Rollo of Normandy

Rollo (c.860 - c.932) was the Frankish-Latin name taken by (probably) Hrolf Ganger (Hrolf the Walker, this was because he was so big no horse could carry him, Old Norse: Hrólfr Rögnvaldsson and Göngu-Hrólfr, Norwegian: Gange-Rolf), Swedish: Gångerolf). He has also been called "Rollo the Gangler" in some works, or occasionally "Robert".

Related Topics:
860 - 932 - Frankish - Latin - Old Norse - Norwegian - Swedish

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Rollo was a Viking leader, probably (based on Icelandic sources) from Norway, the son of Ragnvald, Earl of Moer; sagas mention a Hrolf, son of Ragnvald jarl of Moer. However, the latinization Rollo has in no known instance been applied to a Hrolf, and in the texts which speak of him, numerous latinized Hrolfs are included. Dudo of St. Quentin (by most accounts a more reliable source, and at least more recent and living nearer the regions concerned), in his Gesta Normannorum, tells of a powerful Danish (here called Dacian which often happened in medieval sources) nobleman at loggerheads with the king of Denmark (Dacia), who then died and left his two sons, Gurim and Rollo, leaving Rollo to be expelled and Gurim killed.(1) With his followers (known as Normans, or northmen), Rollo invaded the area of northern France now known as Normandy. Wace, writing some 300 years after the event, gives a Scandinavian origin, as does the Orkneyinga Saga, Danish or Norwegian most likely.

Related Topics:
Viking - Iceland - Norway - Ragnvald, Earl of Moer - Dudo of St. Quentin - Gesta Normannorum - King - Denmark - Gurim - Normans - France - Normandy - Wace - Orkneyinga Saga

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Unlike most Vikings whose intentions were to plunder Frankish lands, Rollo's true intentions were to look for lands to settle. Upon arrival in France, and after many battles with the Vikings, Charles the Simple understood that he could no longer hold back their advances, and decided as a tempory measure to give Rollo land around Rouen, as he did with his other barons, but under the condition that he would convert to Christianity and defend the Seine River from other raiding Vikings.

Related Topics:
Charles the Simple - Rouen - Christianity - Seine

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In the Treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte (911) with the French King Charles the Simple, "for the protection of the realm," Rollo pledged feudal allegiance to the king, changed his name to the Frankish version, and converted to Christianity, probably with the baptismal name Robert. In return, and in admission of defeat, King Charles granted Rollo the lower Seine area (today's upper Normandy) and the titular rulership of Normandy, centred around the city of Rouen. There exists some argument among historians as to whether Rollo was a "duke" (dux) or whether his position was equivalent to that of a "count" under Charlemagne. According to legend, when required, in conformity with general usage, to kiss the foot of King Charles, he refused to stoop to what he considered so great a degradation; yet as the homage could not be dispensed with, he ordered one of his warriors to perform it for him. The latter, as proud as his chief, instead of stooping to the royal foot, raised it so high, that the King fell to the ground.

Related Topics:
Treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte - 911 - Charles the Simple - Feudal - Christianity - Baptism - Seine - Rouen - Duke - Count - Charlemagne - Homage

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

It is important to note that Rollo did stay true to his word of defending the shores of the Seine river in accordance to the Treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte, but in time Rollo and his followers had very different ideas. Rollo began to divide the land between the Epte and Risle rivers among his chieftains and settled there with a de-facto capital in Rouen. With these settlements, Rollo began to further raid other Frankish lands, now from the security of a settled homeland, rather than a mobile fleet.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Rollo expanded his territory as far west as the Vire River and sometime around 927 he passed the Duchy of Normandy to his son, William Longsword. Rollo may have lived for a few years after that, but certainly died before 933. According to the historian Adhemar, 'As Rollo's death drew near, he went mad and had a hundred Christian prisoners beheaded in front of him in honour of the gods whom he had worshiped, and in the end distributed a hundred pounds of gold around the churches in honour of the true god in whose name he had accepted baptism.' Even though Rollo had converted to Christianity, at the end, some of Rollo's pagan roots eventually came to the surface.

Related Topics:
927 - Duchy of Normandy - William Longsword

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

He was a direct ancestor of William the Conqueror. By William, he was a direct ancestor of the present-day British royal family, including Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Related Topics:
William the Conqueror - Elizabeth II - United Kingdom - Great Britain - Northern Ireland

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The "clameur de haro" on the Channel Islands is, supposedly, an appeal to Rollo.

Related Topics:
Clameur de haro - Channel Islands

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

See also: Ålesund, Viking Age, Dukes of Normandy

Related Topics:
Ålesund - Viking Age - Dukes of Normandy

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

(1) It should be noted that for Franks, Scandinavians were called Danes irrespective of their precise origin in Scandinavia. This happened for instance in the case of Hygelac, a king of the Geats, who is called Danish, something that has caused many a Danish scholar to state that he is the first historical "king of Denmark". That Dane was confused with Dacia does not make the sources less confusing, and likewise the Geat Hygelac was not only called Danish but also Gothic and Getic depending on the manuscript.

Related Topics:
Hygelac - King of the Geats

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~