The Vikings and King Alfred

The Vikings came from Denmark and Norway, first raiding Britain in AD 789. They began settling in eastern England and Scotland. The Anglo-Saxon kingdoms united under King Alfred the Great, who defeated the Vikings. Many Vikings stayed in the Danelaw area in the east and north of England (place names like Grimsby and Scunthorpe come from Viking languages). Danish kings briefly ruled England, starting with Cnut (Canute). In Scotland, Kenneth MacAlpin united the people and the term 'Scotland' began to be used.