Notes |
- Rollo (c.860 - c.932) was the Frankish-Latin name taken by (probably) Hrolf Ganger (Hrolf the Walker, Old Norse: Hrólfur Rögnvaldsson and Göngu-Hrólfur, Norwegian: Gange-Rolf). He has also been called "Rollo the Gangler" in some works, or occasionally "Robert".
Rollo was a Viking leader, probably (based on Icelandic sources) from Norway, the son of Ragnvald, Earl of Moer; sagas mention a Hrolf, son of Ragnvald jarl of Moer. However, the latinization Rollo has in no known instance been applied to a Hrolf, and in the texts which speak of him, numerous latinized Hrolfs are included. Dudo of St. Quentin (by most accounts a more reliable source, and at least more recent and living nearer the regions concerned), in his Gesta Normannorum, tells of a powerful Dacian duke (or count?) at loggerheads with the king of Dacia, who then died and left his two sons, Gurim and Rollo, leaving Rollo to be expelled and Gurim killed.(1) With his followers (known as Normans, or northmen), Rollo invaded the area of northern France now known as Normandy. This does seem somewhat unlikely, as Dacia had by then ceased to exist, and was right at the opposite southeastern corner of Europe. Wace, writing some 300 years after the event, gives a Scandinavian origin, as does the Orkneyinga Saga.
Concluding the Treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte (911) with the French king Charles the Simple, Rollo pledged feudal allegiance to the king, changed his name to the Frankish version, and converted to Christianity, probably with the baptismal name Robert. In return he was granted the lower Seine area (today's upper Normandy) and the titular rulership of Normandy, centred around the city of Rouen. There exists some argument among historians as to whether Rollo was a "duke" (dux) or whether his position was equivalent to that of a "count" under Charlemagne. According to legend, when required, in conformity with general usage, to kiss the foot of King Charles, he refused to stoop to what he considered so great a degradation; yet as the homage could not be dispensed with, he ordered one of his warriors to perform it for him. The latter, as proud as his chief, instead of stooping to the royal foot, raised it so high, that the King fell to the ground.
Sometime around 927 he passed the Duchy of Normandy to his son, William Longsword. He may have lived for a few years after that, but certainly died before 933.
Forst of the House of Normandie
!Royal Ancestors of Some LDS Families by Michel L. Call, chart 504, # 4.
Ancestry and Progeny of Captain James Blount - Inmigrant. by Robert F. Pfafman p. E -28, # (21).
Rollo, the Dane, was a Viking pirate that was banished from Norway by his father; and captured Bayeux in 890. He was given the Name of Robert I at his baptism, and was styled as the "Patrician of Normandy".
He aquired his nickname "the Ganger", because he was to big for a horse to carry and had to walk.
SURNAME: Also shown as Normandy
GIVEN NAMES: Also shown as Rollon Duke of
DEATH: Also shown as Died Normandy.
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