The Viking Siege of Asselt (882) and the Controversial Treaty of Charles the Fat

In 882, Emperor Charles the Fat gathers a large Frankish army at Worms to confront the Vikings encamped at Asselt on the Meuse in Frisia. This campaign, intended to drive the Norse invaders from Carolingian lands, ultimately results in a controversial treaty with Viking leaders Godfrid and Sigifrid, shaping Charles’ historical reputation.

The Frankish Military Campaign Against the Vikings

• Following his return from Italy and assumption of the East Frankish throne in Regensburg (early May 882), Charles takes immediate action against the Viking threat in Frisia.
• An army is assembled consisting of:
  • Franks, Alemanni, Bavarii, Thuringii, Saxons, and Lombards.
• The campaign strategy:
  • Lombards, Alemanni, and Franks move up the Rhine on the western bank.
  • Bavarians march along the eastern bank and cross the Rhine at Andernach.
• Arnulf of Carinthia (Bavarians) and Henry of Franconia (Franks) are sent ahead to ambush the Norsemen.

The Siege of Asselt and the Unexpected Truce

According to the Mainz continuation of the Annales Fuldenses:

• The Frankish army is on the verge of capturing the Viking camp, but Charles is persuaded by Liutward of Vercelli (allegedly bribed by the Vikings) to accept peace terms instead of pressing the attack.
• Charles meets Viking envoys, leading to negotiations instead of outright battle.
• Godfrid is granted the Kennemerland (formerly ruled by Rorik of Dorestad) as a vassal of Charles.
• Sigifrid is paid Danegeld, with some funds taken from church treasuries.

Alternative Account from the Bavarian Continuation of the Annales Fuldenses

• The ambush fails due to treachery, delaying the Frankish assault.
• The twelve-day siege is broken by disease from rotting corpses and a violent hailstorm.
• Godfrid swears oaths to Charles, promising never again to raid the empire, and is baptized, with Charles serving as his godfather.

Aftermath and Contemporary Reactions

• Charles disperses his army at Koblenz, bringing an end to the campaign.
• The Mainz continuator of the Annales Fuldenses presents the event as a humiliating failure, blaming Charles for weakness and bribery, possibly due to the influence of Liutbert of Mainz, who had been dismissed from court.
• Other sources, including the Bavarian continuation, offer a less critical perspective, portraying the negotiations as a pragmatic response to unforeseen difficulties.
• Contemporaries do not widely view the campaign as a disaster, but later historians emphasize Charles’ diplomatic approach as an example of Carolingian weakness against Viking aggression.

Significance and Legacy

• The treaty of Asselt (882) is part of a larger Carolingian pattern of dealing with Vikings, alternating between military action, payments, and territorial concessions.
• Charles the Fat’s reputation for weakness largely stems from this campaign and its depiction in the Mainz annals, though his diplomatic approach was consistent with previous Frankish rulers.
• The continued Norse presence in Frisia reflects the ongoing fragmentation of Carolingian rule, as Viking leaders are increasingly integrated into the Frankish political system.

Though Charles' campaign at Asselt did not result in a decisive victory, it was not universally seen as a failure at the time. However, the perception of Charles as an ineffective ruler, shaped by contemporary political rivalries and later historical interpretations, has come to define his legacy.

The Viking Siege of Paris (885–886): Charles the Fat’s Failure and the Rise of Odo

By 885, West Francia remains under severe Viking pressure, particularly in the Seine Valley, where Norse fleets continue to raid inland settlements. That year, a massive Viking fleet, led by Sigfred, sails up the Seine River and lays siege to Paris, marking one of the most significant and prolonged Viking attacks on the city.

The Viking Siege Begins (885)

• Sigfred’s fleet, composed of hundreds of ships and thousands of warriors, arrives at Paris, a strategically vital city on the Seine.
• This is the first major Viking attack on Paris in years, and the Norse leader demands tribute in exchange for sparing the city.
• However, unlike previous rulers, Charles the Fat refuses to pay a bribe, likely attempting to avoid further incentivizing Viking raids.

Odo of Paris and the Call for Reinforcements

• At the time of the Viking invasion, Charles the Fat is in Italy, leaving West Francia without centralized leadership.
• Odo, Count of Paris, and Bishop Gozlin organize the city’s defense, refusing to surrender to the Norsemen.
• Odo secretly sneaks a group of men through Viking lines to request military assistance from Charles.
• In response, Charles dispatches Henry of Saxony to relieve the siege.

The Siege Intensifies

• The Vikings launch multiple assaults against the fortified bridges of Paris, but the defenders hold strong, repelling attack after attack.
• The siege will last over a year, becoming one of the greatest tests of Frankish resilience against the Vikings.

Significance of the Siege of Paris

• Odo emerges as a heroic leader, rallying the defenders and proving his military competence, which will later lead to his election as King of West Francia (888).
• The Carolingian monarchy’s inability to protect its key cities further erodes Charles the Fat’s authority, contributing to his downfall in 887.
• The siege becomes legendary, symbolizing the determination of the Franks against Viking aggression and the gradual shift of power from the Carolingians to local lords.

The Siege of Paris (885–886) marks a turning point in Viking-Frankish relations, highlighting both the growing autonomy of regional rulers like Odo and the declining influence of the Carolingian emperors in the face of repeated Viking invasions.