Capitaine Vengeur 263 Posted October 3, 2011 During Autumn 911, the King of Franks Charles the Simple signed a treaty with Rollo (Hrolfr), one of the main chiefs of the Viking warbands who had devastated the Western part of the kingdom for more than one century. In exchange for large coastal lands West of Paris (including the mouth of river Seine) where to settle a Viking aristocracy, Rollo accepted to convert himself and his men to Christianity, and to recognize the sovereignty of the king. The Northmen now had a country on the continent: the Duchy of Normandy was born, with Rollo as the first duke. Like the Frank conquerors before them, the Northmen gave up their Germanic language to the Latin language of the local Roman Gauls (nonetheless, many Nordic words still appear in Norman toponyms, like Pointe du Hoc). One century and half later, under the leadership of firm dukes such as William later known as The Conqueror, the Normans were strong enough to challenge the King of France, to venture to Sicily, and even to seize the crown of England in 1066. A Norman aristocracy settled there too, an elaborate system of ruling was instituted (the Exchequer still exists in name). Until John Lackland who lost Normandy to France in 1204, these Norman kings felt themselves Dukes of Normandy before feeling Kings of England, that misty muddy Saxon island being mostly a source of colonial revenues and royal prestige. Richard Lionheart himself is said to have spent only 6 months of his life in England, and was buried in Normandy. The Duchy went back and forth between France and England until 1450: after the destruction of an English army at Formigny, Normandy remained French forever (yet maimed from the Channel Islands, which kept their Norman patois). The last act of this eventful story happened in 1944, when the English troops fought in the ruins of Caen, around the remnants of William The Conqueror's castle. It seems that either or both a TV series and a movie about William The Conqueror are in preparation, perhaps in relation with this 1100th birthday. The series could be relased this year in the US. Let us see what it will be worth. Fier d'être Normand ! Diex aie ! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nesher 628 Posted October 3, 2011 Happy birthday Normandy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Derk 265 Posted October 4, 2011 Good story Capitaine... Are you from Normandy yourself ? Houdoe, Derk Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
UK_Widowmaker 571 Posted October 4, 2011 Are yes...happy to say, my forebears came over and kicked Anglo-Saxon Butt Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Capitaine Vengeur 263 Posted October 4, 2011 Good story Capitaine... Are you from Normandy yourself ? Houdoe, Derk The flat fields of Champagne are my province of birth, but the green pastures of Normandy are my province of choice. Ubi bene, ibi patria: Where you feel good, there is your country. That's my motto. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
