Rollo, the first ruler of Normandy, was a Viking raider who terrorized the coast of Francia in the 9th century. In 911, he accepted a treaty from King Charles the Simple that granted him the territory of Normandy as a fief. Rollo converted to Christianity, adopted Frankish customs, and became a loyal vassal to the French king. His descendants, known as the Rolloingians, expanded the Duchy of Normandy and eventually conquered England in 1066. Rollo's foundation of Normandy marked a significant turning point in European history, as it led to the establishment of a powerful Norman state that would play a major role in the politics and culture of Western Europe for centuries to come.
