History of Lincolnshire - Anglo-Saxons and Danes

Anglo-Saxons and Danes

Incoming groups of Angles settled heavily in the Midland and East Midland areas of what is now England. The Anglian Kingdom of Lindsey was established between the Witham and the Humber, in the northern part of the what is now Lincolnshire, by the 6th century and seems to have maintained its independence until at least the end of the 7th century, but was absorbed into Mercia - a rising power - in the 8th century.

In 865 a formidable Danish raiding army, led by Ivar (spelled Hinguar or Igwar in English sources), one of the sons of Ragnar Lothbrok, landed in East Anglia and established winter quarters there. Within a few years this force succeeded in conquering Mercia and all the other Anglo-Saxon kingdoms except Wessex.

Scandinavian settlers followed the raiders into the swathe of England under Danish control, which became the Danelaw. They have left a legacy of Scandinavian elements in many Lincolnshire place-names. Lincoln became a Danish borough. In the 10th century it became the head of the new shire of Lincolnshire.