The Dukes of Normandy & Our Viking Connection

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The Dukes of Normandy & Our Viking Connection

July 21, 2010 by mickisuzanne

So much emphasis is put on Sir Thomas Wyatt when it is his wife, Elizabeth Brooke, who gives the Wyatts their/our rich legacy. Elizabeth’s line goes back beyond the Dukes of Normandy. The most exciting experience in putting this book together was learning that the Dukes of Normandy claim a line of descent from epic Norse and Icelandic sagas.

Rollo, First Duke of Normandy

Rollo, the first Duke of Normandy was born about 860 and died about 932. Encyclopeadia Britannica states that Rolf was a “Scandinavian rover who founded the duchy of Normandy.

Making himself independent of King Harald I of Norway, Rolf sailed off to raid Scotland, England, Flanders, and France on pirating expeditions and, about 911, established himself in an area along the Seine River. Charles III the Simple of France held off his siege of Paris, battled him near Chartres, and negotiated the treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte, giving him the part of Neustria that came to be called Normandy; Rolf in return agreed to end his brigandage. He gave his son, William (I) Longsword, governance of the dukedom (927) before his death.

Rolf was baptized as ‘Robert’ in 912 but is said to have died a pagan.”

(Courtesy of The Encyclopeadia Britannica Web Site prior to their reverting to a pay service.)

I found a wonderful website that takes us back to the earliest viking times. Please see: http://www.robertsewell.ca/normandy.html

Posted in The Vikings | Tagged Elizabeth Brooke, Richard II 4th Duke of Normandy, Richard the Good, Rollo first Duke of Normandy | 2 Comments

2 Responses

on May 17, 2011 at 5:14 pm Audrey

I’ve gone back maybe to 300 with the Viking relitives. I didn’t know we had so much royal blood!
- on May 17, 2011 at 6:51 pm mickisuzanne
  
  Yeah, once you start getting to a certain point – especially with the Vikings – there is so much debate about who was who and who was legend, I let it go. I like to start with Rollo the Viking because that’s all well documented. The rest, I fantasize about.

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Sir Thomas Wyatt the Poet

I'm writing a book on Sir Henry Wyatt, his famous son and his infamous grandson. This is bits and pieces of cool stuff I'm finding along the way.