John Robinson was educated at the Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School at Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, then entered Corpus Christi College at Cambridge where he obtained his Bachelors in 1596 nad his Masters in 1599, where upon he became Praelector Graecus, a lectureship in Greek, and Decanus, a post involving student oversight.
Cambridge was the center of Puritanism, whose principles were adopted by John Robinson during his years there, both as a scholar and as a lecturer. When King James took the throne in 1603 and enforced the 1593 Act Against Puritans, which made it illegal for them to hold their own separate services. Those who refused to attend the Church of England for fourty days were imprisoned without bail until they agreed to yield and conform to the Church of England.
As a fellow of his college, he was not allowed to marry. John resigned from the college and married Bridget Whyte, the daughter of Alexander Whyte and Eleanor Smith, deceased yeoman farmers at Sturton-le-Steeple. They married at St Mary's in Greasley, John became an associate pastor of St Andrew's in Norwich, where there were housed a large amount of refugees from Holland and Flanders, and most of their political leaders were Puritans. When King James issued to proclamation that all ministers conform to a new book of canons, John left the church but continued to live in Norwich where he attempted to obtain a position at the hospital, and failed, but preached privately in various Nottingham locations, including the parish church at Sturton.
About 1607, John joined the Separatists who met in the home of William Brewster, the local postmaster and baliff at his home, Scrooby Manor. Richard Clyfton became the pastor, John was the assistant pastor, William Bradford was soon joined the congregation, and they became known as the "pilgrims and strangers upon the earth." This congregation secretly walked sixty miles with their possessions to the sea port of Boston in Lincolnshire where a sea captain agreed to smuggle them to the Netherlands. Before they arrived, the captain betrayed them to the authorities, who took all their money, ransacked their baggage, put them on public display and confined them in cells in the Boston Buildhall. They were imprisoned for a month, and treated well, although Richard Clyfton, John Robinson and William Brewster were the last to be released. The second attempt to flee was successful, and Clyfton, Robinson and Brewster followed last to help the weakest for the journey.
The first settlement was Amsterdam, their congregation became known as the "Ancient Church" who moved to Leide, on 01 May 1609, known in Holland as "Moving Day" thereafter. John Robinson became the Leiden Separatist pastor, William Brewster was the ruling elder, and the congregation grew to several hundred. In 1611, several of the separatist purchased property near Pieterskerk (St Peter's Church) near the University of Leiden. Robinson would be one of the families who lived in the twenty one apartments built on the property.
John entered Leiden University as a theology student, attending lectures by famous theologians like Episcopius and Polyander. His status there gave him privileges 126 gallons of beer and ten gallons of wine free of taxes every three months, and he was exempt for night watch. John wrote sixty two essays, including some famous works and one of which was published after his death.
After the first hard, poverty ridden year at Leiden passed, the Separatists were determined to move on. Their children were becoming more Dutch than English, and the Dutch were brewing a war with Spain. In 1619 Deacon John Carver and Robert Cushman were sent to London to negotiate with the London Company to join with the passengers of the Mayflower on its voyage to the Americas. Passage on the Speedwell and the Mayflower was arranged, an while only a minority of the pilgrims left Leiden, the Speedwell proved unseaworthy once it reached England, and it will never be known how many or who remained in England after all.
John Robinson stayed behind, but his farewell speech was recorded for all time: "I Charge you before God and his blessed angels that you follow me no further than you have seen me follow Christ. If God reveal anything to you by any other instrument of His, be as ready to receive it as you were to receive any truth from my ministry, for I am verily persuaded the Lord hath more truth and light yet to break forth from His holy word."
Despite his plans to sail to the Americas, John became ill on Saturday, February 22nd of 1625, and while he recovered long enough to preach twice the next day,he died the following Sunday, March 1st, 1625, interred at St Peter's on the fourth of March. He was fifty years old.
John and Bridget had over eight children, only five lived to adolescence; John Robinson, Bridget Robinson Greenwood, Isaac Robinson, Fear Robinson Jennings and James Robinson. Written by Anne Stevens
He was made freeman in 1633, On the 20th of Feb, 1634, he sold his Estate to John Twisden, and removed to Barnstable accompanied by the Rev. John Lathrop,; about 1663, he removed to Falmouth, MA and again in 1673 to Tisbury, on Martha's Vineyard. In Nov. 1701, he returned to Barnstable, where he had retained his church membership, and resided with his daughter Fear.
He came in the ship "Lion" in 1631 at the age of 21 to Scituate, MA. Made Freeman in 1633; joined the church at Barnstable, MA 7 Nov 1636. On the 20th of February 1634 he sold his Estate to John Twisden, and removed to Barnstable accompanied by the Rev. John Lathrop. About 1663 he removed to Falmouth, MA and in 1701 to Tisbury on Martha's Vineyard. In November 1701 he returned to Barnstable, where he had retained his church membership, and resided with his daughter Fear, the wife of Mr. Samuel Baker, until his death in 1704, age 94.
Sources:
Text: The American Genealogist Vol. 18, pg. 56
The Robinson Genealogy by The Robinson Genealogical Society
The Great Migration Begins 3 Vols. by Robert Charles Anderson
Mayflower Source Records Selected and Introduced by Gary Boyd Roberts 1977
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The first of this family to come to Tisbury was Isaac, he came in the ship "Lyon." This was in 1631, and Isaac immediately settled at Plymouth, later removing to Duxbury (1634), Scituate (1636), Barnstable (1639) and Falmouth (1660). In Scituate he married for his first wife Margaret, daughter of Theophilus and Eglin (Mortimer) Hanford, June 27, 1636, sister of Rev. Thomas Hanford of Norwalk, Conn., and niece of Mr. Timothy Hatherly. By her he had five children and after her death (June 14, 1649), he married second, Mary Faunce, 1650, and four more children, all sons, were the fruit of this union.
By reason of his parentage he was a prominent man in Plymouth Colony, but later in 1669, for displaying liberality toward the doctrines of the Quakers, was disfranchised by Governor Thomas Prince. It appears that he had attended their meetings for the purpose of showing them the error of their ways, but instead of accomplishing this, became self -convicted and embraced some of their beliefs. He was restored to citizenship in 1673 by Governor Winslow.
It appears that Isaac Robinson with others, in 1660, decided to leave Barnstable presumably for the Vineyard , and took letters of dismissal to the church at Great Harbor, but finally decided to settle at Falmouth. He built his house in 1661 on the neck between Fresh and Salt Ponds, Falmouth Heights. How long he remained an actual resident of that town is not known, but in May, 1671, he was admitted a proprietor of the new settlement at Takemmy, and probably soon after this became identified with Tisbury.
At this time he was about 60 years of age, having been born in 1610, and he was perhaps, with the exception of Joseph Merry, the oldest resident of the new settlement. In 1673 he became associated with the "Dutch Rebellion," but suffered no punishment therefor, unless the records are silent regarding him. His four sons by the second marriage, Israel, Jacob, Peter and Thomas, became residents of the Vineyard, though none of them left descendants here to perpetuate the name. Those who resided here in the next century were his descendants through his first marriage. His son Israel, baptized Oct. 5, 1651, assumed the name of Isaac in memory of an older half brother of that name who was drowned in 1668 , and was ever after known by the adopted name. [*He signed as Israel in 1670 and 1671. Tisbury Records, 3, 4.] This change made two Isaac Robinsons in the town and creates difficulties in identification of the one whose name appears on the records, but it is probable that he is the "good man" Robinson chosen townsman in 1678, 1680, 1683, rather than the younger of the name. He had his home lot on the east side of Old Mill river, bounded on the south by the Mill path. This he sold in November, 1701, to his son Isaac, together with all his dividend lots in various parts of the town. He was then over ninety years of age, but continued to reside here, presumably with one of his sons.
According to tradition this scion of a distinguished family died about 1704 in Barnstable at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Fear Baker. His sons Isaac and Jacob remained in Tisbury, dying with in eighteen days of each other, in 1718, while the other two brothers, Peter and Thomas, removed to Connecticut early in the 18th century.
Isaac married Margaret Hanford, June 27, 1636 in Scituate, Ma. She was born 1619 in Fremington , Devon, England. Died June 13, 1649 in Branstable, MA. She Immigrated aboard the Planter to Massachusetts with her widowed mother at age 15.
Children of Isaac Robinson and Margaret Hanford:
Isaac married Mary Faunce, in 1650, Barnsatble, MA. Daughter of John Faunce and Patience Morton. She was born 1638 in Plymouth, MA. Died in 1664.
Children of Isaac Robinson and Mary Faunce:
John Robinson was a deputy from Saconessett (the original name of Falmouth) to the Colony Court in 1689, 1690 and 1691. He lived in Falmouth from 1654 to April, 1714, when he moved to Connecticut with his family.
2nd Lord Ros, Knight of Helmsley and Hunsingore, Yorkshire, Wark, Northumberland. Sheriff of Yorkshore, Constable of Wark Castle.
Son and heir to Sir William de Ros and Maud de Vaux, grandson of Sir Robert de Ros and Isabel D'Aubeney, John de Vaux and Joan de Gyney.
Husband of Margery de Badlesmere, eldest daughter and co-heiress of Bartholomew de Badlesmere and Margaret de Clare. They were married before 25 Nov 1316 and had two sons and three daughters; Sir William and Sir Thomas, Maud (wife of Sir John de Welles), Margaret (wife of Edward de Bohun) and Elizabeth (wife of William de la Zouche).
Sir William was summoned to Parliament from 1317. He exchanged Wark with the crown in 1317 for 300 marks of land, fought in Scotland in 1318 and 1319, then in Gascony in 1325. Sir William remained royal to the crown during the Lancaster rebellion, then served in Scotland 1316 to 1337. He founded a chantry at Bottesford, Leicestershire. Sir William received permission to celebrate divine daily service for the good of himself, the King and the soul of his father. He received the grant of Barnard's Castle on 10 Feb 1338, then livery of his brother John's lands 08 Feb 1339. He entertained the King at Helmsley in 1334, and was the benefactor of the Austin Friars of Newcastle, as well as the nuns of Irford, Lincolnshire.
Sir William died 03 Feb 1343 and was buried at Kirkham Priory. Margery remarried before 12 Nov 1351 to Sir Thomas de Arundel who was killed in a disturbance at Cockfield, Suffolk, and thirdly before 30 April 1355 to a Sir John Avenel of Bedfordshire, the King's Lieutenant in Brittany who died there about Aug 1359.
Richilde de Rouergue
Some records show her father as Armengo Count De Toulouse b abt 854, Rouergue, Aveyron, France.
Mother as Adelaide, Countess of Toulouse, daughter of Eudes Toulouse c 858 and Gersinde, Countess of Albi b 832 in Albi, Tarn, France.
Led rebellion against his brother Henry I, King of France aided by Eudes of Chatres and Troyes, Was apeased with the Duchy of Burgundy, which passed to the empire in 1032.
In 1031, after the death of his father the king, Robert participated in a rebellion against his brother Henry. He was supported by his mother, Queen Constance d'Arles. Peace was achieved when Robert was given Burgundy.
He married his first wife, Helie of Semur, about 1033, and repudiated her in 1055, in which year he also murdered her father, Dalmace I of Semur. Robert and Helie had five children:
Duke of Burgundy between 1032 to his death. Robert was son of King Robert II of France and brother of Henry I.
In 1025, with the death of his eldest brother Hugh Magnus, he and Henry rebelled against their father and defeated him, forcing him back to Paris. In 1031, after the death of his father the king, Robert participated in a rebellion against his brother, in which he was supported by his mother, Queen Constance d'Arles. Peace was only achieved when Robert was given Burgundy (1032).
Throughout his reign, he was little more than a robber baron who had no control over his own vassals, whose estates he often plundered, especially those of the Church. He seized the income of the diocese of Autun and the wine of the canons of Dijon. He burgled the abbey of St-Germain at Auxerre. In 1055, he repudiated his wife, Helie of Semur, and assassinated her brother Joceran and murdered her father, his father-in-law, Lord Dalmace I of Semur, with his own hands. In that same year, the bishop of Langres, Harduoin, refused to dedicate the church of Sennecy so as not "to be exposed to the violence of the duke."
His first son, Hugh, died in battle at a young age and his second son, Henry, also predeceased him. He was succeeded by Henry's eldest son, his grandson, Hugh I.
Bio by Anne Stevens-
Robert I Duke of Burgundy. Also known as Robert the Old, Robert le Vieux and "Tete-Hardi".
Robert was the third child of seven children and third of five sons of Robert II, King of France and his third wife, Constance of Arles. Grandson of and Hughes Capet King of the Franks, Adelaide of Aquitaine and William I of Provence. Brother of Hugh Magnus, the King of the Capetians and Henry I, the King of France.
Robert married Helie of Semur, the daughter of Lord Dalmace I of Semurand had five children:
* Hugh 1034-1059, killed in battle
* Henry 1035-c1074, his son would be heir
* Robert 1040-1113, poisoned
* Simon 1045-1087
* Constance 1046-1093, wife of Alfonso VI of Leon and Castile
Robert repudiated Helie in 1046 and married Ermengarde, the daughter of Fulk III of Anjou. They had one daughter:
* Hildegarde 1056-1104, wife of Duke William VIII of Aquitaine
His elder brother, Hugh Magnus, who ruled as co-king with his father, crowned in 1017 at the age of ten, died in 1025 at the age of seventeen possibly from a fall from a horse while preparing for a rebellion against his father. Robert proceeded to lead the rebellion, defeating him and pushing Robert back to Paris. After his father's death, Robert led another rebellion, this time against his brother, Henry, now King of France, with the support of his mother, who favored him above his siblings. Robert would finally refrain from the fighting after he was given Burgundy in 1032.
Robert was regarded as a nuisance and robber baron, who plundered the estates of his own men, assassinated his wife's brother and father with his own hands the same year he rejected his wife. He seized the income of the diocese of Autun and stole the wines belonging to the canons of Dijon and the properties of the Abbey St Germain at Auxerre. A French Bishop refused to dedicate a church in his territory in order to not be exposed to the violence so commonly demonstrated by the Duke.
Two of his sons, Hugh and Henry died before Robert, leaving only Henry's eldest son, Hugh, to succeed him.
Robert the Strong, "Duke between the Seine and the Loire"
Robert received Neustria from Charles the Bald. Won the title King of the West Franks with help from his sons in law
Some records show Robert was the son of Rutper IV Count of Wormgau & Aelis of Tours and Alsace.
Some records show that Robert was the son of Robert Fortis and Adbelahide, Princess of the Holy Roman Empire, daughter of Louis I, The Pious, Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire.
Some records show his daughter's mother was Aelis, others show her mother was Beatrix de Vermandois, the mother of Hughes Magnus.
king of West Francia (922 – 923), was the younger son of Robert the Strong, count of Anjou, and the brother of Odo, who became king of the Western Franks in 888. West Francia evolved over time into France; under Odo, the capital was fixed on Paris, a large step in that direction.
He was present at the Siege of Paris in 885. Appointed by Odo ruler of several counties, including the county of Paris, and abbot in commendam of many abbeys, Robert also secured the office of Dux Francorum, a military dignity of high importance. He did not claim the crown of West Francia when his brother died in 898; but recognising the supremacy of the Carolingian king, Charles III, he was confirmed in his offices and possessions, after which he continued to defend northern Francia from the attacks of the Norsemen.
The peace between the king and his powerful vassal was not seriously disturbed until about 921. The rule of Charles, and especially his partiality for a certain Hagano, had aroused some irritation; and, supported by many of the clergy and by some of the most powerful of the Frankish nobles, Robert took up arms, drove Charles into Lorraine, and was himself crowned king of the Franks (rex Francorum) at Rheims on June 29, 922. Collecting an army, Charles marched against the usurper and, on June 15 923, in a stubborn and sanguinary battle near Soissons, Robert was killed, according to one tradition in single combat with his rival.
Robert was married twice. Through his first wife, Aelis, a descendant of Charlemagne, he had two daughters. Each married powerful lay vassals of their father: Emma (894–935) to Rudolph, Duke of Burgundy, and Hildebranda (895–931) to Herbert II of Vermandois. Through his second wife, Beatrice, daughter of Herbert I of Vermandois, he had his only son, Hugh the Great, who was later dux Francorum and father of King Hugh Capet, and a daughter Richilda. He may have had other daughter.
Never married. Also called Robert II, the Devil. Count of Mortain.
Robert I, sixth Duke of Normandy. He was no older than 21 at the time of William's birth, and came from a family with a rich heritage. He was a direct descendant of Rolf the Viking, ruler of Neustria, whose power passed on to William (nicknamed 'Longsword'), then Duke Richard I, then to the Conqueror's grandfather, Duke Richard II.
Folklore story about how Richard met Herleve: The story goes that in 1027 Robert was returning to his castle in Falaise when he set eyes upon a girl washing her clothes in the river nearby. When Robert saw her, he was immediately attracted by her beauty. Both would have been about 17 or 18 at the time. Unable to get her out of his mind, he sent a messenger to her to arrange a meeting. Expecting her to readily agree, it must of come as a shock when she refused unless she came in broad daylight, mounted, and through the main gate. When Robert was informed, he agreed. Within one year a baby boy was born and was named William. The William who would later be known as the Conqueror and King William of England.
Robert left son William in trusted hands (Gilbert de Brionne, whom Herlever later married) when he left for the Crusades, knowing he would probably never return.
~~~~~~~~~Robert, called "The Magnificent" (French, "le Magnifique") for his love of finery, and also called "The Devil" was the son of Duke Richard II of Normandy and Judith, daughter of Conan I, Duke of Brittany.
When his father died, his elder brother Richard succeeded, whilst he became Count of Hiémois. When Richard died a year later, there were great suspicions that Robert had Richard murdered, hence his other nickname, "Robert le diable" (the devil). He is often mis-identified with the legendary Robert the Devil. Robert aided King Henry I of France against Henry's rebellious brother and mother, and for his help he was given the territory of the Vexin. He also intervened in the affairs of Flanders, supported Edward the Confessor, who was then in exile at Robert's court, and sponsored monastic reform in Normandy.
By his mistress, Herleva of Falaise, he was father of two children. After making his illegitimate son William his heir, he set out on pilgrimage to Jerusalem. According to the Gesta Normannorum Ducum he travelled by way of Constantinople, reached Jerusalem, and died on the return journey at Nicaea on 2 July 1035. Some sources attribute his death to poison and date it to 1 or 3 July. His son William, aged about eight, succeeded him.
According to the historian William of Malmesbury, around 1086 William sent a mission to Constantinople and Nicaea, charging with bringing his father's body back to be buried in Normandy. Permission was granted, but, having travelled as far as Apulia (Italy) on the return journey, the envoys learned that William himself had meanwhile died. They then decided to re-inter Robert's body in Italy.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_the_Magnificent
An active, well educated, polished king, supported by the Duke of Normandy and the religious houses of Burgundy in the wars against the Duke of Burgundy. The duchy of Burgundy was added to his territory and given to his son, Robert.
In 987, Robert's father had the nobles crown him as successor at Orléans on December 30th, thereby confirming the house of Capet as rulers of France. After Robert became king he did as his father and crowned his eldest son Hugh Magnus as his successor. But, due to Prince Hugh Magnus's death, another son, Henri, became king.
Robert, despite marital problems that saw him temporarily excommunicated by Pope Gregory V, was a very devout Roman Catholic, hence the name Robert the Pious. He was very musically inclined and was a composer, a chorister, and a poet, making his palace a place of religious seclusion, where he conducted the matins and vespers in his royal robes. Part of Robert's piety at the time, was because he did not tolerate heretics and harshly punished them.
The kingdom Robert inherited was not large, and in an effort to increase his power, he vigorously pursued his claim to any of the feudal lands as they became vacant which action usually resulted in war with a counter-claimant. In 1003, his invasion of Burgundy was thwarted and it would not be until 1016 that he was finally able to get the support of the Church and be recognized as the Duke of Burgundy.
The pious King Robert II made few friends and many enemies, including his own sons. His eldest son Hugh Magnus died suddenly while in rebellion against his father. Robert's surviving sons, Henri I of France and Robert I, Duke of Burgundy, also turned against their father, in a civil war for power and property. King Robert's army was beaten and he retreated to Beaugency outside Paris.
He died in the middle of the war with his sons on July 20, 1031 at Melun, France. He was interred with his third wife, Constance of Arles (973-July 25, 1032) in Saint Denis Basilica. He was succeeded by his and Constance's second son, Henri I.
Rollo Rognvaldsson, "The Dane" baptized Robert I
Rollo was a Norse Viking and first ruler of the French territory that became Normandy. His name Rollo is the Latin translation of this Norse or Scandanavian name of Hrofl. He is often confused with Granger Hrofl, or Hfolf the Walker, son of Rognavald Eystiensson., an Earl in Norway.
Rollo had two wives, the first being Gisela, the daughter of the King of France, Charles the Simple and an unknown mother. His second wife was Poppa, said to be the daughter of Count Berenger de Bayeux, captured during a raid and kept in Viking tradition. They had the following children:
* William Longspee "Longsword"
* Gerloc, the wife of William III, Duke of Aquitaine
His parentage is questioned, although famous tales and historical documents speak of a Danish king with two sons, Gurim and Rollo, who were killed and banished respectively. The debate is a sensitive matter that continues today. His life after leaving his homeland, however, is well documented.
Rollo was amoung the Vikings who besieged Paris in 885 under a Dane named Sigfied. When Sigfried returned home, Rollo remained and with his Norsemen invaded northern France and Chartres. The Bishop of Chartres went for help and only the Carolingian King, Robert of Nuestria and Richard Autun of Burgundy declared, their forces pushed back the Vikings at the Battle of Chartres on the 20th of July, 911. It soon became apparent Rollo was not present for bounty as much as he desired land and permanent residence. The King of France, Charles the Simple, who neglected to send support at Chartres, decided making a treaty would be most beneficial for all. Attacks from other Vikings in the same area were common, with the French being at a disadvantage in their style of warfare. Granting that coast line to Rollo was a perfect solution. Who better to defeat the invading Vikings that a Viking with land to protect.
In exchange for peace, the Treaty of Saint Clair-sur-Epte stipulated Rollo would have lands above the Seine, centered around Rouen in Normandy, marry one of the illegitimate daughter of Charles, Gisela, convert to Christianity, thus the name Robert, and pledge his allegiance to Charles. Rollo may have defended the coastline as promised, but he continued to assert his attacks on neighboring Flanders.
The legend has it that Rollo was required to kiss the foot of the French King. Rollo found this take beneath him, and assigned a warrior to take his place. The warrior was of equal mind, and instead of lowering himself for this kiss, brought the King's foot up so high the King fell over.
King Charles was deposed by Robert I in 922, leading Rollo to consider his pledges to a French king null and void. His army, now known as Normans, continued to conqueror surrounding areas. While his exact death is not known, Rollo passed his holdings to his son around 927, and was dead by 933.
Rollo's descendants include William the Conqueror, all current day European rulers as well as the present day English royalty.
Bio by Anne Stevens
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First Duke of Normandy. Rolf the Viking, ruler of Neustria.
Rollon of Rognvaldsson, 1st Duke of Normandy was born between 846 and 862 in Maer, Nord Trondelag, Norway.He was baptized "Robert" in 912, died about 932 in Rouen, Normandie, France, buried about 932 in Notre Dame Cathedral, Rouen, Normandie, France. He was also known as Hrolf the Ganger (Rolf the Walker). He was also known as Robert (his Christian baptised name) I, 1st Duke of Normandy. He was also known as Rollo the Dane (a misnomer, for he was a Norweginan Viking and thus a Norseman).He was also known as Rollon of Normandie. He was married to Poppa of Bayeux Senlis in 891 in Bayeux, Normandie.
Settled at the mouth of the Seine, Charles the Simple was unable to move him. Rollo acquired middle Normandy in 924, and the western Duchys of Cotentin and Avranche in 933. His nephew, Ansfrid the Dane started the Avranches family line.
Rollo's family line differs per resource. The GeneaNet.org page has the following:
Rolf/Rollo, son of Ragnvald Mørejarl Øysteinsson, son of Oeystein 'Glumra' Iversson and Astrida Ragnvaldsdtr, son of Iver Halvdansson, son of Halvdan Den Gavmilde Øysteinsson and Liv Dagsdtr.
~~~~~~Rollo was a Viking leader of contested origin. Dudo of St. Quentin, in his De moribus et actis primorum Normannorum ducum, tells of a powerful Danish nobleman at loggerheads with the king of Denmark, who then died and left his two sons, Gurim and Rollo, leaving Rollo to be expelled and Gurim killed. William of Jumièges also mentions Rollo's prehistory in his Gesta Normannorum Ducum however he states that he was from the Danish town of Fakse. Wace, writing some 300 years after the event in his Roman de Rou, also mentions the two brothers (as Rou and Garin), as does the Orkneyinga Saga.
Norwegian and Icelandic sources however state that he came from Norway, the son of Ragnvald, Earl of Moer; sagas mention a Hrolf, son of Ragnvald jarl of Moer. The oldest source of this version is the latin Historia Norvegiae, written in Norway at the end of the 12th century. This Hrolf fell foul of the Norwegian king, Harald Fairhair and left Norway with a viking war-band, arriving in France via the British Isles. However, the latinization Rollo has in no other known instance been applied to a Hrolf, and in the texts which speak of him, numerous latinized Hrolfs are included.
The matter of Rollo's Norwegian or Danish origins was a matter of heated dispute between Norwegian and Danish historians of the 19th and early 20th century, particularly in the run-up to Normandy's 1000-year-anniversary in 1911. Today, historians still disagree on this question, but most would now agree that a certain conclusion can never be reached.
In 885, Rollo was one of the lesser leaders of the Viking fleet which besieged Paris under Sigfred. In 886, when Sigfred retreated in return for tribute, Rollo stayed behind and was eventually bought off and sent to harry Burgundy.
Later, he returned to the Seine with his followers (known as Norse, or Northmen). He invaded the area of northern France now known as Normandy.
Unlike most Vikings whose intentions were to plunder Frankish lands, Rollo's true intentions were to look for lands to settle. Upon arrival in France, and after many battles with the Vikings, the French King Charles the Simple understood that he could no longer hold back their advances, and decided as a tempory measure to give Rollo land around Rouen under the condition that he would convert to Christianity and defend the Seine River from other raiding Vikings.
In the Treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte (911) with King Charles, Rollo pledged feudal allegiance to the king, changed his name to the Frankish version, and converted to Christianity, probably with the baptismal name Robert. In return, and in admission of defeat, King Charles granted Rollo the lower Seine area (today's upper Normandy) and the titular rulership of Normandy, centred around the city of Rouen. There exists some argument among historians as to whether Rollo was a "duke" (dux) or whether his position was equivalent to that of a "count" under Charlemagne. According to legend, when required, in conformity with general usage, to kiss the foot of King Charles, he refused to stoop to what he considered so great a degradation; yet as the homage could not be dispensed with, he ordered one of his warriors to perform it for him. The latter, as proud as his chief, instead of stooping to the royal foot, raised it so high, that the King fell to the ground.
Rollo stayed true to his word of defending the shores of the Seine river in accordance to the Treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte, but in time he and his followers had very different ideas. Rollo began to divide the land between the Epte and Risle rivers among his chieftains and settled there with a de facto capital in Rouen. With these settlements, Rollo began to further raid other Frankish lands, now from the security of a settled homeland, rather than a mobile fleet. Eventually, however, Rollo's men intermarried with the local women, and became more settled as Frenchmen. At the time of his death, Rollo's expansion of his territory had extended as far west as the Vire River.
Sometime around 927, Rollo passed the fief in Normandy to his son, William Longsword. Rollo may have lived for a few years after that, but certainly died before 933. According to the historian Adhemar, 'As Rollo's death drew near, he went mad and had a hundred Christian prisoners beheaded in front of him in honour of the gods whom he had worshipped, and in the end distributed a hundred pounds of gold around the churches in honour of the true god in whose name he had accepted baptism.' Even though Rollo had converted to Christianity, some of his pagan roots surfaced at the end.
If genealogical information from Middle Ages is true, Rollo is a direct ancestor of William the Conqueror. Through William, he is a direct ancestor and predecessor of the present-day British royal family, including Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
The "Clameur de Haro" in the Channel Islands is, supposedly, an appeal to Rollo.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rollo_of_Normandy
One of the Norse invaders of Burgundy who remained there
Romanos I Lekapenos or Romanus I Lecapenus, Romanos I Lakapenos) (c. 870 – June 15, 948) was Byzantine Emperor from 920 to his deposition on December 16, 944.
Romanos was the son of an imperial guardsman of Armenian origin named Theophylaktos "the Unbearable". Romanos had been born in Lakape, hence the name "Lakapenos" (more commonly rendered by the less accurate form "Lekapenos" in English). Although he did not receive any refined education (for which he was later abused by his son-in-law Constantine VII), Romanos advanced through the ranks of the army during the reign of Emperor Leo VI the Wise. In 911 he was general of the naval theme of Samos and later served as admiral (droungarios) of the fleet. In this capacity he was supposed to participate in the Byzantine operations against Bulgaria on the Danube in 917, but he was unable to carry out his mission. In the aftermath of the Byzantine defeat at the Battle of Anchialus in 917, Romanos sailed to Constantinople, where he gradually overcame the discredited regency of Empress Zoe Karvounopsina and her supporter Leo Phokas.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romanos_I
Romanos II or Romanus II (938 – 963) succeeded his father Constantine VII as Byzantine emperor in 959 at the age of twenty-one, and died, poisoned, it was believed, by his wife Theophano, in 963. Romanos II was a son of Emperor Constantine VII and Helena Lekapene, the daughter of Emperor Romanos I. Named after his maternal grandfather, Romanos was married, as a child, to Bertha, the illegitimate daughter of Hugh of Arles, King of Italy. On April 6, 945, after the fall of the Lekapenoi, Constantine VII associated his son Romanos on the throne. With Hugh out of power in Italy and dead by 947, and Bertha herself dead in 949, Romanos secured the promise from his father that he would be allowed to select his own bride. Romanos' choice fell on an innkeeper's daughter named Anastaso, whom he married in 956 and renamed Theophano.
In November 959 Romanos II succeeded his father on the throne, among rumors that he or his wife had sped up the end of Constantine VII by poison. Romanos carried out a virtual purge of his father's courtiers and replaced them with his own friends and those of his wife. Among the persons removed from court were the Empress Mother, Helena, and her daughters, all of them being relegated to a monastery. Nevertheless, many of Romanos' appointees were able men, including his chief adviser, the eunuch Joseph Bringas.After a lengthy hunting expedition Romanos II took ill and died on March 15, 963. Rumor attributed his death to poison administered by his wife Theophano. Romanos II's reliance on his wife and on bureaucrats like Joseph Bringas had resulted in a relatively capable administration, but built up resentment among the nobility, which was associated with the military.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romanus_II
Robert I of Flanders, known as Robert the Frisian, was count of Flanders from 1070 to 1092.
He was the younger son of Baldwin V of Flanders and Adela (Alix) Capet, a daughter of King Robert II of France.
Robert was originally intended to secure the northern borders of Flanders by his marriage to Gertrude of Saxony, Dowager Countess of Holland, but after his brother's death in 1070 he displaced his nephews and became count of Flanders.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_I%2C_Count_of_Flanders