Original subtitles

NARRATOR: Paris.

The scene of a battle that would change the course of history

and seal the destiny of two peoples.

and seal the destiny of two peoples.

In the 9th century, the Carolingians,

descendants of the great Charlemagne, dominated Europe.

- (Romain Barbe speaks French)

- (Romain Barbe speaks French)

NARRATOR: But they were relentlessly harassed by raiders

drawn to the Empire's riches:

the Vikings.

the Vikings.

- (clamouring)

NARRATOR: These men from the North yearned for adventure and fortune.

With a string of wealthy merchants

With a string of wealthy merchants

and prosperous abbeys along its banks,

the River Seine was ripe for plunder.

First, though, the raiders had to navigate Paris

and its fortified bridges.

Standing in their way were two resolute adversaries:

Standing in their way were two resolute adversaries:

Bishop Gauzlin, a man of faith, bent on slaying the invading pagans,

and the young Count Odo of Paris,

and the young Count Odo of Paris,

who had no intention of making way

for the hundreds of longboats looming on the horizon.

At the head of this armada was Siegfried,

a warlord determined to smash any resistance

from the Frankish citadel.

from the Frankish citadel.

Who were these warring Frankish and Viking warriors bent on victory?

Who were these warring Frankish and Viking warriors bent on victory?

(epic theme music)

(epic theme music)

NARRATOR: In the 9th century,

the Carolingian empire of Charlemagne

the Carolingian empire of Charlemagne

sought to bring order to the whole of Europe.

Boasting the most powerful army in the world,

the Franks had endless stretches of borders to defend.

the Franks had endless stretches of borders to defend.

And yet men from the north were eager to challenge Frankish power,

successfully encroaching deep into the territory

successfully encroaching deep into the territory

and threatening Frankish domination.

The River Seine was a way in for the Viking military forays

The River Seine was a way in for the Viking military forays

into the vast Carolingian empire.

Its 770 kilometres offered many rich pickings.

Its 770 kilometres offered many rich pickings.

The waterway was a godsend for Norse warriors.

- (battle cries, swords clink)

- (speaks French)

- (speaks French)

NARRATOR: 30,000 warriors set off from recently conquered Rouen

in a huge operation with an immense fleet of some 700 longboats.

in a huge operation with an immense fleet of some 700 longboats.

The Viking expedition was an ambitious undertaking.

The Viking expedition was an ambitious undertaking.

The aim was to sail beyond Paris,

which they had already besieged many times.

After navigating the Seine for more than 80 years,

After navigating the Seine for more than 80 years,

they were familiar with all its loops and meanders.

- (speaks French)

(menacing music)

NARRATOR: Having weighed up the danger posed by the raiders,

NARRATOR: Having weighed up the danger posed by the raiders,

Charles the Bald, Frankish emperor until 877,

began a series of construction works to counter the threat.

began a series of construction works to counter the threat.

Here, for example, at Pont de l'Arche,

where the rivers Eure and Seine meet.

where the rivers Eure and Seine meet.

This was an obligatory transit point for the Vikings,

and it was here that Charlemagne's grandson

decided to erect a bridge to impede the pagans.

decided to erect a bridge to impede the pagans.

It was a remarkable construction.

- (speaks French)

- (speaks French)

NARRATOR: Construction took almost 15 years

and represented a major feat of engineering.

and represented a major feat of engineering.

- (Jacques Le Maho speaks French)

NARRATOR: The Carolingians managed to restore calm along the Seine.

NARRATOR: The Carolingians managed to restore calm along the Seine.

Their military and forging skills were the envy of all...

including the men from the north,

who even adopted their battledress.

- (hammer clangs steadily)

- (speaks French)

- (speaks French)

NARRATOR: Carolingian weaponry was the most sophisticated

NARRATOR: Carolingian weaponry was the most sophisticated

in all of Europe.

- (hammer clangs)

- (speaks French)

NARRATOR: The peace proved to be short-lived.

The Viking armada, led by Siegfried, was relentless.

The Viking armada, led by Siegfried, was relentless.

The men also boasted a major asset:

their longboats.

their longboats.

- (speaks French)

- (horn bellows)

NARRATOR: The relentless drive of the Viking epic was extraordinary.

The soldiers were in all likelihood ordinary merchants and adventurers,

eager to enrich themselves at the expense of their neighbours.

eager to enrich themselves at the expense of their neighbours.

We paid a visit to archaeologist Morten Ravn at Roskilde in Denmark,

We paid a visit to archaeologist Morten Ravn at Roskilde in Denmark,

to better understand how the Norsemen

tackled the voyage up the River Seine.

In particular, the secrets of their longboats known as Drakkars.

In particular, the secrets of their longboats known as Drakkars.

The fearsome vessels were without question

one of the keys to their success.

Still today, the art of these peerless Viking shipbuilders

Still today, the art of these peerless Viking shipbuilders

is the subject of close study.

- The ship type behind me right here,

which is a medium-sized longship,

is quite similar to the types

is quite similar to the types

which the Vikings would have used for their

military campaigns and operations

when the Vikings attacked and sieged Paris

when the Vikings attacked and sieged Paris

in 1885-1886.

The Vikings evolved their boat-building.

The Vikings evolved their boat-building.

These ships of the Vikings were really the high-tech product.

This was where all the innovation

and all the skilful craftsmanship was put into.

and all the skilful craftsmanship was put into.

These ship types here could both be powered

by the use of a sail,

but it could also be powered by rowing power;

but it could also be powered by rowing power;

by the men rowing the ship.

This means that they were not dependant

on the wind and weather direction so much, at least.

on the wind and weather direction so much, at least.

They could even row against the wind with these ship types here.

They would also be navigating rivers,

They would also be navigating rivers,

where sometimes it can be difficult to use the sail.

They could sail quickly,

they didn't go that deep into the water,

so they could go in shallow waters.

so they could go in shallow waters.

Europe was connected by the sea,

so this was the fastest way of transporting

so this was the fastest way of transporting

people and cargo was the waterways.

And the Vikings were specialised in this, were experts in this.

And the Vikings were specialised in this, were experts in this.

NARRATOR: To unlock the construction secrets of these mythical vessels,

naval engineer, Martin Dael,

naval engineer, Martin Dael,

uses Viking methods to recreate their longboats.

He uses ancestral techniques for his experimental archaeology.

One Norse tool in particular is ubiquitous...

One Norse tool in particular is ubiquitous...

the axe... in all its forms.

- They are lightly built,

so they are built out of really good material,

so they are built out of really good material,

typically oak that's cleaved out

and that technique is that you follow the grain in the fibre.

and that technique is that you follow the grain in the fibre.

When you use wooden wedges to cleave out a big oak tree,

get one of these guys to work...

You cleave it down to a 16th, approximately,

and you chop it down with an axe

and the you see it starts cracking and...

and the you see it starts cracking and...

you just need to follow that.

And you have a really nice piece of material

And you have a really nice piece of material

that is light and flexible.

And as you can see, when you cleave it out like this,

And as you can see, when you cleave it out like this,

it's really, really thin out here.

It's super flexible and strong

and I'm, what, 85 kilos and it's still...

and I'm, what, 85 kilos and it's still...

not breaking.

And that's why you can go fast in a row boat.

- (crow caws)

- (crow caws)

- When you put it in water,

the wood expands, and puts pressure on.

the wood expands, and puts pressure on.

But these are holding up, so it tightens up in that way.

And in between all the seams,

you have sheep's wool in between,

you have sheep's wool in between,

so that's what waterproof was used, too.

- (clanging)

NARRATOR: Thanks to their flexible and manoeuvrable boats,

NARRATOR: Thanks to their flexible and manoeuvrable boats,

the Norsemen were able to navigate the seas to faraway lands.

(epic music)

(epic music)

They routinely journeyed several thousand kilometres from home.

Expeditions became a way of life.

Expeditions became a way of life.

- (speaks French)

- (speaks French)

- (speaks French)

NARRATOR: Trading gradually gave way

to much more profitable pillaging raids.

The Norsemen looted everything in their path.

The Norsemen looted everything in their path.

To satisfy their insatiable lust for riches,

they were forced to venture even further inland,

they were forced to venture even further inland,

seeking out territories previously regarded as out of reach.

- (speaks French)

NARRATOR: These expeditions into the far-flung heart of enemy territory

called for a greater degree of organisation.

The Norse raids called for careful planning.

The Norse raids called for careful planning.

- (Joelle Delacroix speaks French)

- (Joelle Delacroix speaks French)

NARRATOR: Three months after leaving Rouen,

with several bridges destroyed,

Siegfried and his Vikings

Siegfried and his Vikings

were homing in on their objective - Burgundy.

One final obstacle lay in their path:

Paris, the nerve centre of West Francia.

Paris, the nerve centre of West Francia.

The people of Paris feared these barbarians from the north,

who reached the Ile de la Cite in November 885.

Preparations had been made for their arrival.

- (Emilie Badel speaks French)

- (Pierre Bouet speaks French)

NARRATOR: The Frankish capital had lost some of its influence.

However, two men had a lot of ambition for the city:

However, two men had a lot of ambition for the city:

Bishop Gauzlin...

and Count Odo of Paris.

and Count Odo of Paris.

As guarantors for the authority of the Carolingian Emperor,

they had no intention of being dictated to

they had no intention of being dictated to

by these lawless Norsemen.

- (speaks French)

- (speaks French)

- (Joel Supery speaks French)

NARRATOR: The other figure was a young man in his thirties...

NARRATOR: The other figure was a young man in his thirties...

Count Odo of Paris.

In tandem with the Church,

he represented the other facet of Carolingian power:

he represented the other facet of Carolingian power:

the aristocracy.

Hailing from a long line of Franks,

Odo's family became famous

Odo's family became famous

thanks to his father, Robert the Strong,

a man who imposed himself against the Vikings on many occasions

before succumbing in 866

before succumbing in 866

in yet another battle against the Norsemen.

From then on, the family was referred to

as the Robertians.

as the Robertians.

- (speaks French)

- (speaks French)

NARRATOR: Fully aware that the two men would oppose him,

Siegfried was planning a show of strength

with his 30,000 armed men.

with his 30,000 armed men.

- (speaks French)

- (speaks French)

NARRATOR: Ever since the Treaty of Verdun in 843,

NARRATOR: Ever since the Treaty of Verdun in 843,

Charlemagne's empire had been crumbling,

plagued by the internal struggles

between the kings of West Francia,

between the kings of West Francia,

Lotharingia, and Germanic Francia.

Increasingly, the aristocracy and the great Carolingian lords

Increasingly, the aristocracy and the great Carolingian lords

were beginning to assert their authority.

The safety of Parisians depended on the resolve of Odo and Gauzlin.

- (speaks French)

NARRATOR: They called on the population to take refuge

within the walls of the Ile de la Cite,

and closed the gates,

and closed the gates,

stopping Siegfried's hordes in their tracks.

(tense music)

- (speaks French)

- (speaks French)

NARRATOR: The two Paris bridges blocked the Norse ships' passage.

- (clamouring)

NARRATOR: From the Chatelet side, where the Vikings struck,

the Franks could launch crossfire with stones and arrows.

the Franks could launch crossfire with stones and arrows.

The outlook, however, seemed grim.

- (speaks French)

- (horn bellows)

- (horn bellows)

- (speaks French)

- (speaks French)

- (Emilie Badel speaks French)

- (Emilie Badel speaks French)

NARRATOR: Under orders from Count Odo,

the Franks set up their defences.

- (Emilie Badel speaks French)

NARRATOR: Caught in a pincer by the two towers,

the longboats were trapped.

the longboats were trapped.

Foot soldiers on the ground

could not attack the Chatelet fortification

protected by its moats.

The bridge, meanwhile, was protected by archers.

The bridge, meanwhile, was protected by archers.

The Vikings were being kept at bay. But they were not done yet.

- (speaks French)

- (speaks French)

NARRATOR: During the night, the Franks managed to reinforce

NARRATOR: During the night, the Franks managed to reinforce

the tower's defences. As well as raising its height,

they added hoardings as defence platforms.

Historian, Christine Laborde,

who works at the castle of Castelnau,

is familiar with these defence techniques.

is familiar with these defence techniques.

- (speaks French)

NARRATOR: In this month of November 885,

clashes between the Vikings and Franks

continued for another two days.

continued for another two days.

- (speaks French)

- (speaks French)

- (speaks French)

- (speaks French)

- (speaks French)

NARRATOR: It was impossible for the Vikings to access the door

or the top of the walls.

Their attack was foundering.

For the time being, Paris was resisting the Norse army.

For the time being, Paris was resisting the Norse army.

- (speaks French)

- (speaks French)

- (speaks French)

- (Emilie Badel speaks French)

- (speaks French)

NARRATOR: Having expected to take the city within just a few hours,

after three days of fighting,

Siegfried was forced into a change of strategy.

Siegfried was forced into a change of strategy.

He withdrew his army

and set up camp a few hundred metres from the Ile de la Cite

and set up camp a few hundred metres from the Ile de la Cite

beside the church of Saint-Germain l'Auxerrois.

His intention was to dig in for the winter and prepare a new attack.

His intention was to dig in for the winter and prepare a new attack.

The date was November 29th 885.

Paris was now under siege.

Paris was now under siege.

- (speaks French)

NARRATOR: Every day, 30,000 men had to be fed and kept busy.

NARRATOR: Every day, 30,000 men had to be fed and kept busy.

For the Vikings, besieging the city was a costly enterprise.

But they used their commando-style combat technique

to sustain themselves.

No town in the area surrounding Paris was spared the Viking terror.

- (speaks French)

- (speaks French)

- (clamouring)

- (speaks French)

- (speaks French)

NARRATOR: Laying siege to Paris for two months,

they used their weapons and longboats to sack the entire region.

they used their weapons and longboats to sack the entire region.

And they always knew exactly where the riches were to be found.

- (church bells toll)

- (church bells toll)

- (Joel Supery speaks French)

NARRATOR: While Siegfried and his men

could gleefully plunder the surrounding area,

they were powerless against the city walls.

they were powerless against the city walls.

Lacking siege weapons, such as the mangonel,

to break down the Frankish defences,

Vikings had to find a different strategy.

Vikings had to find a different strategy.

- (speaks French)

NARRATOR: Renaud Beffeyte is an expert in poliorcetics,

NARRATOR: Renaud Beffeyte is an expert in poliorcetics,

the art of siege warfare.

These passionate carpenters

know every technical detail of these devastating machines.

know every technical detail of these devastating machines.

- (speaks French)

NARRATOR: For two months, the Norsemen built catapults,

mangonels, and battering rams,

building up an armoury to meet the challenge of a siege.

building up an armoury to meet the challenge of a siege.

- (speaks French)

NARRATOR: Siegfried's military strategy

NARRATOR: Siegfried's military strategy

was to scatter Frankish resistance

by attacking on several fronts.

- (battle cries)

- (battle cries)

NARRATOR: The Vikings were now convinced

they had everything they needed to defeat the Parisians.

- (speaks French)

NARRATOR: The Vikings had taken some ingenious measures

NARRATOR: The Vikings had taken some ingenious measures

to ensure their precious weapons were not reduced to ashes.

- (speaks French)

- (speaks French)

- (speaks French)

- (speaks French)

- (speaks French)

NARRATOR: Refusing to accept defeat,

after three days and three nights of hard struggle,

Siegfried risked everything.

Siegfried risked everything.

- (Levesque speaks French)

- (Joelle Delecroix speaks French)

NARRATOR: After five months of siege,

the Vikings had still not managed to breach the defences.

While Paris had resisted, it was being strangled.

While Paris had resisted, it was being strangled.

- (Joel Supery speaks French)

- (rats squeak)

- (rats squeak)

- (speaks French)

NARRATOR: In this clash between pagans and Christians,

NARRATOR: In this clash between pagans and Christians,

morale was at its lowest ebb among the residents of Paris.

Their hopes and faith were pinned on Bishop Gauzlin.

Their hopes and faith were pinned on Bishop Gauzlin.

- (speaks French)

- (speaks French)

NARRATOR: But on April 17th 886,

NARRATOR: But on April 17th 886,

tragedy struck, turning the tide in the Norsemen's favour.

- (speaks French)

- (speaks French)

- (speaks French)

NARRATOR: In June 886,

the Count of Paris returned with troops to defend his city.

the Count of Paris returned with troops to defend his city.

But it was another two long months

before the Emperor and King of the Franks, Charles the Fat,

before the Emperor and King of the Franks, Charles the Fat,

finally arrived at the gates of Paris.

- (speaks French)

- (speaks French)

- (speaks French)

- (Joel Supery speaks French)

- (Joel Supery speaks French)

NARRATOR: The Emperor seemed to be anything but the man of providence

NARRATOR: The Emperor seemed to be anything but the man of providence

Odo was hoping for.

- (speaks French)

- (speaks French)

- (Pierre Bouet speaks French)

NARRATOR: For the people of Paris, it was an inexplicable decision.

NARRATOR: For the people of Paris, it was an inexplicable decision.

- (Lucie Malbos speaks French)

- (speaks French)

- (Pierre Bouet speaks French)

NARRATOR: With cracks beginning to appear in the Empire,

NARRATOR: With cracks beginning to appear in the Empire,

the great Frankish aristocrats decided to assert their power.

Emperor Charles the Fat was deposed in 887

Emperor Charles the Fat was deposed in 887

but remained King of West Francia until his death a year later.

The power of the Carolingians was wavering,

as new ambitions began to take shape.

- (speaks French)

NARRATOR: His determination in the face of the Norse incursion

was celebrated at Versailles in 1837

was celebrated at Versailles in 1837

by King Louis-Philippe of France.

He opened a gallery in the south wing of the château,

where great battles that marked the history of France

are commemorated in a series of 33 imposing canvases.

Count Odo of Paris is honoured there as a national figure.

- (Emilie Badel speaks French)

- (speaks French)

- (speaks French)

- (speaks French)

NARRATOR: Paris, though, remained a target for raids

by the men from the north.

In 911, Rollo, the new Norse strongman,

In 911, Rollo, the new Norse strongman,

wreaked havoc all along the River Seine.

To counter the raids,

the King of Francia was forced to adopt a new approach.

the King of Francia was forced to adopt a new approach.

- (speaks French)

- (birds chirping)

- (birds chirping)

NARRATOR: Rollo would become Robert,

first Count of Normandy.

first Count of Normandy.

Before long, Normandy -

land of the north and now of the Vikings -

would be the birthplace of William the Conqueror,

would be the birthplace of William the Conqueror,

the future king of England.

(epic theme music)

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