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Archiver > GEN-MEDIEVAL > 1995-07 > 0804947567


From: Ulf Larsson <>
Subject: Re: CONTINUING TO KICK AROUND POOR OLD ROLLO
Date: 5 Jul 1995 12:32:47 GMT


(Tom Camfield) wrote:
>In article <3t9t7a$>, (Todd A.
>Farmerie) wrote:
>
>>
>> In a previous article, (Tom Camfield) says:
>
>(snip, snip...)
>
>> Does Dudo refer to Gorm as both brother of Rollo and nephew of Sigfrid in
>> the same place, or might these be different Gorms?
>
>His exact statement (p. 30): "According to Dudo, Rollo had a brother with
>the name of Gorm. This prince arrived in France in the company of his uncle
>Sigfrid, Ragnar's son, and of Godfrid, the son of Harold Klak. He took a
>prominent part in the battle of Saulcourt fought on the 3rd of August, 881
>(Alb eric of Trois-Fontaines, 'Rerum Gallicarum Scriptore,' IX, 58B) and
>passed to Lorraine. He used the palace of the Emperor Otto at Aachen as
>stables (Adam of Bremen) and in the treaty of Esloo he was paid off in gold
>and silver ('plura millia argenti et auri,' according to 'Chronologia Rerum
>Septrionalium, Langebek, V, 127)."
>
As Rollo and Gorm are Danish princes it may be relevant to find out
what is known about Danish Royalty durin the 9th centure. As I have
only limited knowledge based on secondary sources the following
may not be completely right (caveat emptor).

In the Frankish Annals (FA) for 812 the folowing persons are given:
- Harald who could have been King before Godfred?
- Godfred who was king c.800 - 810 (murdered)
- Hemming was king 810-812 (peace with Emperor Charles in 811)
- Sigfrid son of a brother of Godfred (paternal relations assumed!)
- Anulo son of a brother of Harald (paternal relation assumed?)

Anulo is certainly a distorded Nordic name (Anund, Arnulf, Ane..?)
This may be the historic person that Saxo Grammaticus called
"Ring" and that Snorrri called "Sigurd Ring". (In mythical sagas
persons with historic names appears in any place and time!)

There is a gap between 812 and 826 which should be filled by
Anulo, Sifrid or others . (Sigrfrid and Anulo are according
to FA 812 fighting for the power.)

- Harald Klak is king 826-827 after getting the emperors
(Louis the pious?) support when he and his 400 followers
are baptized. He is then expelled in 827 by

- Haarek Godfredsson who is king (827- c.854) and is succeded
by his son Haarek Haareksson (854 -?)

The line of Godfred seems then be hanging to the power until
the turn of the century when the Swedish Viking chief Olof followed
by his son Gupta and his son Sigtrygg rules antil
Gorm the Old take the power before year 940.

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