All language subtitles for Butterfly.Effect.S03E02_English

(intense music)

- [Narrator] Our history
is no more than a series

of incredible events.

Every one of us can
influence its course.

(intense music)

(speaks in foreign language)

(crowd cheering)
(rock music)

The most infinitesimal
of our decisions

can influence the
future of humanity.

To know the past is
to foresee the future.

Paris, Sunday July 27th, 1214.

(bell rings)

At the sound of the Notre
Dame Cathedral bells,

the Parisian crowd attends
the sacred coronation

of Conrad The Great,

the head of the most
powerful state in Europe,

the Holy Roman Empire.

(suspenseful music)

Four centuries earlier, the
horrible sacking of Paris

opened the realm to the Vikings

and precipitated the collapse
of the Frankish Empire.

Taking advantage of the chaos,
the German kings claimed

the former Frank territories,

one by one from The
Alps to The Atlantic.

Conrad IV completes the
work of his ancestors,

rebuilding the almighty state

to the level of
the Roman Empire.

(suspenseful music)

But none of that ever happened.

In 886, a small grain of sand

decided the outcome
of the siege on Paris

and allowed the Frankish
Kingdom to survive.

(suspenseful music)

June 8th, 793.

The peaceful Lindisfarne
Monastery is the target

of a raid by men from
the north, the Vikings.

November 24th, 885.

From Paris, several
hundred Viking warships

are seen arriving.

911, Rollo, a
powerful Viking chief

is granted land in Normandy
by the king of the Franks.

These three inextricably
linked
events are the key moments

of Scandinavian
incursions into Europe,

better known as The Viking Age.

(metal screeching)
(birds cawing)

Spring 507, Battle of Vouille.

(men screaming)

Clovis, king of the Franks

comes to crush
the Visigoth Army.

The warrior king is
conquering all of Gaul.

(suspenseful music)

At the end of the
Western Roman Empire,

numerous Germanic
peoples took control

over the former
Imperial provinces.

Among them, the Franks

were particularly
ambitious and ferocious.

(soldier grunts)

Originally pagans, they
converted to Christianity

under the impetus
of King Clovis.

This conversion made
it easier for them

to join the Gallo-Roman elites

who where profoundly Christian.

(suspenseful music)

Two centuries later,
there kingdom extends

from the North Sea
to the Mediterranean.

In 768, Charles I is
crowned King of the Franks,

outstanding politician
and excellent warlord.

His reign is a long
series of conquests.

He quickly dominates
Western Europe.

His kingdom is transformed
into an empire.

Charles I becomes
Charles the Great.

In Latin, Carolus
Magnus, Charlemagne.

(speaking in foreign language)

The empire is
significantly reorganized.

Many administrative
reforms consolidate power.

Ancient knowledge shines again.

(suspenseful music)

In 800, when the Pope
crowns him emperor in Rome,

all the Roman commander
seems to be resuscitated.

The Franks, once pagan,

become the protectors
of Christianity.

At the height of its power,

the Carolingian
Empire is invincible.

No one seems capable
of challenging it.

- [Ethereal Woman] Welcome
to the memory of humanity.

Every historical event,
regardless of how small

is recorded and connected.

You only need to change one
to upset all the others.

Here, we are able
to control time,

analyze and compare
billions of events

in order to rewrite
history in infinite ways.

(suspenseful music)

The Franks were no
strangers to the Romans.

Quite the opposite.

These Germanic people
emigrated extensively

during the third century
of the Roman Empire

and the period of
The Great Migrations.

Although the Romans
began by resisting,

they ended up granting them
statuses better rated people.

In exchange for territory
within the empire,

the Franks agreed to serve

and defended against
new invasions.

The invaders became
loyal defenders.

At the fall of the empire, the
Franks conserved the remains

of the Imperial administration

and inducted
Gallo-Roman customs.

The two societies fused
to become something new.

(bell ringing)
(birds chirping)

- [Narrator] June 8th, 793.

(people chattering)

Lindisfarne Monastery,
off the coast of England.

(people speaking in
foreign language)

After appearing out of the
midst aboard strange ships,

a band of warriors
commits the sacrilege

of attacking men of the cloth.

They will leave soon,
their arms laden with booty

after having profaned the
sacred ground of the monastery

and stripped its
altars of ornaments.

(suspenseful music)

For the European Kingdom,
this attack is a sad omen.

This announces a new
epoch, a new age,

the Age of the Vikings.

(suspenseful music)

(men screaming)

(suspenseful music)

Scandinavia, an
immense territory

in the eyes of the Arctic Circle

is progressively colonized
by the Germanic people.

The numerous rivers that
flown into the deep fjords

soon could rise to an
important maritime culture.

(ominous music)

At the end of the eight
century,
commercial ports emerge.

Seal's skins, walrus'
tusks, and slaves

are exchange as currency.

Relations with the kingdoms
of Europe start developing.

(ominous music)

These splintered territories

see a distinct political
structure emerging.

The Scandinavian society

is built around
charismatic leaders.

Fight bravely and bathe
the men in riches.

This is what the Vikings
expected from their leaders.

The very nature of this system

encourages fierce
competitiveness

and is often the
source of instability.

(men shouting in
foreign language)

In the 9th century, many of
them decide to tempt fate

and embark on perilous
maritime expeditions

in search of fortune and fame.

This is how
Scandinavians going east,

in search of new trade routes,

find themselves on the rivers
of Constantinople or Baghdad.

(ominous music)

Other men called Rus settled in

and created what will
become known as Russia.

In 870, other expeditions
colonized Iceland

and then Greenland.

Some tribes even voyaged as far

as the new Finland,
North America,

500 years before
Christopher Columbus.

Progressively, these
ambitious explorers notice

the weaknesses of the
Western European kingdoms.

Their armies cannot
protect the entire region.

The rich monasteries are
completely devoid of defenses.

For these adventurers, that is
all the convincing they need

to switch from
trading to pillaging.

(transitions to
suspenseful music)

- [Woman] Riders of the sea.

For many people, the word Viking

refers to blood-thirsty
pillagers.

However, in ancient
Scandinavian,

the word Viking referred
to maritime expeditions

in search of riches.

It designated an activity,
not a group of people.

One was not born a Viking,
one became a Viking

by going on an expedition,

just like one became a
pirate by engaging in piracy.

A Viking could just as
easily have been a craftsman,

as a fighter, a fisherman,
or a rich land owner.

Not all of the Viking ships
had a dragon-shaped prow,

however, these marine vessels
all shared a unique structure.

The Scandinavians
used the term Langskip

when referring to
them, meaning longship.

With an average capacity
of 70 armed men,

these flat-bottomed,
light, yet sturdy ships,

equipped with rowing ventures
could go in the shallow waters

of any river and
could even be carried

from one river to the next.

With large and resilient
sails, these boats allowed

competent seafarers to
confront
the furies of the ocean.

These boats provided the
Vikings with their main source

of strength, speed, and
the element of surprise.

On the water, they
were illusive.

(suspenseful music)

- [Narrator] Ready and
crouching in the bottom

of their boat.

After sneaking up the
river under the fog

of the morning midst,

the Viking warriors await
the signal of their leader.

(suspenseful music)

No one in the village
saw the boat approaching.

The pagan devils seemed to
becoming straight from hell.

The bells widely sound the
alarm but it is too late.

(villagers screaming)

Using rivers to move quickly,
small groups pf warriors

launch deep raids into
unprepared realms.

By the time help arrives,

the Viking bands
have already left,

taking booty and
prisoners with them

as they look for
their next easy prey.

(men screaming)

A Scandinavian plague

falls across the Saxon
Kingdoms of Great Britain.

They land in Ireland and
attacked the Frankish coasts.

No court, no monastery is safe.

Wherever there are poorly
defended riches to be had,

the men from the North descend.

Just after the first
incursions, Charlemagne responds

by establishing a coastal
defense system for the empire.

The Master of Europe
does not fear plunderers.

He waits for them with
weapons in his hand.

His son, Louis the Pious
maintains the defenses

established by his father
for many more years.

But upon his death in 840, the
Frankish Empire is divided.

Frankish law states
that the empire

must be divided among
the late king's sons.

This initiates an extended
and complex period of problems

for the Frankish empire.

The numerous conflicts
between the contenders

for the throne weaken
the central power.

Divided, the Imperial
authority losses strength.

This is a blessing
for the Vikings

who watched as Charlemagne's
defense structure

is slowly and inevitably
allowed to collapse.

Divided, the empire is fragile.

The Nordic packs will
grab their chance

and pounce on the sick beast.

The rivers guide the Vikings
to the large Frankish cities.

The wall is pillaged
then not end to lose.

Viking leaders gain confidence,

organize major
looting campaigns,

set up camps at the
source of the river,

and do not even bother to
return home for the winter.

(tense music)

The situation is done.

With each passing day,
impunity drives them

to attack larger
and larger targets.

Even Aix La Chapelle, Aachen,

the former capital
of Charlemagne

will be looted and ravished.

In 845, the 120 ships
of the leader, Ragnar,

sail up to Seine without
encountering any resistance

and attacked Paris.

(tense music)

A large ransom, 7,000
pounds of silver

is paid to make them go away.

This short-term strategy

simply encourages the
Vikings to return.

(tense music)

In Northern England, the
situation is even worse.

A giant Danish army
has created a kingdom.

The men of the North have
infiltrated the heart of
Europe.

(techno pop music)

- [Woman] The Vikings'
strategy
rests on speed and surprise,

fear and courage.

The raid has generally
avoid pitched battles.

The strong Frankish
army is less mobile.

Often, defenders
arrive too late.

They're left to
helplessly observe the
extent of the damage.

They cannot be
everywhere at all times,

but the Vikings can.

The only effective
defense against the raids

appears to be the
fortification of the cities.

By the middle of
the ninth century,

major efforts are made
to raise the ramparts

and build new forts.

(tense music)

Simultaneously,
fortified barricades

are built across the
rivers to block the Vikings

from entering the land.

Protecting the Siene,

the Pont-de-l'Arche is the
most impressive of them all.

Built over the
course of 15 years,

it stops all Viking advances

and protects the
inland for many years.

(tense music)

But all fortified
structures also depend

on the quality and number
of defenders they have.

(man coughing)

(suspenseful music)

- [Narrator] 885,
naval barricade of
The Pont-de-l'Arche.

(man screams in
foreign language)

(suspenseful music)

There are several hundred ships.

The Seine is covered.

On board, dozens of Viking
leaders have joined forces

to form an unstoppable army.

The small numbers
of Frankish guards

can do nothing to stop them.

Not even the various barricades

leading into the city of Paris

can provide sufficient defense.

For the Viking leaders, Paris
is just a necessary step.

The main objective is Burgundy

where there is abundant
wealth to plunder.

But when the northern army
arrives near the city,

they noticed certain changes.

The ancient Roman walls
which had been abandoned

for centuries have been
raised and consolidated.

On the river, two
fortified bridges

are barring their passage.

(dramatic music)

(men screaming in
foreign language)

The city has entrenched itself
within the aisle of the city,

the heart of defense.

The ramparts are defended
and the doors remain closed.

The Parisians, led by Count
Eudes, are determined to
fight.

With the path to Burgundy
blocked, the Viking expedition

is forced to siege the city.

(suspenseful music)

The Nordic warriors immediately
attack the large tower

which is preventing access
to the mighty bridge.

The assault is brutal

but the defenses break
the Viking spirit.

The warriors are
struck by projectiles

and overpowered by
the Frankish swords.

This time, brute force
just isn't enough.

The Viking leaders understand
that they should prepare

for a long battle so they have
ramps and catapults built.

(suspenseful music)

Mobile groups are also sent
into the surrounding areas

to search for resources.

The first snow will soon arrive.

The assault, even more violent,

succeed in destroying
the tower in vain.

Winter arrives.

Count Eudes' defenses are
proving to be formidable.

(triumphant music)

The Vikings are now
fighting a battle

that they cannot control.

(triumphant music)

In early February, the
attackers take advantage

of the flooding of the Seine

to overpower the defenses
of the Po-tee-hon,

massacring every single
man in the garrison,

(speaks in foreign language)

Let's put an end to this.

Attacking from all sides,

the Vikings launch a
widespread assault.

(triumphant music)

It's a fight to the death.

All around, the defenders
hold their ground

and send the sons of
Odin to join Valhalla.

But Eudes knows that this
cannot continue indefinitely.

In the month of May,
he discreetly crosses
the Viking lines

to search for reinforcements
form emperor Charles III.

When he returns to the city,

the Vikings are
blocking his way.

If Eudes fails to
cross the enemy lines

and return to Paris,

the defenders may
lose hope and give up.

(triumphant music)

(man screaming in
foreign language)

He has no choice.

Surrounded by his men, he
charges straight at the enemy.

(triumphant music)

After a furious scrimmage,

he succeeds in
returning to the city.

(triumphant music)

In autumn, after almost
one year of siege,

the Imperial Army
finally arrives in Paris.

(footsteps thumping)

At its head is Charles III.

(triumphant music)

But the long-awaited
battle will not happen.

Charles prefers to negotiate

and offers a tribute and
free passage on the river

in exchange for
lifting the siege.

The Emperor delivers
Burgundy to the Vikings.

(dramatic music)

- [Ethereal Woman] We are
now at a point of divergence.

The point of divergence
is a key moment,

a crossroads in
history where our world

can swing from one
side to the other.

Charles III, already weakened
by internal conflicts,

ceded in the face
of the invaders,

dishonoring all the
sacrifices that have been made

by the defenders of Paris.

In 887, sick, he's unseated
and totally discredited.

To lead France, the great
leaders from the kingdoms

choose the hero
who defended Paris.

Count Eudes becomes
King of France.

If Eudes have not
survived the siege,

especially during
his heroic return,

the city of Paris
would've definitely fallen

into the hands of the Vikings.

Deprived of an
energetic defender,

the Western Frankish Kingdom
would probably have fallen

into political conspiracies

and power struggles
that normed away at it.

The divided territory
would've become easy prey.

(serene music)

Weak, incapable of
filling their roles

as protectors of the kingdom,

the Carolingian
Kings would certainly

have been permanently
chased off their thrones.

We can even imagine a
pure and simple annexation

by its powerful neighbor,
the Kingdom of Germany.

The Kingdom of France would've
never seen the light of day.

(metal shrieking)

- [Narrator] 911,
Rollo, Viking leader,

receives the Region of Rolla

from the very hands of
the King of the Franks.

In return, he must be baptized,

swear allegiance to the king,

and commit to
protecting the kingdom.

(triumphant music)

The warlord, after fighting
in the great siege of Paris

a few years earlier,

now finds himself
defending the kingdom.

(triumphant music)

These new lands which
are soon called Normandy,

the Land of the North Men,

are strategically located
at the base of the Siene,

a key invasion point.

In exchange for part
of his territory,

the King of the Franks gains
protection for his kingdom.

Vikings protecting the
Franks against other Vikings.

It's a bold move but
will soon pay off.

Like the Franks from
centuries before,

the Scandinavians have every
interest in integrating.

A structured power of the Franks

allows them to
permanently settle down

and to establish the
foundations of a strong state.

They rapidly adopt the customs
and lifestyles of the Franks.

Soon, they replace
their Scandinavian
language with French.

Progressively, they
also embraced the
religion of the empire

and convert to Christianity.

In the hearts of the North men,

gods like Thor and Odin
are set aside for Christ.

Soon, the country grows
and becomes a Duchy.

The skillful mixture between
the Frankish structure

and the Scandinavian power

gradually make the
Duchy of Normandy,

one of the most powerful and
prosperous principalities

of the kingdom.

And that is just the beginning.

October 14th 1066.

Not far from the village
of Hastings, England.

A descendant of
Rolla, William II,

who will soon be called
William The Conqueror

comes to confront the King
of Saxons on his own soil.

(men grunting)

At the end of the day,

he will be the master of the
battlefield and the kingdom.

William II, Duke of Normandy,

a descendant of one
of the Viking leaders

who previously led
the attack on Paris,

becomes the King of England.

But that is another story.

(ethereal music)

- [Ethereal Woman] The
Viking phenomenon ends

in the middle of
the 11th century.

In a little over 200 years,

they have left an
indelible mark in history,

a vivid imprint
in popular imagery

and major political
consequences.

Braving the most powerful
kingdoms of their time,

they saw the weaknesses
of their enemies

and deployed their
formidable adaptation skills

to shake up the Western world.

(dramatic music)

Taking advantage of
a troubled period,

they played an important
role in the decline

of the monumental
Carolingian Empire.

The most remarkable fact

from the Duchy of Normandy
to Medieval Russia

is the Vikings'
ability to integrate.

They didn't hesitate to
convert to Christianity

or to adopt a new language.

Despite all the violence
of the prior expeditions,

they learned to adapt and merge
with the local population,

just as the Franks had done
many centuries earlier.

By being open to others,

they were able to
forge a common future.

(triumphant music)