Everything about Rorik Of Dorestad totally explained
Rorik or
Hrørek (c. 820 - after 873) was a
Jutish Viking, who ruled over different parts of
Friesland between 841 and 873. He had a brother Harald.
Harald Klak was probably their uncle, and
Godfrid Haraldsson their cousin. He may have been the son of the Hemming Halfdansson, who was killed at Walcheren in 837. He was probably younger than his brother Harald, since unlike Harald, he only became a Christian in the 860s, and had (apparently) not been baptized at Mainz in 826.
In
841, Rorik and his brother Harald had been granted several parts of Friesland. They used islands as a main base of operations, the seat of Rorik being the island of
Wieringen, while Harald operated from the island of
Walcheren, and they also ruled
Dorestad at this time. But, some time after Harald, who was with
Lothar I's army, died in the early 840s, Rorik was (according to the chronicle, falsely) accused of disloyalty and had to flee. After this, he lived in the
East Frankish kingdom for a time.
But, after Rorik, together with
Godfrid Haraldsson, conquered
Dorestad and
Utrecht in
850, emperor
Lothair I had to acknowledge him as ruler of most of Friesland. Bishop
Hunger of
Utrecht had to move to
Deventer (to the east). Later on, together with Godfrid, he went to
Denmark to try and gain power during the Danish civil war of
854, but this wasn't a success. In
857, with Lothair's encouragement, Rorik again went to Denmark and forced
King Horik II (Erik Barn) to recognize his rule over
Hedeby and the area north of the
Eider. Soon however, other Vikings took advantage of his absence and looted
Dorestad, and Rorik relinquished his Danish gains.
In
863 once again a Viking fleet sailed up the Rhine, and it was rumoured that Rorik had encouraged them to sail on to
Xanten, beyond his own territory. This induced
Hincmar, Archbishop of Reims, to write two letters, one to Hunger and one to Rorik. Bishop Hunger was instructed to impose a suitable penance on Rorik if the rumour was found to be true. Hincmar also told Rorik not to shelter
Baldwin I of Flanders, who had eloped with the king's daughter
Judith. From these letters it becomes clear that Rorik had recently converted to Christianity and been baptized.
In
867 there was a local revolt by the
Cokingi and Rorik was said to have been driven from Frisia (or a part of it), but seems to have returned quickly. In
870 Rorik was involved in talks concerning the
Treaty of Meerssen. Rorik's territory was divided between king
Charles the Bald of
West Francia and king
Louis the German of
East Francia and he became a vassal of both of them. In
873 he swore allegiance to Louis, and that's the last that's heard of him. He died before
882 when his lands were given to
Sea-King Godfried.
There are theories that Rorik of Dorestad and the Russian Prince
Rurik are the same person.
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