Siege of Chartres (911)


The Siege of Chartres was part of the Viking incursions. In 858, Norsemen raided and burned down Chartres. After that, the town defenses were rebuilt and strengthened. It turned into a fortified, trapezoid-like city, going close to the river.
When Rollo led the Danes in a siege, they were formidable enough to persuade Charles the Simple that they might become valuable allies. Richard of Burgundy split his forces into three corps, the first being made up of Aquitanians, to defend the city. According to legend, Bishop Gantelme exposed the Virgin's tunic on the ramparts and led a mob of peasants to charge, and the Norsemen fled as a result.
Rollo attempted to flee from the Frankish cavalry led by King Charles the Simple. Rollo was unable to board his army onto his ships due to the rapid approach of the horsemen. Rollo decided to make a defensive wall by slaughtering the livestock from his ships. The Frankish charge was halted as their horses were intimidated by the sight and smell of the livestock corpses.
The Franks, unable to attack, decided to instead open negotiations with Rollo: thus the battle ended, as both sides began formulating the Treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte.
In 1618 the Italian painter Padovanino painted a version of the event which now hangs in the Pinacoteca di Brera.