Rollo of Normandy

~860-~932 Duke

France Scandinavia

Rollo (also called Rolf or Rou; sometimes spelled Hrolf; in French, Rollon; known as "the walker" or "Gangler" or Ganger; sometimes called Robert and sometimes known as Rollo the Viking) was the Scandinavian raider who founded the French duchy of Normandy.

Leaving Norway to embark on pirating expeditions and raid England, Scotland, and Flanders, Rollo headed into France around 911 and settled along the Seine, besieging Paris. Charles III (the Simple) of France was able to hold Rollo off for a while, but he eventually negotiated a treaty to stop him. The treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte gave Rollo part of Nuestria in return for his agreement that he and his fellow Vikings would stop pillaging any further in France.

Because the region was settled by Northmen or "Normans," the territory took on the name "Normandy," and Rouen became its capital. Before Rollo died he turned over the governance of the duchy to his son, William I (Longsword).

A rather questionable biography of Rollo and other dukes of Normandy was written in the eleventh century by Dudo of St. Quentin.

On the Web

Rollo of Normandy on the Web 

In Print

The link below will take you to an online bookstore, where you can find more information about the book to help you get it from your local library. This is provided as a convenience to you; neither Melissa Snell nor About is responsible for any purchases you make through these links.

The Normans in Their Histories: Propaganda, Myth and Subversion
by Emily Albu

Related Resources

Medieval France
General history, people, places, maps and more about France in the Middle Ages.

Norman Conquest Background
General history, people, places, maps and more about France in the Middle Ages.

Vikings and Scandinavian History
Runes, runestones, sagas, and general sites covering Scandinavian history and the Vikings.

More at the Medieval History Site

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