Danegeld

Danegeld , medieval land tax originally raised to buy off raiding Danes and later used for military expenditures. In England the tribute was first levied in 868, then in 871 by Alfred , and occasionally thereafter. Under Æthelred (965?-1016) it became a regular tax, and was collected by later rulers until the 12th cent., when it was converted into tallage .

Danegeld The term is often wrongly applied to tribute payments made to the Vikings in the reign of Æthelred II (978–1016); these payments are known as gafol in the Anglo‐Saxon Chronicle. In 1012 Æthelred introduced an annual land tax to pay for a Scandinavian force led by Thorkell the Tall which he had recruited to fight for him. The levy was continued by Cnut and his sons to pay for their own forces. It was this tax which Norman administrative documents called ‘Danegeld’.