The First Viking Raids on the Frankish Kingdom (799)

By the late 8th century, the Frankish kingdom experiences its first Viking incursions, marking the beginning of a centuries-long period of Norse raids along the coasts of Western Europe. These attacks, primarily launched in the summer, are carried out by Scandinavian raiders, who return to winter in their homelands before launching further assaults in subsequent years.

The Raid on Noirmoutier (799): The First Viking Attack on Continental Europe

The earliest recorded Viking raid on continental Europe occurs in 799, when Norse raiders attack the monastery of Saint Philibert of Jumièges on Noirmoutier, an island off the Atlantic coast of France. This monastic settlement, located near the mouth of the Loire River, becomes an early target due to its wealth, isolation, and lack of defenses.

This event marks:

• The first known Viking raid on Frankish territory, preceding the more famous Norse incursions into England by decades.
• The beginning of Frankish coastal vulnerability, as monasteries, rich in gold, manuscripts, and relics, become prime targets for Viking plunder.
• A preview of future Viking aggression, as Norse fleets will soon escalate their raids, reaching the Seine, Loire, and beyond.

The Beginning of the Viking Age in Francia

Though sporadic at first, Viking attacks on the Frankish kingdom will grow more frequent and intensify in the 9th century, culminating in major invasions, sieges, and settlements along the Seine and Loire Rivers, and eventually deep into the Frankish heartland. Charlemagne initially dismisses these raids as isolated acts of piracy, but by the reign of his successors, the Viking threat will become a defining crisis of the Carolingian world.

Viking Raids on Noirmoutier and Antwerp (836): Intensification of Norse Attacks

By 836, Danish Viking raids on the Carolingian Empire escalate, targeting key coastal and riverine settlements. That year, they burn and pillage Noirmoutier and Antwerp, demonstrating their ability to strike deep into Frankish territories.

Noirmoutier: A Target for Repeated Viking Raids

• Noirmoutier, an island monastery off the Atlantic coast of France, had already suffered Viking attacks since 799.
• The monastery of Saint Philibert becomes one of the first continental European monastic sites repeatedly targeted due to its wealth and exposed location.
• In 836, Vikings burn the monastery, forcing the monks to relocate their relics and treasures inland—a pattern that will repeat in later years.

Settlement Near Noirmoutier

• After sacking Nantes, the Vikings establish a base near the island of Noirmoutier, which had been raided previously in 836.
• Noirmoutier serves as a perfect strategic location for future raids, allowing the Norse to winter on Frankish soil and conduct further attacks inland.
• This Viking presence signals a transition from seasonal raiding to permanent encampments, leading to deeper Norse incursions into West Francia.

Impact of the 842 Viking Invasion

• The Frankish kingdom is unprepared to repel Viking incursions, as Charles the Bald is still engaged in civil war against his brothers.
• The fall of Nantes and the establishment of a Viking base in Noirmoutier make the Loire Valley a primary target for future raids, culminating in:
  • The siege and destruction of Angers (845, 852).
  • Multiple sackings of Tours and Orléans throughout the mid-9th century.
  • The Viking expansion deep into Aquitaine, destabilizing Carolingian rule.

The sack of Nantes in 842 is one of the earliest major inland Viking incursions into West Francia, setting a precedent for later raids on larger Frankish cities such as Rouen (841), Paris (845, 885–886), and Bordeaux (848). It marks a turning point in Norse expansion, as Vikings shift from sporadic raiding to establishing permanent strongholds within the Frankish realm.

The West Franks Pay the Danes to Expel the Norse from Noirmoutier (861): A Costly Strategy

By 861, the Viking threat in West Francia has become so severe that Charles the Bald resorts to hiring one group of Norsemen to expel another, following a pattern of Carolingian reliance on Viking factions to counter rival Norse forces.

The Viking Occupation of Noirmoutier

• Noirmoutier, an island off the Atlantic coast of West Francia, had been a Viking stronghold for decades, serving as a base for raids on the Loire Valley.
• Despite previous attempts to dislodge them, the Vikings continued to use Noirmoutier as a permanent raiding and wintering site, posing a significant threat to Frankish trade and settlements.

The West Franks’ Payment to the Danes

• Instead of mounting a military campaign, Charles the Bald chooses to bribe a Danish Viking faction to remove their Norse rivals from Noirmoutier.
• The Franks pay the Danes a staggering 5,000 pounds of silver, a sum that underscores:
  • The desperation of the Carolingians to contain the Viking threat.
  • The growing political complexity of Viking warfare, where Norse factions could be manipulated for strategic purposes.

The Danes Expel the Norse from Noirmoutier (861)

• With Frankish funding, the Danish Vikings successfully drive out their Norse rivals from Noirmoutier.
• However, this does not eliminate the Viking threat—it merely reconfigures Norse power dynamics in West Francia.
• The Danes, now enriched, could easily turn against their Frankish employers once the silver runs out.

Consequences of the 861 Bribe

• Temporary Relief, Long-Term Weakness → Though the Danes remove the Norse from Noirmoutier, the strategy does not end Viking incursions; instead, it sets a precedent for future tribute payments (Danegeld).
• Continued Frankish Dependence on Norse Mercenaries → Charles the Bald and his successors will repeatedly rely on Viking factions to counteract other Viking groups, a tactic that proves unsustainable.
• Shift in Viking Focus → The expelled Norse forces are not defeated, only displaced. Many relocate to other bases along the Loire and Seine, continuing to plunder Frankish lands.

The 861 payment to the Danes to remove the Norse from Noirmoutier illustrates the Carolingian monarchy’s growing inability to defend itself militarily, marking another step toward the long-term feudal decentralization of West Francia.