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The Saxons weren't Vikings. They were Germans. The Angles and Jutes came from what is now Denmark but would still be better classified as Germanic rather than Norse.

The Danelaw was not extablished by the Saxons who invaded Briton with the Angles and Jutes in the 6th Century but by the Danes -- real Vikings -- who invaded in the 9th Century.

(A caveat on some of these dates. I'm doing this solely from memory.)

I know the Vikings (Ivar the Boneless, Ubbi, Halfdan) took York, Northumbria, Deira and East Anglia in the late 860s in retaliation for the death of Ragnar. In the 870s, Halfdan warred on the Picts, took Mercia and Guthrum took East Anglia.

The Norweignas had been in Wessex as early as 786. They stayed in Ireland and Northwest England.

Alfred's treaty recognizing the Danelaw was in 870, but it was not until 1013 that Svein, the king of Denmark became king of England. He was followed by his son Canute the Great. Canute was the first on record to establish hunting preserves or "forest" an area.

I admit that what I know of this is sort of peripheral. I was researching the roots of American property rights and getting information through implication and interpretation of sagas and stuff.

Am really interested in learning more from ya'll. Fascinating...

>The Saxons weren't Vikings. They were Germans. The Angles and Jutes came from what is now Denmark but would still be better classified as Germanic rather than Norse.

The definition of "German" is a fluid one, depending on time. The original Celtic tribe called "The Germani" is the source of the name of the approximate territory which is currently called Germany. But that Celtic tribe was driven out to the West and North by later invading Slavic tribes. Unlike most of its neighbors to the north, west, and SW, Germany today is not primarily Celtic in origin.

>...would still be better classified as Germanic rather than Norse.

Scandinavian languages are classified as "Germanic" in origin, as are others. Roman History makes many references to "barbarian Germanic Tribes". These were simply large Celtic tribes which occupied the territory, and who were related to the many other large Celtic tribes throughout Europe.

Historians typically make far too much of the differences between European peoples, ignoring their common roots. It's like concentrating on the trees while ignoring the forest. Trees are easier to study. {ggg}.