Ragnar Lothbrok's Forgotten Raid on Paris

While the Annals of St. Bertin credit a single Ragnar with the 845 siege of Paris, historical reality is far more tangled. This episode untangles the myth from the man who actually led the Great Heathen Army’s western thrust: Reginherus. We explore how this Viking leader, possibly a chieftain rather than a king, navigated the politics of West Francia under Charles the Bald. From the tactical brilliance of navigating the Seine to the massive Danegeld paid to secure peace, we examine the first major Viking incursion into the heart of Europe. Lucas and Luna discuss the archaeological evidence from the Île de la Cité, the diplomatic maneuvering that ended the siege without bloodshed, and why this event set the template for every Viking raid that followed. You will hear about the specific terms of the treaty, the role of the Frankish church in negotiating ransom, and how the fear generated by Reginherus reshaped French royal strategy for decades.

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