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From: Tom Camfield< >
Subject: CONTINUING TO KICK AROUND POOR OLD ROLLO
Date: Mon, 03 Jul 1995 22:09:39 +0300


I guess as long as we're on the subject:

"Origin and History of the Montgomerys...", B. G. de Montgomery, (William
Blackwood and Sons Ltd, Edinburgh and London, 1948)...pp. 30-32.

The author cites as proof of his contention that Rollo was the son of Invar
(d. 872), son of Ragnar Lothbroc (also father of Ivar Boneless, Halfdan
Vidserk and Ubbe), son of Halfdan, son of Sigurd Ring:

1. The statement of Dudo de St. Quentin ("De Moribus et Actis Primorum
Normanniae Ducum") that Rollo was a Danish prince.

2. Dudo wrote his story some 60 years after Rollo's death (d.931) at the
request of his grandson Richard I. Snorre wrote his saga two centuries
later.

3. Snorre's inconsistency in describing Rollo's father as a dear friend of
King Harold Fairhair, yet relating Rollo's assault on Viken as if an enemy.

4. The existence of another Earl Rolf/Riulf in Normandy, whom Snorre may
have mistaken for Rollo.

5. Dudo's reference to Rollo's brother Gorm, who arrived in France in the
company of his "uncle Sigfrid, Ragnar's son, and of Godfrid, the son of
Harold Klak," and played a prominent role in the Battle of Saulcourt in
881.

6. Rollo was present at the siege of Paris in 885, thus was fighting in
France with the sons of Lothbroc, as was his brother Gorm.

etc.... bring in Bernard the Dane, more about Gorm, and such.

12. William the Conqueror was a descendant in the fifth generation from
Rollo, Ingvar's son. "After his arrival in England William opened Ingvar's
grave." (citing "Ragnar's Saga," ch. 22).

There is considerably more to the pursuit of this alleged descent by de
Montgomery (the relationship of other chapters, etc.) but this gives a
general idea. Is anyone familiar with Dudo de San Quentin? I'm intrigued by
the statement that he wrote only 60 years after Rollo's death.

--
Tom Camfield -
538 Calhoun St., Port Townsend WA 98368
Curmudgeon Emeritus, School of Hard Knocks

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