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Siege of Paris: 885

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Paris was ruled by Bishop Gauzlin when the city was attacked by a Viking force under Sigirid. The Norse were refused permission to continue upstream and set about besieging Paris. Odo (Eudes) and his brother played key roles in its defense. A description of the siege is courtesy of Professor Nicholas Pappas of Sam Houston State University, from his website.

885. The Northmen came to Paris with 700 sailing ships, not counting those of smaller size which are commonly called barques. At one stretch the Seine was lined with the vessels for more than two leagues, so that one might ask in astonishment in what cavern the river had been swallowed up, since it was not to be seen. The second day after the fleet of the Northmen arrived under the walls of the city, Siegfred, who was then king only in name[2] but who was in command of the expedition, came to the dwelling of the illustrious bishop. He bowed his head and said: "Gauzelin, have compassion on yourself and on your flock. We beseech you to listen to us, in order that you may escape death. Allow us only the freedom of the city. We will do no harm and we will see to it that whatever belongs either to you or to Odo shall be strictly respected." Count Odo, who later became king, was then the defender of the city[3]. The bishop replied to Siegfred, "Paris has been entrusted to us by the Emperor Charles, who, after God, king and lord of the powerful, rules over almost all the world. He has put it in our care, not at all that the kingdom may be ruined by our misconduct, but that he may keep it and be assured of its peace. If, like us, you had been given the duty of defending these walls, and if you should have done that which you ask us to do, what treatment do you think you would deserve?" Siegfred replied: "I should deserve that my head be cut off and thrown to the dogs. Nevertheless, if you do not listen to my demand, on the morrow our war machines will destroy you with poisoned arrows. You will be the prey of famine and of pestilence and these evils will renew themselves perpetually every year." So saying, he departed and gathered together his comrades.

In the morning the Northmen, boarding their ships, approached the tower and attacked it.[4] They shook it with their engines and stormed it with arrows. The city resounded with clamor, the people were aroused, the bridges trembled. All came together to defend the tower. There Odo, his brother Robert,[5] and the Count Ragenar distinguished themselves for bravery; likewise the courageous Abbot Ebolus[6], the nephew of the bishop. A keen arrow wounded the prelate, while at his side the young warrior Frederick was struck by a sword. Frederick died, but the old man, thanks to God, survived. There perished many Franks; after receiving wounds they were lavish of life. At last the enemy withdrew, carrying off their dead. The evening came. The tower had been sorely tried, but its foundations were still solid, as were also the narrow bales which surmounted them. The people spent the night repairing it with boards. By the next day, on the old citadel had been erected a new tower of wood, a half higher than the former one. At sunrise the Danes caught their first glimpse of it. Once more the latter engaged with the Christians in violent combat. On every side arrows sped and blood flowed. With the arrows mingled the stones hurled by slings and war-machines; the air was filled with them. The tower which had been built during the night groaned under the strokes of the darts, the city shook with the struggle, the people ran hither and thither, the bells jangled. The warriors rushed together to defend the tottering tower and to repel the fierce assault. Among these warriors two, a count and an abbot [Ebolus], surpassed all the rest in courage. The former was the redoubtable Odo who never experienced defeat and who continually revived the spirits of the worn-out defenders. He ran along the ramparts and hurled back the enemy. On those who were secreting themselves so as to undermine the tower he poured oil, wax, and pitch, which, being mixed and heated, burned the Danes and tore off their scalps. Some of them died; others threw themselves into the river to escape the awful substance. . . [7]

Meanwhile Paris was suffering not only from the sword outside but also from a pestilence within which brought death to many noble men. Within the walls there was not ground in which to bury the dead. . . . Odo, the future king, was sent to Charles, emperor of the Franks,[8] to implore help for the stricken city.

One day Odo suddenly appeared in splendor in the midst of three bands of warriors. The sun made his armor glisten and greeted him before it illuminated the country around. The Parisians saw their beloved chief at a distance, but the enemy, hoping to prevent his gaining entrance to the tower, crossed the Seine and took up their position on the bank. Nevertheless Odo, his horse at a gallop, got past the Northmen and reached the tower, whose gates Ebolus opened to him. The enemy pursued fiercely the comrades of the count who were trying to keep up with him and get refuge in the tower. [The Danes were defeated in the attack.]

Now came the Emperor Charles, surrounded by soldiers of all nations, even as the sky is adorned with resplendent stars. A great throng, speaking many languages, accompanied him. He established his camp at the foot of the heights of Montmartre, near the tower. He allowed the Northmen to have the country of Sens to plunder[9]; and in the spring he gave them 700 pounds of silver on condition that by the month of March they leave France for their own kingdom.[10] Then Charles returned, destined to an early death.[11]

In addition to the sources Professor Pappas notes, the story is told in Guizot (1824) in two books (58 pages) Serendipitously, this book is in the USF library.

As noted, Odo called on Emperor Charles the Fat for support, which came in the form of a royal army. However, Charles decided it would be better to ransom the city and allow the Norse to pass than to fight. This effectively lifted the siege and opened Burgundy to a winter of Norse plunder. The Parisians were not pleased with this resolution ("les Parisiens apprirent tout a coup avec un profonde indignation que l'empereur traitait avec l'ennemi" Martin 484) and refused passage. The Norse were forced to portage around the city to continue upstream. Charles was not only letting Paris off the hook, he was also taking revenge on the Burgundians. From Martin (484) "parce que les habitants n'obeissaient pas a l'empereur" and were instead supporting his political opponents.

Sources (see References for the full citation):

Bunbabin, J, France in the Making 843-1180

Coupland, S., The “Vikings in Francia and Anglo-Saxon England to 911,” The New Cambridge Medieval History, Vol. II

Guizot, M., Collection Des Memoires Relatifs a l'Histoire de France

Martin, H., Histoire de France

Nelson, J, “The Frankish Kingdoms, 814 – 898: The West,” The New Cambridge Medieval History, Vol. II

Riche, P., The Carolingians