Plot

The siege of Paris in 885 was the culmination of the Viking invasions of Francia. We look at the persistent Viking attacks on Francia and the enduring presence of the Scandinavians on the Frankish Empire and beyond.

Having lucratively raided the weak kingdoms on the British isles, bands of (Western) Vikings raided the continental coasts and sailed up main rivers to rob locals and especially church treasures. After the dispersed Frisians, they engaged the land of the Franks, which Charlemagne forged into a new empire reuniting many former Roman provinces in Catholic faith. The mainly monastic sources -Vikings wrote none- paint them a barbaric scourge of God for the people's sins, the lack of effective defense lured them back to raid again and kidnap people for ransom. Garrisons and defensive fortifications proved little use, especially after Charlemagne's empire fell apart in three rivaling Frankish kingdoms. Under Louis, who ruled Western Francia (roughly Gaul), Vikings even raided his capital Paris. Ultimately, some Vikings bands were invited to settle in order to defend coastal areas, mixing with and actually largely assimilating with Catholic natives. Rollo thus became the first duke of Normandy (so called after the Norse men), from where his descendant William would conquer England.—KGF Vissers