Rollo is one Vikings character that fans love to hate. He manipulates, backstabs, and betrays his brother Ragnar and his fellow Vikings. However, Rollo also shows a softer side in his relationship with Gisela, as well as strong leadership qualities after he becomes Duke of Normandy. Fans find themselves rooting for him despite everything he has done. From cruel to gentle, this character always kept fans on their toes. So who is Rollo, really?
What fans may not know is that the character is based on a real Viking who did become the first ruler of Normandy. While the show did generally follow the historical s of Rollo's life, it also took quite a few liberties.
He Was Not Ragnar's Brother
There is no historical evidence to suggest that Rollo was Ragnar's brother, and it is likely that they were not even alive at the same time. Though both were prominent figures in the 9th century, their timelines don't match up.
Rollo was born after Ragnar has already died. The The real Rollo, on the other hand, is thought to have been born in 860, and to have died in 932.
He Was Huge
According to the Heimskringla and Orkneyinga Icelandic sagas, Rollo was nicknamed "the walker," because he was supposedly so large that no horse could carry him. According to these stories, Rollo was 140 kilos (308 pounds) in weight and 2 meters (6 feet and 5 inches) tall.
However, these may well be exaggerations of the legendary character. One problem historians face in trying to uncover the truth about historical figures is the use of propaganda, rumor, and hearsay. Rollo himself could have started such rumors to make himself more fearsome to potential enemies. Then again, maybe he really was that big.
His Real Name Was Hrolf
The real Rollo is thought to be named Hrolf Ganger. Hrolf is an old Norse version of the German Rolf or the English Ralph. Rollo is either a nickname or a translation of Hrolf. When Rollo came to Frankia, they took his nickname and gave it a French twist, calling him Rollon. Rollo has been given many names, which also leads to difficulties in historical accuracy.
His Wife, Gisla, May Not Have Existed
Fans enjoyed watching Gisla, the Frankish princess, come to love Rollo after first being disgusted and dismayed at being forced to marry him. But was this character actually based on a real historical person?
While there are stories of a princess Gisla who was married to Rollo, many historians say that the evidence is murky as to whether this event occurred. They also aren't sure whether the individual, Gisla, was in fact a real person.
He Sired Kings
Rollo did marry a noblewoman named first Duke of Normandy, their children and grandchildren were born into the aristocracy. Rollo and Poppa's descendants continued to rule Normandy for the next several generations.
Then in 1066, William the Conquerer, a direct descendent of Rollo and Poppa, led the Norman invasion into England and became the new King of England. This changed the English language, culture, and destiny forever. William, and therefore Rollo, is said to be the direct ancestor of all modern European monarchs.
Connection to Robin Hood
Rollo's descendant, William the Conquerer, went on to have many royal descendants, including Richard the Lionheart. This King of England ruled about a hundred years after William did, and has been immortalized most famously through his connection with the legendary Robin Hood.
According to legend, Robin of Loxley fought in Richard's army during the crusades. Upon his return, so the story goes, he finds that the local sheriff has taken over his lands and is getting away with all sorts of corrupt schemes with the King away. Whether this legendary soldier turned outlaw actually existed is still unknown.
Raided and Settled in
From the 8th Century, the coastline of Normandy was repeatedly subjected to Viking raids. Eventually, settlements began to pop up, and raids began to extend further into the heart of Frankia, or modern-day .
King Charles III brokered a treaty with Rollo, the leader of the largest group of Vikings in the area. Charles offered to cede the land the Vikings already held and to give Rollo rulership of it. Many Scandinavians continued to arrive to settle their new land, adopting Frankia customs and language, and becoming known as the Normans.
Converted To Christianity
The real Rollo did allow himself to be baptized into the Christian religion, just as the Rollo of Vikings did. This was part of his contract with Charles the Simple of Frankia in 912 to cede the northern coastal lands to the Vikings, who frequently raided them. Rollo and his army were required to convert and eventually adopted many of Frankia's customs.
However, it is unknown whether Rollo truly believed in this new religion, or cared much for religious doctrine at all. Rollo's entry in the Encyclopedia Britannica notes that it is also speculated that he returned to paganism before his death.
You Can Visit His Tomb
History buffs and Vikings fans can visit the tomb of the first ruler of Normandy. Rollo's tomb is kept in the Cathedral of Rouen in Normandy, . Rouen is the city that Rollo helped to build when the lands of Normandy were first ceded to him and his Vikings. Also kept at the Cathedral of Rouen is the mummified heart of Richard the Lionheart, King of England and descendant of Rollo.
Rollo Was Likely Danish
Though very little is known about the origins of Rollo, some historians The location of the real Kattegat, however, is more complicated. It isn't actually a town, but an area of the sea the separates Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. It was probably an area that the real Rollo sailed through dozens of times on his raids to the South and West.