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11.07.

911: How did the Vikings Permanently Settle in France?

911: How did the Vikings Permanently Settle in France?
Photo Credit To Wikipedia Commons/Travels of the Vikings

Story Highlights

  • Historical event
  • 11 July 911
  • The area where they settled was named Normandy after the Vikings (the Vikings were also referred to as "Nortmanni"). French King allowed the Vikings to settle there, so they would, in return, stop plundering his country.

On this day, in 911, an important treaty between the Vikings and the French (West Francia) King Charles III was concluded in Saint-Clair-sur-Epte. 



With this treaty Vikings were granted to settle on a large area of ​​north-western France. 

It was precisely after Vikings that this territory was then named Normandy (the Vikings were also referred to as “Nortmanni”).

The reason why the French King accepted such populating of “barbarian” foreigners arose out of necessity. Specifically, the Vikings robbed the French regions during prior years.

They stormed with their boats from the sea through the flows of the French rivers and attacked the local towns. Even Paris was raided, infiltrated from the Seine.




Finally, the French King Charles III offered the Vikings to settle in today`s Normandy, so they would, in return, stop plundering his country.

This is how the known Normandy was established, with the Viking leader Rollo as its first ruler as a sort of vassal of the French king.

Normandy was given the status of a duchy, and its dukes – Rollo’s descendants – became increasingly important players in the field of European policy in the Middle Ages. 

In fact, the great-great grandson of Rollo was William the Conqueror who, as Duke of Normandy, conquered England and became King of England. 

Indeed, some powerful Normans later established states in southern Italy, and were influential in the area of ​​the Croatian Adriatic.

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