Rollo the Viking his origin among the Norwegians of the Atlantic islands by Steven S. Green assisted by John R. Dungan, MD, DDS, Earl of Limerick © 2018 Rollo the Viking Preface It is everywhere agreed that Rollo was a Northman, a viking, whose virulent attacks on the realm of the Franks precipitated his rise to prominence in the early 10 th century, and from whom descend the Normandy Dukes. Scholars agree that circa 911, he was awarded Rouen and surrounding lands by Charles Simplex, a late Carolingian ruler of the Frankish kingdom, and that he lived through 927 but no later than 932. It is certain that some early chroniclers who dealt with Rollo confused him with his (yet more obscure) viking predecessors, producing stories which attribute to him many of their deeds. Scholars concur that the career of Rollo is exaggerated in legend and that he was much more insignificant in his own lifetime than one would gather by cursory examination of the record. In the early 13 th collections of sagas such as the Heimskringla, some of which refer to a Göngu-Hrólfr as the founder of Normandy. While agreement prevails among Norwegian academics on the accuracy of this key identification, it has often been challenged elsewhere. Snorre makes this Hrólfr the son of Rögnvaldr, Jarl of Møre, a figure who is generally accepted as an historical ally of the tyrannical Haraldr hárfagri, King of Norway. This “son of Rögnvaldr” aspect was so popularized that into modern times, it enjoys virtually unanimous acceptance among casual observers. In recent years, historians have attempted to bring Rollo into clearer focus. Stewart Baldwin has addressed the issue, offering various reported genealogical alternatives but 1 century Snorre Sturlason of Iceland compiled and edited