A medieval Danish trading settlement on the Jutland Peninsula in northwest Germany of the 7th century AD, important in the southeast Baltic region. Its trade included slaves, furs, textiles, iron, and weapons; it was one of the earliest Scandinavian urban centers. In the early 9th century King Godfred of Denmark built the Danewirk, an earthwork barrier, along the base of the peninsula south of Hedeby to protect it from Frankish incursions.