DANELAW

danelaw (dayn-law).Hist. 1. A system of rules, introduced by the Danes during their invasions

of England  primarily  in the  ninth  century and  maintained  principally in the  midland and  eastern

counties where the invasions occurred. • Danelaw was the prevailing law in these regions from the

reign  of  King  Edgar  to  Edward  the  Confessor,  who  compiled  a  uniform  law  that  included  some

Danelaw components. 2. The counties in England where the Danish law was enforced primarily in

the ninth and tenth centuries. — Also termed danelage; lex Danorum; denelage. D

“The Danish invasions of  the  ninth century subjected  the eastern  parts of the island to  new

Scandinavian influences. Where the Danes conquered, their ‘Danelaw’ prevailed. The very word

‘law’  is  believed  to  have  been  given  to  the  English  language  by  the  Danes.”  J.H.  Baker,  An

Introduction to English Legal History 3 (3d ed. 1990). [Blacks Law 8th]