Danes (ancient people)

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The Danes were an ancient North germanic tribe residing in modern day southern Sweden and on the Danish islands. They are not mentioned by Tacitus in the Germania. They are mentioned in the 6th century in Jordanes' Getica, by Procopius, and by Gregory of Tours.

In his description of Scandza, Jordanes says that the Dani were of the same stock as the Suetidi (Swedes, Suithiod?) and expelled the Heruli and took their lands.

According to the 12th-century author Svend Aagesen, the mythical king Dan gave name to the Danes.

Danes in England

Danes assaulted the British Isles beginning about AD 800 and were gradually followed by a succession of Danish settlers. The Danes began settling England in 865 when brothers Halfdan Ragnarsson and Ivar the Boneless wintered in East Anglia. Halfdan and Ivan moved north and captured Northumbria in 867 as well as York.

Danes (ancient people)

Danes in England

Footnotes

See also