Editing Viking Age (section)

== Western Europe ==
=== Frisia ===
{{main|Viking raids in the Rhineland}}

Frisia was a region which spanned from around modern-day Bruges to the islands on the west coast of Jutland—including large parts of the [[Low Countries]]. This region was progressively brought under Frankish control ([[Frisian-Frankish wars]]), but the [[Christianization]] of the local population and cultural assimilation was a slow process. However, several Frisian towns, most notably [[Dorestad]] were raided by Vikings. [[Rorik of Dorestad]] was a famous Viking raider in Frisia. On [[Wieringen]] the Vikings most likely had a base of operations. Viking leaders took an active role in Frisian politics, such as [[Godfrid, Duke of Frisia]], as well as Rorik.

=== France ===
{{See also|Siege of Paris (845)|Siege of Paris (885–886)|Viking incursions into Gascony|History of Normandy}}

The French region of Normandy takes its name from the Viking invaders who were called ''Normanni'', which means 'men of the North'.

The first Viking raids began between 790 and 800 along the coasts of western France. They were carried out primarily in the summer, as the Vikings wintered in Scandinavia. Several coastal areas were lost to [[Francia]] during the reign of [[Louis the Pious]] (814–840). But the Vikings took advantage of the quarrels in the royal family caused after the death of Louis the Pious to settle their first colony in the south-west ([[Gascony]]) of the kingdom of Francia, which was more or less abandoned by the Frankish kings after their two defeats at [[Roncevaux]]. The incursions in {{CE|841}} caused severe damage to [[Rouen]] and [[Jumièges]]. The Viking attackers sought to capture the treasures stored at [[Monastery|monasteries]], easy prey given the monks' lack of defensive capacity. In {{CE|845}} an expedition up the Seine reached [[Paris]]. The presence of [[French denier|Carolingian ''deniers'']] of {{circa|847}}, found in 1871 among a hoard at Mullaghboden, County Limerick, where coins were neither minted nor normally used in trade, probably represents booty from the raids of 843–846.{{sfn|Hall|2010|p=17}}

However, from 885 to 886, [[Odo of France|Odo of Paris]] (Eudes de Paris) [[Siege of Paris (885–886)|succeeded in defending Paris]] against Viking raiders.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.worldhistory.org/Odo_of_West_Francia/|title=Odo of West Francia|website=[[World History Encyclopedia]]|access-date=23 April 2021|archive-date=16 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416200224/https://www.worldhistory.org/Odo_of_West_Francia/|url-status=live}}</ref> His military success allowed him to replace the Carolingians.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.history.com/news/globetrotting-vikings-to-the-gates-of-paris |title=Globetrotting Vikings: To the Gates of Paris |website=History Channel |date=4 September 2018 |access-date=29 February 2020 |archive-date=20 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200620164201/https://www.history.com/news/globetrotting-vikings-to-the-gates-of-paris |url-status=live }}</ref> In 911, a band of Viking warriors attempted to siege Chartres but was defeated by [[Robert I of France]]. Robert's victory later paved way for the baptism, and settlement in Normandy, of Viking leader Rollo.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Robert-I-king-of-France|title=Robert I of France|website=Encyclopaedia Britannica|access-date=29 February 2020|archive-date=20 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200620160754/https://www.britannica.com/biography/Robert-I-king-of-France|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Rollo]] reached an agreement with Charles the Simple to sign the [[Treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte]], under which Charles gave Rouen and the area of present-day [[Upper Normandy]] to Rollo, establishing the [[Duchy of Normandy]]. In exchange, Rollo pledged vassalage to Charles in 940, agreed to be [[baptism|baptised]], and vowed to guard the [[estuaries]] of the Seine from further Viking attacks. During Rollo's baptism Robert I of France stood as his godfather.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Robert-I-king-of-France|title=Robert 1 of France|website=Britannica Encyclopaedia|access-date=29 February 2020|archive-date=20 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200620160754/https://www.britannica.com/biography/Robert-I-king-of-France|url-status=live}}</ref> The Duchy of Normandy also annexed further areas in Northern France, expanding the territory which was originally negotiated.

The Scandinavian expansion included Danish and Norwegian as well as Swedish elements, all under the leadership of [[Rollo]]. By the end of the reign of [[Richard I of Normandy]] in 996 (aka Richard the Fearless / Richard sans Peur), all descendants of Vikings became, according to Cambridge Medieval History (Volume 5, Chapter XV), 'not only Christians but in all essentials Frenchmen'.<ref>{{Cite book |first1=J.R. |last1=Tanner |first2=C.W. |last2=Previte-Orton |first3=Z.N. |last3=Brook |title=Cambridge Medieval History (Volume 5, Chapter XV). |publisher=Cambridge University Press |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=inXIHJ2zOIUC&q=%22not+only+Christians+but+in+all+essentials+Frenchmen%22&pg=PT2234 |access-date=22 November 2020 |archive-date=4 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231004200708/https://books.google.com/books?id=inXIHJ2zOIUC&q=%22not+only+Christians+but+in+all+essentials+Frenchmen%22&pg=PT2234#v=snippet&q=%22not%20only%20Christians%20but%20in%20all%20essentials%20Frenchmen%22&f=false |url-status=live }}</ref> During the Middle Ages, the Normans created one of the most powerful [[feudal states]] of [[Western Europe]]. The Normans [[Norman conquest of England|conquered England]] and [[Norman conquest of southern Italy|southern Italy]] in 11th century, and played a key role in the [[Crusades]].