What Was Danegeld?
Danegeld (also spelled Danegeld or Danegeld) was a form of tribute paid by Anglo-Saxon kingdoms in England to Viking invaders during the 9th to 11th centuries. The payments were made to stop Viking raids, buy temporary peace, or secure the withdrawal of Viking armies from English territory. It’s one of the most famous examples of ransom or protection money in medieval European history.
Origins and Meaning
The word “Danegeld” comes from Old English: “Dane” (referring to the Danish Vikings) and “geld” (meaning payment or tribute). While the term specifically refers to payments made to Danes, it was also used more broadly for any payment given to Viking groups, including Norwegian and Swedish raiders.
The practice began in earnest in the late 9th century, as Viking raids intensified along the English coast. Anglo-Saxon kings and local rulers often found it easier and less costly to pay off the Vikings rather than fight prolonged wars.
How It Worked
Danegeld was usually paid in silver, sometimes by weight, and raised through special taxes on local populations.
- Amounts varied depending on the size and demands of the Viking force.
- Payments were sometimes arranged in formal agreements, but often were the result of desperate negotiations after a raid had already begun.
- The money was sometimes used by the Vikings to fund further raids or to establish settlements.
Famous Examples of Danegeld
- 991 AD, Battle of Maldon: After defeating the English, the Vikings received a payment of around 10,000 pounds of silver.
- 994 AD: King Æthelred the Unready paid about 16,000 pounds of silver to a Viking force that included Olaf Tryggvason of Norway and Sweyn Forkbeard of Denmark.
- 1012 AD: After the murder of Archbishop Ælfheah of Canterbury, a payment of 48,000 pounds of silver was made.
- 1016 AD: The final massive Danegeld of about 82,500 pounds of silver was paid when Cnut the Great took control of England.
Impact on England
Danegeld became a huge burden on England’s economy and population:
- It required heavy taxation and led to widespread resentment.
- It weakened royal authority, as rulers were seen as paying off enemies instead of defending the realm.
- It encouraged more Viking raids, as the English reputation for paying large sums made the country an attractive target.
By the time of Cnut the Great, the Vikings no longer needed Danegeld — they ruled England outright.
Legacy
The phrase “paying Danegeld” entered the English language as a warning against trying to buy off an aggressor. Rudyard Kipling famously wrote:
“That if once you have paid him the Danegeld,
You never get rid of the Dane.”
It symbolises the idea that paying off an enemy often leads to greater demands rather than lasting peace.
