Viking Migrations and the Danelaw

Viking Migration Causes

• Vikings knew of England's wealth through monastery raids, such as Lindisfarne in 793.
• Towns in England actively traded with Europe
• Taking control of these prosperous towns was a motivator
• The land in eastern England's fertile land attracted Viking settlement
• England was politically fractured, divided into seven kingdoms (the heptarchy), which often fought each other, thus simplifying Viking invasions.

Viking Invasions and the Danelaw

• The Viking Great Army arrived in East Anglia in 865 and captured York in 866.
• By 878, Vikings controlled East Anglia, Mercia, and Northumbria.
• Wessex resisted Viking attempts of conquest, resulting in The Battle of Edington took place in May 878 ending in defeat for the Vikings.
• A treaty resulted, where Wessex remained independent, however the remaining land controlled by The Vikings became known as the Danelaw.
• Hostilities resumed in 937 between Saxons and Danes, with the Danes being driven out between 959-975, although, they would later return.
• King Ethelred's attempt to stop invasions through payments (Danegeld) was unsuccessful.
• There were peaceful Danes in English towns, concerning Ethelred.
• Ethelred ordered a massacre of all Danes in England on St. Brice's Day, November 13, 1002.
• The Danes defeated the Saxons in 1016, resulting in Cnut becoming the Danish ruler of England.
• Cnut placed Saxons in positions of power, like Edward the Confessor.

Impact of Viking Migration: Political

• Kingdoms united in the North and East under the Danelaw with different laws than the Anglo-Saxons.
• York became the capital of the Danelaw.
• Less conflict by eliminating three rival kingdoms.
• A new, generally less strict legal system was introduced.
• Peasant farmers can choose who to work for.

Impact of Viking Migration: Religious

• There was toleration of Christianity.
• Some Danes worshipped the Christian god alongside their own, like Thor.

Impact of Viking Migration: Economical

• Significant change occurred, predominantly after the 866 conquest of York.
• York became a major trading center, facilitated by ships on the River Ouse.
• York became an international trade hub.
• York's population was approximately 30,000 by 1000.
• Vikings utilized established trade networks, importing items like walrus ivory, amber, German wine, and Arabian spices.
• A multicultural cityscape emerged, attracting merchants from Germany and modern-day Holland.
• Skilled craftworkers arose in York, such as comb makers, makers of jewelry, and blacksmiths.
• Coins were minted in York.

Impact of Viking Migration: Social and Cultural

• The Danelaw area was heavily influenced linguistically.
• Old Norse was spoken.
• Modern English shares structural similarities to Old Norse.
• Several words in modern English such as husband, bread, egg, cake, smile, and "thorpe" are of Viking origin.
• "Wednesday" is named after the Norse god Woden, and "Thursday" after Thor.

Norman Migration: Political

• Landholding changed, under the Anglo-Saxons (Edward the Confessor succeeded Cnut in 1016) England was divided into Earldoms owned by an Earl.
• William claimed all the land upon succession, granting its use, but not ownership, to his supporters.
• William introduced the Feudal system, where nobles had to show loyalty, give money and provide soldiers to the king for the use of land.
• By 1086 only 5% of land remained in Anglo-Saxon hands.
• William, a religious man, ordered the construction of churches and monasteries, which resulted in the growth of the Christian Church.
• The church operated hierarchically, headed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, overseeing all other bishops and priests.
• New laws such as Murdrum (fines for the death of a Norman by an Anglo-Saxon) and Forestry Laws (severe punishments for poaching) were introduced.

Norman Migration: Economic

• The Domesday Book (1086) recorded landholding and its worth, including mills, ploughs and livestock.
• It allowed William to accurately assess taxes.
• Craft guilds, controlling who could conduct business, were introduced.
• Towns like Southampton and Bristol became prominent trading hubs.
• Wool became the primary export.

Norman Migration: Cultural

• French became a very important language leading to English words and phrases such as Country/land, In Love/Amorous
• French origin influenced names like Richard, William, and John.
• The surname "Fitz" means "son of."

Norman Migration: Social/Built Environment

• Castles were built throughout England by Normans to control the Anglo-Saxons.
• Villages were destroyed during the Harrying of the North in 1069-70 to ensure control in Northern England, where whole villages were burned, crops ruined, and thousands killed.

Jewish Migration to England: Reasons

• William needed capital to build stone castles to secure his reign which was very expensive.
• England was a Catholic country, where lending with interest was forbidden to Christians by the Pope.
• Judaism allowed this practice.
• William knew of wealthy Jews in Normandy, inviting them to England while also offering legal protection as "wards of the monarch," which, as a group, was often discriminated against.

Jewish Experience in England

• Jews initially thrived due to their need for capital
• They settled in London and expanded beyond the city.
• Licoricia of Winchester had a son, Benedict, who was the only Jewish member of a craft guild, became a citizen, and could own property.
• Over 200 years they faced increasing persecution.
• People resented paying interest and Jews refusing to integrate due to different customs, dress, and language/literacy.
• This was exacerbated by the Crusades with anti-Muslim discrimination
• Royal protection decreased under Henry III, with taxes being higher creating more tension.
• Pogroms occurred in 1190 and 1244 due to blood libel accusations.
• A similar event occurred in 1255, where Jews were arrested and executed.
• Synagogues were destroyed, causing great financial loss.
• In 1253, Henry passed the Statute of Jewry which forced Jews to wear badges for identification.
• He ordered the arrest of 90 Jews for alleged involvement in the ritual murder of a boy in Lincoln.
• Taxes for Jews were increased in comparison to the general population
• In 1265, about 500 Jews were killed in London due to rumors spreading throughout the area.
• The Pope began allowing Lombardy Bankers to charge interest on loans, after this their migration deteriorated significantly.

Jewish Migration to England: Resolution

• Edward I passed the Statute of Jewry in 1275, banning Jews from collecting interest, creating financial ruin.
• Hundreds of Jews were arrested accused of coin clipping
• 293 were hanged.
• Edward ordered Jews to convert or immigrate in 1290.
• Most Jews refused to convert.
• Parliament demanded the banishment of Jews in return for increased taxation, as Edward was requesting money for the war
• 3,000 Jews were forced to walk to the South Coast to be shipped to mainland Europe.
• A return was not possible for another 400 years.

Jewish Migration to England: Effects

• They lent money to monarchs for capital projects
• They lent money to traders to expand businesses
• The Jewish community in York financed the construction of Fountains Abbey.
• In 1260, one of the earliest Jewish communities in Oxford contributed to the foundation of Merton College.
• Jews served as tutors for those studying Hebrew.

Migrants from the Low Countries: Impact on England

• Cloth trade became popular on a global level
• The Crown gained profits directly from the cloth trade.
• Cloth became England's primary source of wealth.
• England shifted from a primary materials-based economy to one of manufacturing.
• Trade with northern European cities grew due to Hanseatic merchants
• The labour shortage post the Black Death was filled by immigrants.
• Lombardy bankers loaned significant amounts of money to Edward I, allowing gaining control over Wales and funded the 100 Years War.
• London became a global trading powerhouse
• Words like owe and lend can be traced back to Lombardy Bankers

Medieval Migration

• Cultural influence via language can be attributed to the Vikings and Normans
• Christian England did not absorb as many Jewish cultural traditions
• The Viking and Norman impact was more impactful and long lasting from a cultural POV versus Jewish immigration and immigration from the Low Countries
• The economy was reshaped by Vikings and the Danelaw by transforming York into a trading hub.
• New materials such as amber and walrus ivory were used in new industries.
• The Domesday Book gave accurate record of landholding in England, and became a model for taxation
• Jewish migrants expanded business by capital
• Flemish weavers reshaped the cloth trade
• Hanseatic merchants assisted in the England becoming a trading centre
• The migrants transformed England going from primary resource economy to one based on manufacturing
• The Viking legal system inspired trial by jury and early democracy.
• The feudal system introduced by William stayed for most of the middle ages
• The Catholic Church's power deepened because of Norman rule
• Overall the biggest impact was econommic, and transformed England into a European trading power

The Early Modern Period

• The reformation and England changing into a protestant country under Elizabeth I resulted in protestants migrating there to flee from persecution in Europe.
• Despite the Civil War, Cromwell, Interregnum, by the end of the period Britain was ruled by parliament
• Throughout the period government encouraged migration, guaranteeing protection and changing laws.
• Jews were allowed back into England because of this
• Towns and cities grew during the medieval period
• The economic progress encouraged merchants
• Elizabeth set up the Easy India company
• Charles II created the Company of Royal adventurers trading to Africa, resulting in slavery

Protestant Migrants: Huguenots

• Split between the Christian Church across Europe because of theReformation
• Most Protestantism grew in Northern Europe (German States, Low Countries)
• France and Spain were Catholic nations.
• Huguenots looked at England because it was considered a place of safety
• First arrived in 1550, most arrived after the St Bartholomew's day Massacre - 10,000 were killed in France
• 50,000 arrived after Louis XIV banned Protestantism and forced conversions
• William III wanted to strengthen them as well as make use of their skills
• They were welcomed initially, and issued a French Protestant Church Charter in 1550
• Denizen status was offered
• £3.5m in modern day money was raised by a committee

Huguenots: Experience & Impact

• They were extremely skilled workers across their areas
• The refugees lived in Spitalfields and Soho mainly, with Spitalfields offering freedom.
• Silk weavers were skilled workers in the area
• Churches offered help for poorer refugees
• Petty crime was committed sometimes
• They were welcomed due to Anti Catholic views/sentiment.
• Shot-silk was welcomed, most were welcomed
• They kept their own identity via their own churches
• Boosted fashion because of the Velvet Taffeta and Brocade with English Weavers learning fast
• Cloth grew more with a boost in trade volume (20x)
• Sheffield industry: iron works, steel
• English Paper industry as well as printing transforming communication
• Bank of England investment: 10% of cap from 123 Huguenots
• Major Financial Hub for London by investment.
• Investment as well as awareness about national debt because of Huguenots
• Religious Tolerance; They had their own churches
• Workshops in Spitalfields was wealthy for owners
• Huguenot Churches: Set up in 1550 by Edward VI.
• Words like brocade and shot silk described the fabrics
• Threadneedle Street were example of Roads where they worked
• Names had influence from Huguenots like Andrews

The Palatines

• The Foreign Protestants Naturalisation Act of 1709 allowed Protestants to live in England with full civil rights if, and only if, they showed royalty to the Crown.
• The goal was to lure over wealthy Europe entrepreneurs and craftspeople from France and Holland
• A British Carolina company owned by British people was advertising
• A refugee camp created close to London where the Palatinate people stayed because they were German
• 12,000 people migrated to England between May and June

The Palatines: Experience

• Londoners were sympathetic at first raising £20,000
• Ports were used but were mainly stuck in London because of issues
• Farm land/deportations to Ireland (3000) was introduced - because the governemnt though there was not enough work
• Poor land and inability to feed.
• Landowners helped by assisting with money.
• There was a significant hatred towards them
• 2/3 went England and 3,000 set sail for New York
• Many died because of the conditions.

The Return of Jews to England: Why Return?

• Approximately 100,000 Jews were murdered/massacred in Ukraine
• He knew they would assist the economy
• England was a republic, ignoring the expulsion of Jews because it claimed to have no legal force
• Parliament potentially against it.

The Return of Jews to England: Experience

• They were better than in the Medieval.
• Large Synagogue by 1701
• They worked as merchants, bankers, and dealers.
• Solomon Dorrido was the first Jew on the exchange
• More than half mainly were dependant on those who were wealthy

The Return of Jews to England: Community

• Community: Sephardic wealthy, Ashkenazi.
• Ports: Hull (east coast), Portsmouth, Plymouth, and Liverpool.
• Tailors and dockers, peddlers, and were supported by system Gates of hope (1644) antisemitism, but was not allowed to serve in army or uni etc People often portrayed them as cruels