The 845 Viking siege of Paris forced West Francia's king to pay a large ransom, establishing a precedent for tribute payments to Norse raiders.
Key Facts
- Viking fleet size
- 120 ships
- River used
- Seine
- Ransom paid
- 7,000 French livres
- Ransom weight
- 2,570 kg of gold and silver kg
- Viking leader
- Reginherus (possibly Ragnar Lodbrok)
- Month of river entry
- March 845
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
A Viking force led by the Norse chieftain Reginherus, commanding a fleet of 120 ships and thousands of warriors, entered the Seine in March 845 as part of a broader invasion of West Francia. King Charles the Bald assembled an army to resist, but the Vikings defeated one of its two divisions, causing the remainder to withdraw.
With Frankish resistance broken, the Viking fleet sailed up the Seine and reached Paris at the end of March during Easter. The invaders plundered and occupied the city, meeting no further military opposition and effectively holding the Frankish capital under siege.
Charles the Bald negotiated an end to the occupation by paying a ransom of 7,000 French livres in gold and silver, after which the Viking forces withdrew. This payment set a pattern of Danegeld-style tribute that West Frankish rulers would continue to employ against subsequent Norse incursions.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Reginherus (Ragnar).
Side B
1 belligerent
Charles the Bald.