Rodulf Haraldsson (died June 873), sometimes Rudolf, from
Old Norse
Old Norse, Old Nordic, or Old Scandinavian, is a stage of development of North Germanic dialects before their final divergence into separate Nordic languages. Old Norse was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and their overseas settlemen ...
Hróðulfr, was a
Viking
Vikings ; non, víkingr is the modern name given to seafaring people originally from Scandinavia (present-day Denmark, Norway and Sweden),
who from the late 8th to the late 11th centuries raided, pirated, traded and se ...
leader who raided the
British Isles
The British Isles are a group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean off the north-western coast of continental Europe, consisting of the islands of Great Britain, Ireland, the Isle of Man, the Inner and Outer Hebrides, the Northern Isles, ...
,
West Francia
In medieval history, West Francia (Medieval Latin: ) or the Kingdom of the West Franks () refers to the western part of the Frankish Empire established by Charlemagne. It represents the earliest stage of the Kingdom of France, lasting from about ...
,
Frisia, and
Lotharingia
Lotharingia ( la, regnum Lotharii regnum Lothariense Lotharingia; french: Lotharingie; german: Reich des Lothar Lotharingien Mittelreich; nl, Lotharingen) was a short-lived medieval successor kingdom of the Carolingian Empire. As a more durable ...
in the 860s and 870s. He was a son of
Harald the Younger
Harald the Younger (from "Herioldus iunior", how he is named in the '' Annales Xantenses'') was a Viking leader and a member of the Danish royal family. He has sometimes been mistakenly identified with Harald Klak, who was in fact his uncle and pr ...
and thus a nephew of
Rorik of Dorestad
Rorik (''Roricus, Rorichus''; Old Norse ''HrœrekR'', c. 810 – c. 880) was a Danish Viking, who ruled over parts of Friesland between 841 and 873, conquering Dorestad and Utrecht in 850. Rorik swore allegiance to Louis the German in 873. ...
, and a relative of both
Harald Klak
Harald 'Klak' Halfdansson (c. 785 – c. 852) was a king in Jutland (and possibly other parts of Denmark) around 812–814 and again from 819–827."Carolingian Chronicles: Royal Frankish Annals and Nithard's Histories" (1970), translation by Bernh ...
and
Godfrid Haraldsson
Godfrid Haraldsson () was the son of the Danish king Harald Klak. In 826 he was baptized together with his parents in Mainz in the Frankish Empire, with crown prince Lothair standing as a godparent.
After his baptism, Godfrid stayed in Lothair's ...
, but he was "the black sheep of the family".
[Simon Coupland (1998), "From Poachers to Gamekeepers: Scandinavian Warlords and Carolingian Kings", ''Early Medieval Europe'', 7 (1), 101–103.] He was
baptised
Baptism (from grc-x-koine, βάπτισμα, váptisma) is a form of ritual purification—a characteristic of many religions throughout time and geography. In Christianity, it is a Christian sacrament of initiation and adoption, almost inv ...
, but under what circumstances is unknown.
[ His career is obscure, but similar accounts are found in the three major series of '']Reichsannalen
The ''Reichsannalen'' are a class of annals composed anonymously in the Carolingian Empire throughout the 9th century. They first appeared under Pepin the Short in 741 and became ubiquitous at monasteries throughout the empire in the following deca ...
'' from the period: the ''Annales Bertiniani
''Annales Bertiniani'' (''Annals of Saint Bertin'') are late Carolingian, Frankish annals that were found in the Abbey of Saint Bertin, Saint-Omer, France, after which they are named. Their account is taken to cover the period 830-82, thus contin ...
'' from West Francia, the ''Annales Fuldenses
The ''Annales Fuldenses'' or ''Annals of Fulda'' are East Frankish chronicles that cover independently the period from the last years of Louis the Pious (died 840) to shortly after the end of effective Carolingian rule in East Francia with the a ...
'' from East Francia, and the ''Annales Xantenses
The ''Annales Xantenses'' or ''Annals of Xanten'' are a series of annals which adapt and continue the Royal Frankish Annals. Their first editor, Georg Pertz, thought they were perhaps written at the monastery at Xanten, hence their name. However, ...
'' from Middle Francia
Middle Francia ( la, Francia media) was a short-lived Frankish kingdom which was created in 843 by the Treaty of Verdun after an intermittent civil war between the grandsons of Charlemagne resulted in division of the united empire. Middle Franc ...
.[ He died in an unsuccessful attempt to impose a ]danegeld
Danegeld (; "Danish tax", literally "Dane yield" or tribute) was a tax raised to pay tribute or protection money to the Viking raiders to save a land from being ravaged. It was called the ''geld'' or ''gafol'' in eleventh-century sources. It ...
on the locals of the Ostergo
Eastergoa (also Ostergau, Ostergo, or Oostergo) was one of the seven areas and one of the three '' Gaue'' within what is today the province of Friesland in the Netherlands.
Area
On its west side Eastergoa was bordered by the Middelsee with ...
.[Einar Joranson (1923), ''The Danegeld in France'' (Rock Island: Augustana), 237–39.]
In 864 Rodulf led a band of mercenaries (''locarii'') into Lotharingia to extract a payment from Lothair II, who exacted four ''denarii
The denarius (, dēnāriī ) was the standard Roman silver coin from its introduction in the Second Punic War to the reign of Gordian III (AD 238–244), when it was gradually replaced by the antoninianus. It continued to be minted in very ...
'' from every '' mansus'' (landholding) in the kingdom, as well as large number of cattle and much flour, wine, and beer.[ The only source to mention it is the contemporary ''Annales Bertiniani'':
]
''Hlotharius, Hlotharii filius, de omni regno suo quattuor denarios ex omni manso colligens, summam denariorum cum multa pensione farinae atque pecorum necnon vini ac sicerae Rodulfo Normanno, Herioldi filio, ac suis locarii nomine tribuit.''[
]
Lothar, son of Lothar, raised four ''denarii'' from every manse in his whole kingdom, and handed over the sum in cash, plus a large quantity of flour and livestock and also wine and cider, to the Norseman Hróðulfr odulf son of Haraldr arald and his men, all this being termed a payment for service.[The translation is Janet Nelson's, availabl]
here.
The word translated "cider" or "beer", ''sicera'', is derived from ancient Hebrew and can refer to any alcoholic beverage that is not wine. It has been translated sherbet.[ The whole amount of the cash is not recorded. Whether it was paid as a ]stipend
A stipend is a regular fixed sum of money paid for services or to defray expenses, such as for scholarship, internship, or apprenticeship. It is often distinct from an income or a salary because it does not necessarily represent payment for work p ...
or as a tribute
A tribute (; from Latin ''tributum'', "contribution") is wealth, often in kind, that a party gives to another as a sign of submission, allegiance or respect. Various ancient states exacted tribute from the rulers of land which the state conqu ...
is debated: Einar Joranson could not tell, but Simon Coupland has argued that ''locarii'' (plural of ''locarium'') refers consistently in Carolingian sources to payment for mercenary services, as opposed to ''tributum'' (defensive payment).[
Twice in 872 Rodulf joined his uncle, Rorik, in paying a visit to ]Charles the Bald
Charles the Bald (french: Charles le Chauve; 13 June 823 – 6 October 877), also known as Charles II, was a 9th-century king of West Francia (843–877), king of Italy (875–877) and emperor of the Carolingian Empire (875–877). After a ...
, as recorded in the ''Annales Bertiniani'':
On 20 January he harles the Baldleft Compendio and went to the monastery of ame missing in surviving manuscriptsto hold talks with the Norsemen Hrørek orikand Hróðulfr odulf . . In October he harles the Baldcame by boat down the Meuse
The Meuse ( , , , ; wa, Moûze ) or Maas ( , ; li, Maos or ) is a major European river, rising in France and flowing through Belgium and the Netherlands before draining into the North Sea from the Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta. It has a t ...
to Maastricht
Maastricht ( , , ; li, Mestreech ; french: Maestricht ; es, Mastrique ) is a city and a municipality in the southeastern Netherlands. It is the capital and largest city of the province of Limburg. Maastricht is located on both sides of the ...
and held talks with the Norsemen Hrørek and Hróðulfr who had come up the river to meet him. He gave a gracious reception to Hrørek who had proved loyal to him, but Hróðulfr he dismissed empty-handed, because he had been plotting acts of treachery and pitching his demands too high. Charles prepared his faithful men for defense against treacherous attacks of Hróðulfr. Then he rode back by way of Attigny to Saint Medard's Abbey, where he spent Christmas.[
]
Added to his possible paid military service to Lothair II, his close relations with the Frankish kings suggests he may have had a fiefdom
A fief (; la, feudum) was a central element in medieval contracts based on feudal law. It consisted of a form of property holding or other rights granted by an overlord to a vassal, who held it in fealty or "in fee" in return for a form of f ...
in Frisia, perhaps having succeeded his father there in the 840s.[ If so, then Charles became his overlord by the ]Treaty of Meerssen
The Treaty of Mersen or Meerssen, concluded on 8 August 870, was a treaty to partition the realm of Lothair II, known as Lotharingia, by his uncles Louis the German of East Francia and Charles the Bald of West Francia, the two surviving sons of ...
in 870. His major Viking activities took place, according to the annals, in West Francia and "across the water", presumably referring to the British Isles.[ According to the ''Annales Bertiniani'', in the autumn of 873 Charles the Bald warned his leading vassals in the north of his kingdom to beware of Rodulf possible treachery.][ ]Janet Nelson
Dame Janet Laughland Nelson (born 1942), also known as Jinty Nelson, is a British historian. She is Emerita Professor of Medieval History at King's College London.
Early life
Born on 28 March 1942 in Blackpool, Nelson was educated at Keswic ...
, commenting on the ''Annales'', speculated that Rodulf was conspiring with Charles rebellious younger son Carloman.[
According to all three annals, Rodulf arrived in northern Frisia in June 873 and sent messengers to the Ostergo calling for tribute (''tributa'' in the words of the ''Annales Fuldenses''). The Frisians replied that they owed taxes only to their king, ]Louis the German
Louis the German (c. 806/810 – 28 August 876), also known as Louis II of Germany and Louis II of East Francia, was the first king of East Francia, and ruled from 843 to 876 AD. Grandson of emperor Charlemagne and the third son of Louis the P ...
, and his sons ( Carloman, Louis Louis may refer to:
* Louis (coin)
* Louis (given name), origin and several individuals with this name
* Louis (surname)
* Louis (singer), Serbian singer
* HMS ''Louis'', two ships of the Royal Navy
See also
Derived or associated terms
* Lewis ( ...
, and Charles). A battle ensued, in which Rodulf was killed and his troops routed.[ The ''Annales Fuldenses'' record that a Scandinavian Christian, whom they do not name, fought on the Frisian side and provided counsel that was crucial to victory.][ These ''Annales'' also provide a full and detailed account of the battle.
The account of the ''Annales Bertiniani'' is more brief:
]
Meanwhile the Norseman Hróðulfr (Latin: ''Rodulfus''), who had inflicted many evils on Charles's realm, was slain in the realm of Louis with 500 and more of his accomplices. Charles got reliable news of this as he remained in his position in Angers
Angers (, , ) is a city in western France, about southwest of Paris. It is the prefecture of the Maine-et-Loire department and was the capital of the province of Anjou until the French Revolution. The inhabitants of both the city and the pr ...
.[
]
The anonymous author of the ''Annales Xantenses'' remarks acidly on his death:
''Quamvis baptizatus esset, caninam vitam digne morte finivit.''
Even though he had been baptized, he ended his dog's life with a fitting death.[Translation from Coupland, 102. A fuller translation of the passage can be foun]
here
:
Ruodoldus, cousin (''nepos'') of the mentioned tyrant orik who plundered many regions across the sea and the kingdom of the Franks from all directions and awfully plundered Gaul est Franciaand almost entire Frisia (came to him). In the same region in the ''pagus
In ancient Rome, the Latin word (plural ) was an administrative term designating a rural subdivision of a tribal territory, which included individual farms, villages (), and strongholds () serving as refuges, as well as an early medieval geogra ...
'' Oostergo he was nimbly killed with five hundred men by the very same people and, although he has been baptized, he finished his doggish life by a deserved death.
References
{{Reflist
External links
*Luit van der Tuuk
Hróðulfr
''Gjallar: Noormannen in de Lage Landen''.
* ttp://home.tiscali.nl/gjallar/Bronnen_AF.htm Norsemen in the Low Countries: Extracts from the ''Annales Fuldenses''br>Norsemen in the Low Countries: Extracts from the ''Annales Xantenses''
Viking warriors
873 deaths
Year of birth unknown
9th-century Vikings