Rollo, Count of Rouen († 933)

Few facts and dates relating to the life of Rollo have been established with any certainty. He was originally Norwegian, and was leader of a band of Vikings established in the lower Seine region at the end of the 9^th century. Rollo took part in one of the sieges of Paris (886 ?), took Bayeux and Evreux, and then obtained from the Carolingian King Charles the Simple authority over the Rouen region. The place and date of the treaty have traditionally been given as St Clair-sur-Epte in 911. In 912 (?) the Viking leader was given the name of Robert, Marquis of Neustria and was to be king in 922-3. Rollo took advantage of the dynastic conflicts between the last Carolingian and the Robertians, founders of the Capetian royal house, to extend his territory in the Bessin region and diocese of Sées (924). In 927, at an advanced age, his son William Long Sword was born to his concubine Popa, daughter of the Count of Bayeux. Rollo recognised William as his heir and gave him power until his death in 933.

Bibliography :

- Lucien Musset. "L'origine de Rollon". Annuaire des cinq départements de la Normandie, Congrès de Vernon, 139, 1981, p. 111-114.