siege paris siege paris sack paris culmination viking invasion kingdom viking forces led norse named traditionally identified legendary saga character fleet viking ships carrying thousands men entered march proceeded sail river king assembled smaller army response defeated division comprising half army remaining forces retreated reached paris end month easter occupying city finally withdrew receiving ransom payment french kilograms pounds silver gold background attacked viking raiders years earliest known viking attack portland england eventually led create coastal defence system northern coast defence system successfully repulsed viking attack mouth death failed hold renewed attacks attacks unrelated relatively minor systematic raiding begin activity alternating sides viking raids struggles scandinavian nobility power status like nations adjacent informed political situation early took advantage civil wars major raids took place antwerp invasion siege march fleet danish viking ships containing men entered command danish named tentatively identified legendary saga figure remains disputed issue historians awarded land eventually lost land favour king raided way response invasion determined let royal abbey saint near paris destroyed charles assembled army divided parts river attacked defeated divisions smaller army took men prisoners hanged island honor norse god terror remaining forces finally arrived paris easter sunday march entered city plundered siege plague broke camp norse exposed christian religion praying norse gods undertook fast acting advice christian prisoners plague subsided assemble effective defence invaders withdrew paid ransom french pounds silver gold amounting approximately kilograms considering earlier loss land charles substantial payment regarded form compensation loss invasion attack revenge case total thirteen payments called viking raiders term known particular point agreeing withdraw paris sites coast return voyage including charles criticised severely granting large ransom payment critical issues deal time including disputes brothers regional revolts nobles pressure abroad trouble counts assemble lead troops defeat large force militarily paying instead buy charles time possibly peace viking raids near future aftermath year viking fleet sacked hamburg elevated pope initiative order oversee saxon territory support introduction christianity scandinavia response king sent diplomatic mission headed court counts court demanding danish king submit pay invasion eventually agreed terms requested peace treaty louis promising return treasure captives raid likely wanted secure border faced conflict king sweden domestic struggles treaty louis demanded obedience secured regularly sending gifts louis suspension support viking raiders died plague siege paris lived return home king according story originating member embassy having attacked outskirts medieval paris later visited attributed plague power paris showed gold silver acquired boasted easy thought conquest paris reportedly collapsed crying relating resistance met long deceased saint men died long king frightened ordered execution survivors release christian captives event led receive archbishop north friendly terms kingdom return secure ransom turning point history france city walls hold greatest attacking force siege paris
Siege of Paris (845)