The Viking Siege of Paris: When the Northmen Held France for Ransom скачать в хорошем качестве

The Viking Siege of Paris: When the Northmen Held France for Ransom

In 885 CE, 700 Viking longships appeared on the Seine River, transforming Paris from a minor fortress into the epicenter of European resistance. For nearly a year, Count Odo and 200 defenders held an island city against thousands of Viking warriors who didn't want to conquer—they wanted to collect. This is the story of how the Northmen perfected medieval extortion and accidentally created France in the process. ⚔️ What You'll Discover: How 700 Viking ships turned the Seine into a chokepoint The engineering genius of Paris's bridge fortifications Why the Vikings dragged ships overland to bypass the siege Charles the Fat's cowardly betrayal that changed European history How the Danegeld system turned raiding into recurring revenue The birth of Normandy from Viking extortion tactics This isn't a story about barbarian invasions. This is a masterclass in medieval economics, strategic patience, and the birth of a nation from a single island's refusal to surrender. Historical Context: The 885-886 Siege of Paris marked a turning point in Viking-European relations. The Danegeld system (protection money paid to Vikings) became standard across medieval Europe. The siege directly led to the fall of Charles the Fat, the rise of Odo as King of France, and eventually the creation of Normandy in 911 when Viking chieftain Rollo traded raiding for territory. 📚 Primary Sources Referenced: Abbo Cernuus's "Bella Parisiacae urbis" (contemporary account of the siege), Frankish Royal Annals, archaeological evidence from Île de la Cité excavations, Scandinavian sagas referencing the Seine campaigns. ⏱️ Chapters: 0:00 - Seven Hundred Ships on the Seine 0:15 - The Dying Frankish Empire 2:00 - Odo vs Sigfred: The Business of War 3:30 - The Siege Begins: Blood on the Bridges 7:00 - The Arrival of a Coward King 9:30 - The Birth of the Ransom Machine 11:30 - From Vikings to Normans 13:00 - The Island That Refused to Break 🔥 This siege proved that paying invaders only guarantees they'll return. The Vikings transformed raiding from a seasonal activity into a permanent business model, and Europe paid the price in silver for generations. 🔔 Subscribe for more myth-busting medieval documentaries that reveal the brutal economics of power.