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Rorik of Dorestad

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Rorik of Dorestad
Rorik as conceived byHermanus Willem Koekkoek
King ofFriesland
In office
841–873
Personal details
Bornaround 800
Denmark
Died882

Rorik(Latin:Roricus,Rorichus;Old Norse:Hrœrekr;c. 810c. 880) was aDanishViking,who ruled over parts ofFrieslandbetween 841 and 873, conqueringDorestad[1]andUtrecht[citation needed]in 850. Rorik swore allegiance toLouis the Germanin 873. He was born in Denmark around 800. He died at some point between 873 and 882.

Family

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He had a brother named Harald.Harald Klakwas probably their uncle, andGodfrid Haraldssontheir cousin.[2]The identity of his father remains uncertain. There are various interpretations of the primary sources on his family, particularly because names such as Harald are repeated in the texts with little effort to distinguish one holder of a name from another. But Harald Klak had at least three brothers.Anulo(d. 812),Ragnfrid(d. 814) andHemming Halfdansson(d. 837). Any of them could be the father of the younger Harald and Rorik. Several writers have chosen Hemming for chronological reasons, estimating Rorik was born following the 810s. This remains a plausible theory, not an unquestionable conclusion.[citation needed]

Early life

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Harald the younger had been exiled from Denmark and had raided Frisia for several years. He had entered an alliance withLothair Iwho was involved in conflict againstLouis the Pious,his father. Frisia was part of Louis' lands and the raids were meant to weaken him. By 841, Louis was dead and Lothair was able to grant Harald and Rorik several parts of Friesland. His goal at the time was to establish the military presence of his loyalists in Frisia, securing it against his siblings and political rivalsLouis the GermanandCharles the Bald.[2][3]The two Norsemen used islands as a main base of operations, the seat of Rorik being the island ofWieringen,while Harald operated from the island ofWalcheren,and they also ruledDorestadat this time.

In the early 840s, Frisia seemed to attract fewer raids than in the previous decade. Viking raiders were turning their attention toWest FranciaandAnglo-Saxon England.In 843, Lothair, Louis and Charles signed theTreaty of Verdun,settling their territorial disputes. Lothair previously needed Rorik and Harald to defend Frisia from external threats. With the seeming elimination of such threats, the two Vikings may have outlived their usefulness to their overlord. In about 844, both "fell into disgrace". They were accused oftreasonand imprisoned. The chronicles of the time report doubt on the accusation. Rorik would later manage to escape. Harald probably died while a prisoner.[2]

According to an 850 entry of theAnnales Fuldenses,"Hrørek the Norseman (Latin:Roric) held the vicus Dorestad as abeneficewith his brother Haraldr in the time of the Emperor Louis the Pious. After the death of the emperor and his brother he was denounced as a traitor – falsely as it is said – to Lothair I, who had succeeded his father in the kingdom, and was captured and imprisoned. He escaped and became the faithful man of Louis the German. After he had stayed there for some years, living among theSaxons,who were neighbours of the Norsemen, he collected a not insubstantial force ofDanesand began a career ofpiracy,devastating places near the northern coasts of Lothair's kingdom. And he came through the mouth of the riverRhineto Dorestad, seized and held it. Because the emperor Lothar was unable to drive him out without danger to his own men, Hrørek was received back into fealty on the advice of his counsellors and through mediators on condition that he would faithfully handle the taxes and other matters pertaining to the royal fisc, and would resist the piratical attacks of the Danes. "[4]TheAnnales Bertinianialso records the event: "Hrørek (Latin:Rorich), the nephew of Haraldr, who had recently defected from Lothar, raised whole armies of Norsemen with a vast number of ships and laid waste Frisia and the island ofBetuweand other places in that neighbourhood by sailing up the Rhine and theWaal.Lothar, since he could not crush him, received him into his allegiance and granted him Dorestad and other counties. "[5]TheAnnales Xantensesbriefly report: "Hrørek the Norseman (Latin:Rorik), brother of the mentioned younger Haraldr, who was earlier dishonored by Lothar, fled, demanded Dorestad back, deceitfully inflicted much evil on theChristians."[6]

Ruler of Dorestad

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After Rorik and his cousinGodfrid HaraldssonconqueredDorestadandUtrechtin 850, emperorLothair Ihad to acknowledge him as ruler of most ofFriesland.Dorestad had been one of the most prosperous ports inNorthern Europefor quite some time. By accepting Rorik as one of his subjects, Lothair managed to keep the city as a part of his realm. His sovereignty was still recognized. For example, the coinage produced at the local mint would continue to bear the name of the emperor. On the other hand, Dorestad was already in economic decline. Leaving it to its fate was not much of a risk for the welfare of his state.[7]

Bishop HungerofUtrechthad to move toDeventer(to the east). Later on, together with Godfrid, Rorik went toDenmarkto try to gain power during the Danish civil war of 854, but this wasn't a success. The Annales Bertiniani reports: "Lothar gave the whole of Frisia to his sonLothar,whereupon Hrørek and Gøtrik headed back to their native Denmark in the hope of gaining royal power.... Hrørek and Gøtrik, on whom success had not smiled, remained based at Dorestad and held sway over most of Frisia. ".[8]Godfrid is not mentioned again and could have died not long of his return. The extent of Rorik's area of control at the time is uncertain. In "Carolingian Coinage and the Vikings" (2007), historian Simon Coupland made an educated guess based on primary sources. Rorik's recorded control over the cityGendton the bank of theWaal River,suggests the river formed the southern border of the area. TheKennemerlandis also mentioned as part of Rorik's area of control. Later negotiations with Louis the German would probably mean Rorik's area shared its eastern borders withEast Francia.The western border is more obscure. Rorik and his brother controlled the islands ofZeelandin the 840s. There is no later mention of them in connection to Rorik; which could mean the ruler of Dorestad had never regained control over them.[9]

Expedition to Denmark

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According to an 857 entry in theAnnales Fuldenses:"Hrørek the Norseman, who ruled in Dorestad, took a fleet to the Danish boundaries with the agreement of his lord King Lothar, and with the agreement of Hørekr, king of the Danes, he and his comrades occupied the part of the kingdom which lies between the sea and the Eider."[10]Which means Rorik, with Lothair's encouragement, went to Denmark and forcedKing Horik II (Erik Barn)to recognize his rule over a significant area. TheEider Riverformerly marked the border betweenDenmarkand theCarolingian Empire.Coupland estimates the region gained to have lain to the north or northeast of the river and to have stretched toSchlei,a narrowinletof theBaltic Sea.Though not mentioned by the chronicler, Rorik may have taken control overHedeby,a significant trade center of the area. The historian considers Hedeby would be a "valuable prize" for Rorik. He considers the motivation of Lothair to be to use the new port to increase trade between his realm ofLotharingiaand the region ofScandinavia.[11]However raids in Rorik's own territory are reported by the Annales Bertiniani: "Other Danes stormed the emporium called Dorestad and ravaged the whole island of Betuwe and other neighbouring districts."[12]Coupland considers this indicates Lothair's plans had backfired. Left unguarded, Dorestad and its surrounding area were easy prey for other Scandinavian raiders. EvenUtrechtwas sacked this year. The Frankish chroniclers are silent on the subject but Rorik was presumably recalled in haste by Lothair to defend Frisia. His conquests across the Danish borders were apparently short-lived. They are next mentioned as administered by Danish monarchs in 873.[11]

Questions on loyalty

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An 863 entry of the Annales Bertiniani reports "In January Danes sailed up the Rhine towardsCologne,after sacking the emporium called Dorestad and also a fairly large villa at which the Frisians had taken refuge, and after slaying many Frisian traders and taking captive large numbers of people. Then they reached a certain island near the fort ofNeuss.Lothar came up and attacked them with his men along one bank of the Rhine and the Saxons along the other and they encamped there until about the beginning of April. The Danes therefore followed the advice of Hrørek and withdrew by the same way they had come. "[13]The entry makes clear that another group of Danish raiders had attacked Dorestad before traveling upstream toXanten.However a rumour soon circulated that Rorik had encouraged the raiders on their expedition. Coupland dismisses the idea that Rorik could have invited a raid on his own area. He suggests the rumour was based on his method of getting rid of the invaders. Rorik could have protected his own territory by convincing the Danes to travel further up the river, effectively letting them become other rulers' problems. Coupland notes it would not be a unique case in the 9th century. TheSiege of Parisfrom 885 to 886 underSigfredandRollohad not ended with mutual annihilation.Charles the Fathad simply allowed Rollo to go and plunderBurgundy.[14]

The rumour of Rorik's apparent disloyalty inducedHincmar, Archbishop of Reims,to write two letters, one to Hunger and one to Rorik. Bishop Hunger was instructed to impose a suitable penance on Rorik if the rumour was found to be true. Hincmar also told Rorik not to shelterBaldwin I of Flanders,who had eloped with the king's daughterJudith.From these letters it becomes clear that Rorik had recently converted to Christianity and been baptized.Flodoardsummarizes the content of the two letters, the first "To Bishop Hunger about theexcommunicationof Baldwin, who stole the widowed Judith, the daughter of the king, to become his wife, whereupon he was excommunicated by the bishop. He also admonishes Hunger, to persuade Hrørek the Norseman, who recently was converted to the Christian faith, not to receive or protect Baldwin. And also, if other Norsemen with his consent, as has been told, should have raided the kingdom after his conversion, he should be corrected with a proper punishment. ", the other" To Hrørek the Norseman, who was converted to the Christian faith, so that he always might benefit [to do] the will ofGodand exercise his orders. As he had heard from many to do so, that nobody should persuade him acting against the Christians with advice or aid to benefit theheathens.Else it would not have been in his advantage that he had received the Christianbaptism,as he himself or through others should have planned perverse or hostile affairs, and so on. As follows, it was made clear to him in an episcopal way how much danger was hidden in such a machination. He was also admonished not to receive Baldwin, who was excommunicated by thespirit of God,for which reason the holy canon was drawn up by means of episcopal authority, because he had stolen the daughter of the king to become his wife. And he should not allowed consolation nor refuge on his part whatsoever. So he and his men should not get involved in his sins and excommunication and get doomed themselves. But he should take care to present himself in a way, that he could benefit from the prayers of thesaints."[15]

Coupland finds the contents of the letters particularly revealing. Rorik had apparently been granted control over Dorestad twice and well before his conversion to Christianity in the early 860s. Hincmar and Hunger having to convince Rorik not to give refuge to a declared enemy ofCharles the Baldwould mean Rorik enjoyed a "measure of political independence" from the various courts of theCarolingian dynastyat the time. Coupland notes that his contemporarySedulius Scottuscalls Rorik a King (Latin:Rex). Though noting that the reference has alternatively been interpreted to mean another contemporary ruler,Rhodri the Greatof theKingdom of Gwynedd.A hagiography ofAdalbert of Egmond,written in the late 10th century, mentions a miracle of the saint in the time of "Roric thebarbarianking "(Latin:Roricus barbarorum rex)[16]

Later rule

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In 867 there was a local revolt by theCokingiand Rorik was driven out of Frisia. The Annales Bertiniani report that Lothair II "summoned up the host throughout his realm to the defense of the fatherland, as he explained, against the Norsemen, for he expected, that Hrørek, whom the local people, the new name for them is Cokings, had driven out of Frisia, would return bringing some Danes to help him."[17]Coupland notes that the identity of the Cokingi is uncertain. Also uncertain is the nature of this loss of power by Rorik. Rorik could have lost control of only part of his realm or to have resumed control rather quickly. Because he is next mentioned in 870, still in Frisia.[18]

On 8 August 869, Lothair II died. Lotharingia was claimed by his uncles, Louis the German and Charles the Bald. In 870, the two came to an agreement with theTreaty of Meerssenwhich divided Lotharingia among them. The Annales Bertiniani report that Charles the Bald "went to the palace ofNijmegento hold discussions with the Norseman Hrørek, whom he bound to himself by a treaty. "[19]Coupland considers the talks were between a ruler and a "leading local figure" of a newly annexed area. Charles secured his loyalty and recognition of his sovereignty, Rorik kept control of his region. The same type of agreement Lothair I and Lothair II had with him.[20]

Charles and Rorik seem to have restarted negotiations in 872, according to two separate entries of the Annales Bertiniani: "On 20 January he [Charles the Bald] left Compendio and went to the monastery of [name missing in surviving manuscripts] to hold talks with the Norsemen Hrørek and Hróðulfr."... "In October he [Charles the Bald] came by boat down theMeusetoMaastrichtand held talks with the Norsemen Hrørek and Hróðulfr who had come up the river to meet him. He gave a gracious reception to Hrørek who had proved loyal to him, but Hróðulfr he dismissed empty-handed, because he had been plotting acts of treachery and pitching his demands too high. Charles prepared his faithful men for defense against treacherous attacks of Hróðulfr. Then he rode back by way ofAttignytoSt. Medard's Abbey,where he [Charles] spentChristmas."[21]The "Hróðulfr" of the text wasRudolf Haraldsson,a presumed nephew of Rorik. TheAnnales Xantensesmention him as "nepos" of Rorik[22]which typically means "nephew". However like in the term "Cardinal-nephew"(Latin:cardinalis nepos);[23]the term can also have the meaning of "relative" without specifying the relation. Coupland suggests the monastery mentioned wasMoustier-sur-Sambrein the modernNamur provinceofBelgium,close to the former borders of Lotharingia. The reason and nature of these negotiations is obscure.[18]

In 873, Rorik swore allegiance to Louis, and that is the last that is heard of him. The Annales Xantenses report: "Likewise came to him [Louis] Hrørek, thegallofChristianity,nevertheless many hostages were put back in the ships and he became subject of the king and was bound by an oath to keep a firm loyalty. "[22]Coupland notes that Rorik held lands in both sides of the current border between the realms of Charles and Louis. Which would mean he owed loyalty to both of them. Leaving him in an "unenviable position".[18]

Death

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Rorik died before 882 when his lands were given toSea-King Godfried.According to the Annales Bertiniani: "Charles,who had the title of emperor, marched against the Norsemen with a large army and advanced right up to their fortification. Once he got there, however, his courage failed him. Through the intervention of certain men, he managed to reach an agreement with Gøtrik and his men on the following terms: namely that Gøtrik would be baptized, and would then receive Frisia and the other regions that Hrørek had held. "[24]Dorestad was in economic decline throughout his reign, merchants migrating to cities less exposed to the constant fighting likeDeventerandTiel.Both of the latter were developing into "merchant towns" at the time.[2]

Coupland considers Rorik "the most powerful and influential of all the Danes drawn into the Carolingianmilieu"of the 9th century. He notes how four Carolingian monarchs (Lothair I, Lothair II, Charles the Bald, Louis the German) accepted his presence in Frisia and his continued service as their vassal. Little criticism against him was recorded in the Frankish chronicles of his time. Even Hincmar did not outright accuse him and expected him to accept penance like a good Christian, which indicated theFrankshad ceased thinking of him as a foreign element to their realm, regarding Rorik as one of their own. The historian also notes that there are only two recorded raids of his area in twenty-three known years of rule, a record of his effectiveness in defense in an era ofturbulence.[25]

Rorik and Rurik

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Numerous scholars identified Rorik withRurik,the founder of theRurikid dynasty.The suggestion is based on the disappearance of Rorik from Frankish chronicles during the 860s, consistent with the appearance of Rurik inNovgorodin 862, but inconsistent with his remaining in power there until 879.

The first identification to this effect was made by Hermann Hollmann in 1816.[26]He stressed the importance of the locality ofRustringen,inLower Saxony,as the possible origin of Rurik. In 1836,Friedrich Krusealso supported such a view.[27][28][29]The hypothesis was revived strongly by N. T. Belyaev in 1929.[30]

Such an identification is not conclusive, and does not appear to have support from the majority of scholars.[31]Yet there are a number of prominent Russian academics, such asA. N. Kirpichnikov,Boris Rybakov,Dmitry Machinsky,andIgor Dubov,who have supported this identification to some extent.[32][33][34]

See also

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References

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  1. ^Roberts, Wilmer Lynn (1963).Roman and Frankish Government in the Low Countries, 57 B.C. - 925 A.D.University of California. p. 247.
  2. ^abcdLuit van der Tuuk, "The Danish role in the decay of Dorestad"Archived12 November 2013 at theWayback Machine
  3. ^Simon Coupland, "Carolingian Coinage and the Vikings" (2007), pages 95-96
  4. ^Norsemen in the Low Countries: Extracts from the Annales Fuldenses, 850 entry
  5. ^Norsemen in the Low Countries: Extracts from the Annales Bertiniani, 850 entryArchived14 June 2011 at theWayback Machine
  6. ^Norsemen in the Low Countries: Extracts from the Annales Xantenses, 850 entryArchived14 June 2011 at theWayback Machine
  7. ^Simon Coupland, "Carolingian Coinage and the Vikings" (2007), page 96
  8. ^Norsemen in the Low Countries: Extracts from the Annales Bertiniani, 855 entryArchived14 June 2011 at theWayback Machine
  9. ^Simon Coupland, "Carolingian Coinage and the Vikings" (2007), pages 96–97
  10. ^Norsemen in the Low Countries: Extracts from the Annales Fuldenses, 857 entry
  11. ^abSimon Coupland, "Carolingian Coinage and the Vikings" (2007), page 97
  12. ^Norsemen in the Low Countries: Extracts from the Annales Bertiniani, 857 entryArchived14 June 2011 at theWayback Machine
  13. ^Norsemen in the Low Countries: Extracts from the Annales Bertiniani, 863 entryArchived14 June 2011 at theWayback Machine
  14. ^Simon Coupland, "Carolingian Coinage and the Vikings" (2007), page 98
  15. ^Norsemen in the Low Countries:Letters of HincmarArchived14 June 2011 at theWayback Machine
  16. ^Simon Coupland, "Carolingian Coinage and the Vikings" (2007), pages 98-99
  17. ^Norsemen in the Low Countries: Extracts from the Annales Bertiniani, 867 entryArchived14 June 2011 at theWayback Machine
  18. ^abcSimon Coupland, "Carolingian Coinage and the Vikings" (2007), pages 99
  19. ^Norsemen in the Low Countries: Extracts from the Annales Bertiniani, 870 entryArchived14 June 2011 at theWayback Machine
  20. ^Simon Coupland, "Carolingian Coinage and the Vikings" (2007), page 99
  21. ^Norsemen in the Low Countries: Extracts from the Annales Bertiniani, 872 entryArchived14 June 2011 at theWayback Machine
  22. ^abNorsemen in the Low Countries: Extracts from the Annales Xantenses, 873 entryArchived14 June 2011 at theWayback Machine
  23. ^Cardinale, Hyginus Eugene. 1976.The Holy See and the International Order.Maclean-Hunter Press. p. 133.
  24. ^Norsemen in the Low Countries: Extracts from the Annales Bertiniani, 882 entryArchived14 June 2011 at theWayback Machine
  25. ^Simon Coupland, "Carolingian Coinage and the Vikings" (2007), page 100
  26. ^Hermann Friedrich Hollmann,Rustringen, die ursprüngliche Heimath des ersten russischen Grossfürsten Ruriks und seiner Brüder.Bremen, 1816
  27. ^(Russian)Крузе Ф.О. (1836). "О происхождении Рюрика" (1) (Журнал министерства народного просвещения ed.): 43–73.{{cite journal}}:Cite journal requires|journal=(help)
  28. ^F. Kruse (1836),Über die Herkunft des alten Russischen Fürstengeschlechtes aus Jütland.Memoires de la societé des Antiquaires du Nord, p. 321
  29. ^Friedrich Carl Hermann KRUSE,Russische Alterthümer. Erster (Zweiter) Bericht über die Haupt-resultate der im Jahre 1843 gestifteten.Centralsammlung vaterländischer Alterthümer an der Universität zu Dorpat. 1845
  30. ^(Russian)Беляев, Николай Тимофеевич (1929). "Рорик Ютландский и Рюрик начальной летописи. // Belyaev, N. T. (1929).Riurik Iutlandskii i Riurik Nachal'noi letopisi[Rurik of Jutland and Rurik of the Primary Chronicle] "(3) (Seminarium Kondakoviamm ed.). Prague: 215–270.{{cite journal}}:Cite journal requires|journal=(help)
  31. ^А.Н. Кирпичников: Сказание о призвании варягов. Анализ и возможности источника // Первые скандинавские чтения. – СПб., 1997. – сс. 7-18; disapprovingly:Alexander Nazarenko,Lexikon des Mittelalters. VII. – Munich, 1995, pp. 880, 1026.
  32. ^Kuzmin A. V. The role of genealogical research in the study of ancient Rus // Ancient Rus. Questions of medieval studies. – 2002. – No 2 (8). – P. 55.
  33. ^Rybakov B. A. Kievan Rus and Russian principalities of the XII—XIII centuries. – M.: Nauka, 1982. – P. 299.
  34. ^Kirpichnikov A. N. Skazanie o vocation varyagov. Analysis and possibilities of the source // First Scandinavian readings. – SPb., 1997. – P. 7-18.
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