Siege of Chartres (911)

The Siege of Chartres took place in spring 911 during the age of Viking incursions in Europe. The Viking leader, Rollo, and his men laid siege to the city of Chartres, in West Francia. But they failed to achieve their goal before the arrival, in July 911, of a relief army sent to battle them. The engagement that ensued resulted in the defeat of the Norsemen. Although, Viking raids were far from being a rare occurrence as the Frankish realms had to contend with such sudden incursions for decades, this one would prove to have everlasting consequences on European history.

Following Rollo's defeat, the King of the West Franks, Charles the Simple, granted him a territory in the northern lands of his kingdom in exchange of an oath of fealty and his religious conversion. This territory, located between the mouth of the Seine and Rouen, a city Rollo had previously raided and seized in 876, officially formed the fief known as the County of Rouen. This county, through kinship in the decades to come, would expand into what came to be known as the Duchy of Normandy.

Prelude
Vikings had previously raided and burned down Chartres in 858. As a result, the town's defenses were rebuilt and strengthened. In the 53 years between the sieges, Chartres had been fortified with trapezoidal structure and had undergone no direct attacks. Rollo and his followers, who likely had been conducting a raiding campaign in north central West Francia launched the siege of Chartres in spring 911 (either April or May). The city defenders were led by a bishop named Gantelme. In summer 911, he would be joined by a relief army under Robert I of France, Richard, Duke of Burgundy, Ebles, Count of Poitiers and Manassès, Count of Dijon.

The siege
Rollo initiated the siege by isolating the town and depriving it of resources. This was achieved by burning down the surrounding area. As for the siege itself, it seems to have been carried out according to the rules. Rollo set up camp in the Eure valley. In this way, the Norse chieftain ensured easy access to supplies and command of both banks of the little Eure river. They had also prepared mobile shelters but these would be rendered useless by the arrival of the relief army in July 911. As previously stated the fortified town of Chartres had the appearance of a trapezoid. One side, on the steep heights protected by the Eure River, was inaccessible. Two others, though less strong, still presented a natural defense. But the two valleys leading off from the Eure eventually reached the plateau at the point where the Place des Épars in Chartres is located today. This was the weak point, the attackable curtain wall, and probably the fortress wall re-established by the inhabitants of Chartres after the disaster of 858.

The Norsemen attacked the town with the artillery of the time. Assaults were initiated to seize the city but little is known about the circumstances surrounding these attempts. It is, however, certain the Norsemen had failed to achieve their goal before the arrival of the relief army in July. The West Frankish forces were made up of Frenchmen, Burgundians and Aquitanians. These troops had chosen a concentration point south-east of Chartres. Their primary leaders included Duke Robert, Duke Richard of Burgundy and Count Ebles of Poitiers.

According to legend, Bishop Gantelme, dressed in his vestments as if to say mass, exposed the Virgin's tunic (a holy relic supposedly worn by the Virgin Mary) on the ramparts. The Norsemen had begun shooting arrows at the ecclesiastical group as soon as it appeared on the ramparts; but soon they felt blinded, and their leaders had no thought but to flee. Gantelme then ordered and led a sortie of iron-clad men who took the besiegers at their backs and finished enveloping them. In reality, the tunic may have simply served as a distraction. The bishop appeared from the remparts, displaying the insignia of the Virgin's tunic. Then, the besieged troops, exiting through several gates, caught the Norsemen, who were at the time contending with Robert's horsemen, on the back foot. The bulk of the Viking army, enveloped, was reduced to surrender and the highest-ranking of the Norsemen present taken prisoner.

But Rollo, who had abandoned his men, was able to escape with a handful of his companions. Furious at his failure, he fled to Jeufosse and then returned to Rouen. He was followed by a small company, which had initially taken refuge in Lèves, but eventually managed to escape.

Aftermath
The victory at Chartres was followed by an attempt to convert the Norsemen of the lower valley of the Seine and the West Franks went further. The clergy, well inspired after the blow dealt to Rollo, had judged the moment favorable to enter into peace negotiations, which led to the famous Treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte. The Norsemen had been formidable enough to persuade Charles the Simple that they might become valuable allies. The contemporary sources present, on the whole, serious difficulties, but it remains certain that a link exists between Robert's battle with Rollo and the latter's conversion to Christianity.

In 1618 the Italian painter Padovanino painted a version of the event which now hangs in the Pinacoteca di Brera.

Treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte
The treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte was agreed on between Rollo and Charles the Simple, who met personally to discuss the terms. Rollo was granted the land around the mouth of the Seine and Rouen. This marked the establishment of what would become Duchy of Normandy and the genesis of the Normans. In exchange of his new fief, Rollo swore loyalty to the King of West Francia, was baptized and promised to defend the Seine's estuary from other Viking raiders.