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A depiction of the baptism of Rollo as a Christian.
b. 860
d. 932
Rollo was a Viking, who attacked French lands from the 880's onwards. In 911, it was finally realised by Charles the Simple that he couldnt keep paying the Vikings to leave his lands, so he instead offered them Flanders. Rollo refused outright because he felt Flanders was too marshy. So, Charles offered Normandy, and in return, Rollo had to be baptised, and protect France from Viking invaders, which he did at first.
However, Rollo began to raid Frankish lands again, and had soon secured a much bigger duchy. He also began to go mad, and had Christians executed in honour of the old Norse gods. Finally, in 927, he passed on the title of Duke of Normandy to his son, Guilliaume, and died 5 years later.
Burgundy = Norman gains in Rollo's reign
Black = Borders at end of reign
Blue = Kingdom of France
Teal = Duchy of Brittany
Green = Wessex
Red spots = Lands considered parts of the Duchy of Normandy today.
Guillaume I Longue-Épée (927-942) By the Grace of God, Duke of Normandy
The Assassination of Guilliaume
b. 893
d. 942
Guilliaume became duke after his father's abdication and quickly set about expanding his realm. He attacked the Bretons and took a concubine from among them, named Sprota, for his wife. He also added the marshy lands of Avranches to the Duchy of Normandy.
Ultimately, he made too many enemies however as the Duke of Flanders had him stabbed to death in 942. This left all his lands to Richard who was only a young child at the time. Louis IV prepared to conquer Normandy...
