rollo, rollo the viking, rollo vikings - November 9, 2018

Rollo: The Viking Duke of Normandy

According to the same Nordic sagas, Rollo was probably born in the middle of the 9th century (around 846) in Møre og Romsdal, in modern western Norway. Despite the fact that the details of his ethnic origins remain rather obscure until that date, it is known from his later social status as a count (jarl) that he was raised in a family of noble warriors. There is a permanent controversy between Danish and Norwegian historians concerning Rollo's ethnicity, with both sides claiming that he was either Danish or Norwegian.

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In most ancient Nordic texts, it is known as Hrólfr, and its Nordic name was later translated into Latin as "Rollo" and is sometimes called "Rollon" or "Robert". In Icelandic sagas, it is called'Ganger Hrólf'.

What we know about his life is that he had become Earl of Rouen and that he was baptized under the name of Robert. Before arriving in northwestern modern France (where he first participated in frequent raids along the Seine), he had travelled to Scotland and Ireland where he led his first raids as a Nordic leader.

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The Viking Duke of Normandy

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According to later Scandinavian sagas, Rollo, becoming independent of King Harald I of Norway, sailed to attack Scotland, England, Flanders and France as part of pirate expeditions. At the beginning of the 10th century, Rollo's Danish army attacked France and settled in an area along the Seine. Charles III the Simple of France held his siege of Paris, defeated him near Chartres, and negotiated the treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte, giving him the part of Neustria that was called Normandy; Rollo in return agreed to put an end to his brigandage. He gave his son, William I Longsword, the governance of the Duchy (927) before his death. Rollo was baptized in 912 but is said to have died a pagan.