THE SIEGE OF PARIS

THE SIEGE OF PARIS

In 845, the Viking invasion of West Francia culminated in the Siege of Paris, a key moment in medieval history.
The Viking Forces were led by a Norse chieftain named Ragnar Lodbrok.
The Frankish Empire had been enduring attacks from the Vikings for over a decade.
By the time they were able to seize Paris, Charlemagne had died.

For years the Vikings had been unable to reach Paris because of a well-designed defense system that Charlemagne created.
It stretched out along the empire’s northern coastline and worked to repel against a Viking strike near the mouth of the river Seine.
Ragnar travelled up the Seine and defeated a division of the Frankish army.
The Viking forces numbered in the thousands and arrived on 120 ships.

In response to the Viking invasion, Frankish king Charles the Bald assembled a smaller army, but they were no match for the seasoned Viking warriors.
The Vikings defeated half of the Frankish army, and reached Paris on 29th March 845, during Easter.
The city was plundered and occupied by the Viking forces.
The helpless people of Paris found themselves completely at the mercy of the Vikings, who sacrificed 111 prisoners to Odin, following the success of the siege.

The Vikings then demanded the Franks pay a ransom in exchange for their revolt.
Fearing further bloodshed and perhaps the loss of his own life, King Charles the Bald agreed to pay the ransom.
Charles ultimately paid a ransom of 7,000 French livres in gold and silver to the Vikings, who then withdrew from the city.

During the siege of Paris, exposure to the Plague caused an outbreak that killed a number of Ragnar’s men.
Eventually, the Vikings fasted, and the spread of the disease subsided.
After returning home, a number of men who served with Ragnar during the siege of Paris died.
The combination of factors worried the Viking King who requested those who survived the siege be ex3cuted, and pardons extended to all Christians being held prisoner.
The Vikings would unsuccessfully try to sack the city once again, in the 860s.

Ragnar Lodbrok captures the City of Paris.
Travis Fimmel as Ragnar in ‘Vikings’ 2013~2020
Picture credit ~ The Collector.