The Danegeld (/ˈdeɪnɡɛld/; "Danish tax", literally "Dane yield" or tribute) was a tax raised to pay tribute to the Viking raiders to save a land from being ravaged. It was called the geld or gafol in eleventh-century sources. ... The term danegeld did not appear until the late eleventh century.

Why did King Ethelred introduce Danegeld?

Viking Raids and Danegeld

In the early 11th century, England had a weak king. His name was Ethelred 'the Unready'. Ethelred tried to stop the Vikings from invading by giving them gold and land. This money was called 'Danegeld'.

When was the Danegeld introduced?

Though the Danes were sometimes bought off in the 9th century in both England and France, the word Danegeld is usually applied to the payments that began in 991 and continued at intervals until 1016. Danegeld is distinct from heregeld, an annual tax levied between 1012 and 1051 to pay Danish mercenaries.