Ragnar Lothbrok and the Viking Siege of Paris 845: Truth vs Legend

In 845, a fleet of Viking longships sailed up the Seine and laid siege to Paris, demanding a massive ransom from the Frankish king Charles the Bald. But was Ragnar Lothbrok really the leader of that attack? In this episode, Lucas and Luna dig into the primary sources — the Annals of St. Bertin, the works of Dudo of Saint-Quentin, and the Frankish chronicles — to separate the historical figure from the legendary hero. They examine the political chaos in West Francia, the role of the Danegeld, and the Easter Sunday assault that sent the city into panic. They also explore the controversy around whether the Viking leader Reginherus was the same as the saga hero Ragnar, and what the archaeological evidence says about the size and strategy of the fleet. Learn about the tribute of 7,000 pounds of silver, the plague that struck the Vikings, and how this event became a template for later Viking extortion campaigns. For anyone curious about the real Viking Age beyond the sagas.

#VikingSiegeParis845 #RagnarLothbrok #CharlesTheBald #AnnalsOfStBertin #DudoOfSaintQuentin #Danegeld #Seine #Reginherus #CarolingianEmpire #WestFrancia #EasterSunday #VikingAge #MedievalHistory #SiegeWarfare #FrankishChronicles #History #FexingoHistory #VikingHistory

Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo