Siege of Paris (845)

Siege of Paris
Part of the Viking expansion
A Viking siege of Paris, 19th-century portrayal note: The ramparts here depicted did not exist in 845.
Date 845, siege began on 28/29 March Location Paris, West Francia Result Viking victory • Viking plunder and occupation of Paris; departed for 7,000 livres (2.6 tonnes) of silver and gold
Belligerents
Vikings (mainly Danes)	West Francia
Commanders and leaders
Reginherus (possibly Ragnar 'Lodbrok' Sigurdsson)	Charles the Bald
Strength
120 ships, with at least 4,000 men

The Siege of Paris of 845 was the culmination of a Viking invasion of West Francia. The Viking forces were led by a Norse chieftain named "Reginherus", or Ragnar, who tentatively has been identified with the legendary saga character Ragnar Lodbrok. Reginherus's fleet of 120 Viking ships, carrying thousands of warriors, entered the Seine in March and sailed up the river.

The Frankish king Charles the Bald assembled a smaller army in response but after the Vikings defeated one division, comprising half of the army, the remaining forces retreated. The Vikings reached Paris at the end of the month, during Easter. They plundered and occupied the city, withdrawing after Charles the Bald paid a ransom of 7,000 French livres [2,570 kg (83,000 ozt)] in gold and silver.