Siege of Paris (845)

Uncommon card · No. 137686

The siege of Paris of 845 was the culmination of a Viking invasion of West Francia. The Viking forces were led by a Norse chieftain named "Reginherus", or Ragnar, who has been tentatively identified with the legendary saga character Ragnar Lodbrok. Reginherus's fleet of 120 Viking ships, carrying thousands of warriors, entered the Seine in March and sailed up the river. King Charles the Bald assembled a smaller army in response, but after the Vikings defeated one division, comprising half of the army, the remaining forces retreated. The Vikings reached Paris at the end of the month, during Easter. They plundered and occupied the city, withdrawing after Charles paid a ransom of 7,000 French livres [2,570 kg (2.53 long tons)] in gold and silver.

Read on Wikipedia · Image Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain