The Viking Siege of Paris

Longships raid the Seine, AD 885–86

The Viking Siege of Paris cover

Description

The Vikings' siege of Paris in 885–86 was a turning point in the history of both Paris and France. In 885, a year after Charles the Fat was crowned King of the Franks, Danish Vikings sailed up the Seine demanding tribute. The Franks' refusal prompted the Vikings to lay siege to Paris, which was initially defended by only 200 men under Odo, Count of Paris, and seemingly in a poor state to defend against the Viking warriors in their fleet of hundreds of longships.

Paris was centred around the medieval Île de la Cité, the natural island now in the heart of the city, fortified with bridges and towers. The Vikings attempted to break the Parisian defenders, but the city itself still held out, and after a year Charles' army arrived to lift the siege. But Charles then allowed the Vikings to sail upstream against the revolting Burgundians. Outraged at this betrayal, the Parisians refused to let the Vikings return home via the Seine, forcing them to portage their boats overland to the Marne in order to reach the North Sea. When Charles died in 888, the people of the of the Île de France elected Odo as their king. The resistance of Paris therefore marked the end of the Carolingian line and the birth of a new kingdom.

This fully illustrated volume, accompanied with maps and strategic diagrams tells the full story of the Vikings' expedition to conquer medieval Paris, highlighting a key moment in the history of France and its foundation as a nation.

Table of Contents

Introduction
Origins
Initial Strategy
The Plan
The Siege
Aftermath and Conclusion
Further Reading
Index

Product details

Published Jan 20 2022
Format Ebook (PDF)
Edition 1st
Extent 80
ISBN 9781472845672
Imprint Osprey Publishing
Series Raid
Short code RAID 56
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

Si Sheppard

London-born Si Sheppard completed his Bachelors an…

Illustrator

Edouard A. Groult

Edouard Groult grew up inspired by watching histor…

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