Editing Zealand (section)

==History==
The tribal Danes came from Zealand and [[Scania]] and spoke an early form of [[North Germanic languages|North Germanic]]. Historians believe that before their arrival, most of [[Jutland]] and the nearest islands were settled by tribal [[Jutes]]. The Jutes migrated to [[Great Britain]] eventually, some as mercenaries of [[Brythonic languages|Brythonic]] King [[Vortigern]], and were granted the south-eastern territories of [[Kent]], the [[Isle of Wight]] and other areas, where they settled. They were later absorbed or [[ethnic cleansing|ethnically cleansed]] by the invading [[Angles (tribe)|Angles]] and [[Saxons]], who formed the [[Anglo-Saxons]]. The remaining [[Jutes|Jutish]] population in Jutland assimilated in with the settling [[Danes (Germanic tribe)|Danes]].{{Citation needed|date=June 2024}}

Valdemar's Zealandic Law was a civil code enacted in the 13th century. Prior to the adoption of the Jutlandic, Zealandic and the Scanian laws, there had been no uniformity of laws throughout settlements in Denmark. [[Ringsted]] and later [[Roskilde]] were the first important political and religious centres on the island, a role later taken over by Copenhagen. Other important religious centres prior to the Reformation were [[Sorø Abbey]] at Sorø and [[Esrom Abbey]] at [[Esrum]]. With its strategic location at the entrance to the Øresund, especially after the construction of [[Kronborg Castle]] and the introduction of [[Sound Dues]], [[Helsingør]] would later develop into the most important town and seaport outside Copenhagen.

Most of [[North Zealand]] was for centuries, starting in the late 16th century, owned by the crown and used mainly as a royal hunting domain. Local manors played a central role in the economy on the rest of the island.

Early industrial centres outside Copenhagen included [[Mølleåen]] with its watermills, the [[Hellebæjgård|Kronborg Arms Factory]] at [[Hellebæk]], [[Johan Frederik Classen]]'s [[Frederiksbærk|Frederick's Works]] at [[Frederiksværk]] and Niels Ryberg's [[Øbjerggaard|Køng Textile Factory]] at Vordingborg. Substantial parts of the southernmost part of the island was in the 18th century part of [[rytterskole|Vordingborg Cavalry District]].

The first railways on the island were constructed by Det Sjællandske Jernbaneselskab (1847-1888). The first section opened between Copenhagen and Roskilde in 1847.