The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-04-06
HISTORY OF POLL0 AND
THE NORMAN MILLENNIUM

1.-THE Danish part Of England. from the
Norwegian settlement on the islands
north and west OF Scotland An army
Jeanne also from Ireland according ia
1 Dudo, the first Norman historian).
There was a very lively intercommuni'
ication at this time between Ireland
and the Scandinavian countries.
In S91 the Vikings lost great and
important battle at the Dyle river near
Louvain, and the army had to leave
| Netherlands and Gaul and went TO
England Here it was torn up by AL
fred the Great in 500, and the rest
went to Northumberland.
/ After the battle near Louvain (S91)
Gaul was freed from the Vikings for
the first time In fifty years. But five
years later an expedition came in five
big ships, and the Vikings settled
again near the mouth of the Seine.
From this time they settled perna-
nently. The army increased steadily
/ by newcomers Among the chiefs was
Rolf or Rollo. The war kept on with
varying success. In Oil Rollo lost
great battle against the city of Chatres
and its bishop But Rollo was able to
make fine retreat to his ships.
Rollo was a contemporary of Alfred
the Great He also became friend OF
his. But before this happened Rollo
had Joined the Danish chief, Guthrun,
in his war against King Alfred. The
result of the war was that Guthrun
should have all the land north or
Thames, that he should acknowledge
King Alfred's overlordshtp and that he
and his men should become christians.
From this we might infer that King
Alfred, after this treaty, had visits by
| the Danish chiefs and therefore by
Rollo. He is said to have gone to
France on advice Of King Alfred.
The Frankish king, Charles the Sim
pie, and his counselors concluded that
the wisest plan in handling the Vik-
ings was to follow thee example OF
King Alfred and to grant Rollo a part
of the northern France. 1t seemed inn
possible to drive the Mortimer out Of
the country. The king and Rollo came
to an understanding at ST. Clair-sur-
Epte, mentioned before
That proved to be a blessing to
France. Rollo was now duke of Nor
mandy, which became the thriftiest
province of France. He and his men
were now defenders Of their new coun-
try. added a new and strong force in
the work of civilization, and were
great reformers. He was always faith
full to his king and went into war
for his sake. AS O. ruler he was wise
and just. Among his people he was
for centuries regarded as the person
ification of law and justice. No kind
of robbing was allowed, and 1t was
said that. child could travel through
his land with a bag of gold nnmo-
Tested. His country was therefore soon
rebuilt and reconstructed, because here
the people could work without being
robbed or molested How he divided
his land among his Vikings we don't
know. He "roped' 1t among his men,
The Normans retained the independ-
ent spirit of the Vikings They also
retained their regard to equal right to
law and justice. They transplanted
that trait to England where we find a
elimination in the Magma Charta or
the Great Charter. The same spirit
goes through the constitution of the
United States. We can trace a spirit
Of the continuation and DEVELOPMENT
Of freedom from Rollo's time to ours.
After Rollo became a christian we
are told that he had not entirely lost
faith in Thor, the most cherished god
among the Norwegians. But Rollo and
his successors and the Normans as a
whole were great protectors of the
church. The Gothic art and architec-
ture reached it's height among the
Normans.
After Rollo became ruler of Nor
mandy, he was still much taken up
by warfare. AS said before, he had to
defend his king. When he was about
so years old, he conquered Bessin.
which belonged to Normandy. accord
ing to the treaty of ST. Clair Epte.
Shortly after he abdicated according
to the wish of his warriors. His son.
William Longsword, came now on the
throne
After this Rollo lived about ave
years His body lies now in the cathe-
dral in Rouen, where also William
Longsword has his last resting place.
Rollo was contemporary of Haralds
Hairfair Of Norway and King Alfred
or England. There were truly great
men. Rollo became the ancestor to all
the Norman dukes and since the con-
quest of England to all the English
kings. His people, the Normans. were
the leading and the superior peopIa
In Europe for at least 200 years. Nor
mans formed kingdom in southern
Italy and we all the part they took in
the Crusades. Where the French and
English tongue is spoken, Rollo and
among his successors especially. viii
liam the Conqueror should be .remar-
bered at the millennium next wear
The celebration in France win taka
place next month of June around Pen
tecost time Rouen Is to have ona
week for a Norman exhibition and !
historical carnival. The festivities VIII
be continued for another week AZ tbe
city of Paris, where a monument ~
Rollo is to be unveiled. The president
Of France is the honorary president "a
the Norman millennium. The active
president Of this affair is in the HANDS
Of Hon. Aug. Leblond, mayor OF tba
city Of Rouen. This city has offered
two models of their Rollo statue. erect
ed near st. Quen's church, one to Nor.
in Norway ana an.
TO the American Rollo committee GRE
ated by the Norwegian society II
America. This statue will be placed ~
Fargo N. D., in the Red River yallav
1f the North, which Is a center az tha
Norwegian settlers in this counfrv
NnsIAiN wAnNAan,