In 878, King Alfred the Great of Wessex achieved a decisive victory over the Vikings at the Battle of Edington. The Viking leader, Guthrum, was forced to accept a peace treaty with Alfred, which is known as the Treaty of Wedmore. This agreement effectively divided England into two parts: the southern and western territories, which remained under Anglo-Saxon control, and the eastern and northern territories, which came under Viking rule. The Treaty of Wedmore marked the formal establishment of the Danelaw.

Under the terms of the treaty, Guthrum and his followers were allowed to settle in the Danelaw, which encompassed a large portion of northern and eastern England, including modern-day Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, East Anglia, and parts of the Midlands. In return, Guthrum and his army converted to Christianity, marking a key moment in the integration of Viking settlers into Anglo-Saxon society. Over time, Viking rule in these regions became more permanent, and the Danelaw began to develop its own distinct legal and cultural identity.

The Geography and Administration of the Danelaw

The Danelaw was not a unified kingdom or centralized state, but rather a collection of Viking-controlled territories and settlements. These areas were governed by Viking chieftains, who adhered to Norse legal customs. The region was often in conflict with the remaining Anglo-Saxon territories, and at times, it was difficult to determine the exact borders of the Danelaw. However, historians generally agree that the Danelaw included the following key regions:

• Northumbria: The Viking kingdom of York was the capital of Northumbria, and the region was a stronghold of Viking power.
   
• East Anglia: The eastern counties, including Norfolk, Suffolk, and Cambridgeshire, were settled by Danes and became an important part of the Danelaw.
   
• Mercia: Parts of central England, including the area around Leicester and Nottingham, were also under Viking control.
   
• Lincolnshire and the Midlands: These regions were heavily influenced by Viking settlement and culture.
   

The governance of the Danelaw was based on Viking legal customs, which were distinct from the Anglo-Saxon system. The Vikings established a system of "Thing" assemblies, where local chieftains and free men would gather to settle disputes and make decisions. This decentralized system of government allowed for a degree of local autonomy, but also led to frequent conflicts between different Viking factions and with neighboring Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. shutdown123