmore).
5 marks: Detailed explanation showing understanding of how specific responses shaped the Danelaw (e.g. Alfred’s military resistance, treaties formalising divisions of land, coexistence leading to cultural exchange such as intermarriage, language adoption, and Christianity).
