EPISODE · Jun 21, 2026 · 6 MIN
Ragnar Lothbrok and the Annals of St. Bertin: The Siege of Paris 845
from Ragnar Lothbrok: Legend, Myth, and Historical Reality — Fexingo History · host Fexingo
In this episode, we dive deep into the only contemporary written account of a Viking raid that may be linked to Ragnar Lothbrok: the Siege of Paris in 845. Using the Annals of St. Bertin and other Frankish sources, we explore the fleet of 120 ships, the Easter Sunday attack, the astronomical sum of 7,000 pounds of silver paid as Danegeld by Charles the Bald, and the mysterious plague that struck the Vikings after the city was plundered. We also examine the figure of Reginherus, possibly Ragnar himself, and how this event shaped Frankish defenses and Viking tactics. Along the way, we touch on the legacy of the siege in later sagas, the role of the Seine as a highway for raiders, and the political fragmentation of West Frankia that made such attacks possible. If you've been following our series on Ragnar Lothbrok, this episode fills in a crucial historical anchor for the legend. #RagnarLothbrok #SiegeOfParis845 #AnnalesBertiniani #Vikings #CharlesTheBald #Danegeld #WestFrankia #Seine #Reginherus #FrankishChronicles #VikingRaids #9thCentury #MedievalHistory #PaganRaiders #EasterSunday #Plague #FexingoHistory #History Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
What this episode covers
In this episode, we dive deep into the only contemporary written account of a Viking raid that may be linked to Ragnar Lothbrok: the Siege of Paris in 845. Using the Annals of St. Bertin and other Frankish sources, we explore the fleet of 120 ships, the Easter Sunday attack, the astronomical sum of 7,000 pounds of silver paid as Danegeld by Charles the Bald, and the mysterious plague that struck the Vikings after the city was plundered. We also examine the figure of Reginherus, possibly Ragnar himself, and how this event shaped Frankish defenses and Viking tactics. Along the way, we touch on the legacy of the siege in later sagas, the role of the Seine as a highway for raiders, and the political fragmentation of West Frankia that made such attacks possible. If you've been following our series on Ragnar Lothbrok, this episode fills in a crucial historical anchor for the legend. #RagnarLothbrok #SiegeOfParis845 #AnnalesBertiniani #Vikings #CharlesTheBald #Danegeld #WestFrankia #Seine #Reginherus #FrankishChronicles #VikingRaids #9thCentury #MedievalHistory #PaganRaiders #EasterSunday #Plague #FexingoHistory #History Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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Ragnar Lothbrok and the Annals of St. Bertin: The Siege of Paris 845
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