Henry's Tale: The Vikings Besiege Paris Quiz

Answer: Ragnar Lodbrok

It is uncertain whether Ragnar Lodbrok is a historical or fictional character, but he is credited with many accomplishments! Called the Scourge of France and England, Ragnar could have possibly become King of Denmark. He is also said to have fathered many sons, the leaders of the Great Heathen Army, that attacked England in 865.

Answer: The Seine

The Vikings were sporadically raiding the outer reaches of Charlemagne's empire before his death, and he established a system of coastal defense in the north by 810. By 820, under the leadership of Charlemagne's son, Louis the Pious, the Franks had successfully defended their borders against a Viking assault.

However, with the strife and civil war that occurred after the death of Louis, it was just a matter of time before the Vikings would be successful.

Answer: Dragonship

The Vikings constructed different boats for different purposes, but the longship, or dragonship, was not only used for transporting troops across the ocean but sailing down rivers as well. Perfect for navigation in shallow waters, the longship only required water that was one meter deep.

It was double-ended so that direction could be reversed very quickly without having to turn around. Oars were fitted along its entire length; it is believed that rowers set on chests containing personal possessions rather than taking up space with benches. Longships enabled Vikings to attack places that people never dreamed would need protection!

Answer: False

Information given in Neil Oliver's, "The Viking World", suggests they first overwintered in Dublin in 841. Historians believe, however, that the year 845 marks the transition of the Vikings from a trading people to a raiding people, and that a change took place in why they overwintered. According to the "Annals of St. Bertin", the Vikings brought their households and created a temporary settlement before the siege of Paris.

As time went on, they would typically overwinter in places where supplies had already been procured and the locals were not able to raise a force to remove them.

Some historians believe that the Vikings used overwintering to avoid the ice and snow of their homeland, however, others believe that overwintering gave the Vikings time to assemble and position themselves in a favorable place to begin raiding in the spring.

After the siege of Paris, overwintering definitely came to mean there would be a quick spring plunder somewhere nearby.

Answer: Charles the Bald

Charles the Bald was the grandson of Charlemagne and one of the three sons of Louis the Pious. As was Germanic custom, Louis planned to divide his empire between his three sons, but the eldest son, Lothair, would become emperor and supervise the others. After their father died, the two younger sons, Louis the German and Charles the Bald, jointly rebelled against their elder brother. The fighting that ensued left the empire weak and fragmented - barely even a pale shadow of Charlemagne's empire.

After Charles the Bald divided his army, Ragnar Lodbrok defeated the smaller half, took prisoners, and hanged them all. Their deaths were considered to be sacrifices to Odin, as well as a way to terrorize their enemies.

Answer: Easter

At that time the city of Paris consisted of the Ile de la Cité (the island in the Seine where Notre Dame stands) and it was easily conquered and plundered by the Vikings. It is unclear how long they occupied the city.

Answer: Disease

Apparently some sort of plague, perhaps dysentery, broke out in the Viking camp during the siege. It is said that the Vikings not only prayed to their gods, but also took the advice of some of their Christian prisoners to fast. After that the plague subsided.

It is not known how many were lost, but apparently after leaving Paris, and raiding along the river, the group sailed to Aquitaine to rest.

Answer: 7,000 livres

Charles really didn't have any choice. He desperately needed to buy some time. It is estimated that the 7,000 livres, both gold and silver, weighed 5,670 pounds by today's standards. The livre was the currency of France until 1794.

Answer: Danegeld

At the time, the term "Danegeld" was not used but it did eventually come to identify a tax that was paid from England and France to Viking raiders to buy off attack. This payment would be the first of thirteen payments of Danegeld by the Franks. Does the fact that the Vikings could raid Paris, extract a huge ransom, continue to raid down the river as they left, and stop to winter on the northern borders of Francia show their power or Frankish weakness? Perhaps both!

The runestone in the picture commemorates the fact that Ulfríkr of Sweden received the Danegeld twice.

Answer: False

Although giving in to Viking demands made Charles look weak, it was the only thing he could do. He had his brothers to deal with, as well as the nobles. He really couldn't even count on his own followers to assemble an army to try and defeat the Vikings. Hopefully the ransom would buy some peace - and time!