Vice King

Vikings:
Date: 800's to 1100's.

Instead of fighting the Vikings, some English kings preferred to pay them to leave in peace. These payments were called 'Danegeld' (meaning 'Danish debt, payment or tribute ). The Vikings collected tribute in other countries too. In Ireland in the 9th century they imposed a tax and slit the noses of anyone unwilling or unable to pay, and that is the origin of the English phrase 'to pay through the nose' meaning to pay an excessive price.

Danegeld:
Circa: 1000.

Etymology: Middle English gilde, from Old Norse gildi payment, guild; akin to Old English gield tribute, guild or more at geld.

Vice-Kings:
Date: 14th century.

The Chakri dynasty up to 1885 every king had a vice-king (Maha Upa-raja, also translated as second king), usually the brother of the king and the designated heir to the throne - however Rama II was the only former vice-king who actually ascended to the throne. When the vice-king died before the king, the title often remained vacant for several years. The system was abolished by the King of Siam Chulalongkorn when his vice-king Bovorn Vichaicharn died. He then declared his oldest son the crown prince, but not vice-king.

Vice-roy:
Date: 1524.

Etymology: Middle French vice-roi, from vice- + roi or king, from Old French rei, roi, from Latin - rex or Royal. 1 : the governor of a country or province who rules as the representative of a king or sovereign.

Vikings were Vice-Kings of Danish Royalty that raided parts of Europe and the British Isles between 800 and 1100. They extorted payment from the countries they plundered and returned it to their Danish Homeland. This form of pirate ransom still exists today with corporate invasions that use military force controlled by a central government.

By Rudyard Kipling,
"The Dane-Geld".

It is always a temptation to an armed and agile nation to call upon a neighbor and to say. -- "We invaded you last night, we are quite prepared to fight, unless you pay us cash to go away."

And that is called asking for Dane-geld, and the people who ask it explain. -- That you've only to pay'em the Dane-geld and then you'll get rid of the Dane!

It is always a temptation to a rich and lazy nation, to puff and look important and to say. -- "Though we know we should defeat you, we have not the time to meet you. We will therefore pay you cash to go away."

And that is called paying the Dane-geld, but we've proved it again and again. -- That if once you have paid him the Dane-geld you never get rid of the Dane.

It is wrong to put temptation in the path of any nation, for fear they should succumb and go astray. -- So when you are requested to pay up or be molested, you will find it better policy to say.

We never pay anyone Dane-geld, no matter how trifling the cost. -- For the end of that game is oppression and shame, and the nation that plays it is lost!

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Olaf Tryggvason, king of Norway from 995 to 1000 was a Vice king.
Sweyn Forkbeard, king of Denmark, Norway, and England was a Vice king.
Canute the Great, king of England and Denmark, Norway, and of some of Sweden, was possibly the greatest Viking Vice king.

Vice King by Awsomescience August 16, 2009