In The Explorers Of St. Bertin

The source comes from the Annals of St. Bertin, penned possibly around the 9 or 10th century. It is a historical annal written during the period that contains important information regarding the Vikings’ activity, their constructive and destructive activities during the period around 830-82 AD. The passage describes a typical robbery made by the Vikings during the 9th century AD. They are portrayed as “pirates” and the theft happened in”Charles Realm” so presumably in France. The captured were the Abbott Louis of St. Denis and his brother, presumably another abbott. The term pirate is used because the attackers were from the oversea territories specifically from the North. The ransom was entirely paid by the royals and the church. This signifies
Bertin there are similar situations represented where the king along with the church, gives large sums to the Danish invaders in order to free the kidnapped people. The payment is usually made with coins and valuable treasuries, in particular gold and precious stones. The circumstances were probably led by war and the invasion of the Danish inside Frankia governed by Charles the Bald. The document is a government report as it is included in the annal the purpose of which is to record the attack for future reference in case of other attacks. In particular, this explains how exactly the Danish were approaching lands when invading one. The annal was meant to be for both the church as monasteries and abbeys were primary the most robbed places, and the king as he needed to prepare defences for the whole city.

The event also explains how a member of the clergy deals with the consequences of the cause and how the king and the church resolved the dispute: the pirates in fact, asked for a large sum that kneeled the kingdom financially. In this case the decision was drastic in order to save two important lives. The reason why they were important is because members of clergy were high respected as Christianity was considered the highest religion in the country. Having the Church on the right side meant that it was possible to not only be in contact with the nobility but also, spiritually to access
Bertin are a detailed record of the events in the Carolingian world and are the primary source to understand the Carolingian period under Charles the Bald. The reign of Charles was not easy to govern. The attacks were more and more constant not also in Frankia but also around Italy. Charles was urgently needed in both countries. The vikings’ raids were considered the main punishment for the people who sinned. This was the will of God and was predicted by the prophet Jeremiah. The following evidences are believed to be connected with more a spiritual cause rather than human. In the annals, the descriptions are also related to other pirate attacks similar to the analysed source. For example, in document 853 it states the Danes sacked the town of Nantes and its monasteries. From Ruen to Marseilles, the whole area was attacked from outside. The Emperor was forced to act in every occasion. However, in this case, the town was already alerted beforehand and all the treasures were saved in another monastery. Moreover the passage continues by stating that the pirates were intending to reach Orleans, but they never did as two bishops from different cities pushed them back with the army. The utility of having an annal was essential, as the Emperor could plan beforehand for such attacks. Another important fact was that the sources were essential to maintain order in the city. A panicked population was the last thing the monarchy wanted to have;