Danegeld

Danegeld
The tribute paid in silver by Ethelred II of England to buy peace from the invading Danes. It was raised by a tax levied on land. The first payment (991) was 10,000 pounds in weight of silver (1 pound equals 0.54 kg); later payments were greater – 16,000 pounds (994), 24,000 pounds ( 1002 ), 36,000 pounds ( 1007 ), and a massive 158,000 pounds ( 1012 ). Later ( 1012 – 51 ) it was levied to maintain a navy and the royal bodyguard (housecarls), when it was known as ‘heregeld’; when raised by the Norman kings the levy was used for general as well as military purposes.