An agreement by formal treaty between King Alfred of Wessex and the Danish leader Guthram in 878, establishing a political boundary along the line of the old Roman road, Watling Street, from Chester through Lichfield and Hertford to London. The Danes were given the large area to the east of the line, which was known as the Danelaw. This division only lasted until the early 10th century, when Alfred’s son Edward began the process of reconquering the area for the English monarchy.
The Macmillan dictionary of archaeology, Ruth D. Whitehouse, 1983Copied