Hastein

History of the Dukes of Normandy by William of Jumieges. This law, then, remained unbroken for many generations of kings, until Lodbrok, of whom we spoke above, succeeded his father in the kingdom. This king also, compelled by the laws of his forefathers, drove out his son, named Björn Ironside, together with his tutor Hastein, by the lot of exile, along with a great company of young men, so that, seeking foreign realms, he might win for himself new dwelling places by means of arms. He was called Ironside for this reason: that no shield was ever raised before him, but standing unarmed in the battleline he would scorn every assault of weapons unharmed, being made so by the very powerful poisons with which his mother had infused him. But Hastein, exiled and banished from his homeland together with his young charge, sent messengers forth into the neighbouring provinces, inviting to this expedition men of light spirit and eager for war. And he gathered an innumerable army of novice fighting men. Why say more? Ships are built, shields are newly made, breastplates repaired, coats of mail and helmets polished, swords and spears sharpened, and the whole army is carefully equipped with every kind of weapon. Then, on the appointed day, the ships are pushed out to sea. The warriors hasten quickly to them. The standards are raised; the sails are spread to the winds. The swift wolves are borne across the waves, to tear the Lord's sheep in pieces, pouring out human blood to their god Thor.

Quæ denique lex per multorum tempora regum inconvulsa mansit, quoad usque Lothrocus rex, de quo supra prælibavimus, patri in regno successit. Is etiam rex patrum legibus excitus, cum ingenti juvenum agmine sorte cogente filium, nomine Bier Costa Ferreæ, a suo abdicat regno, cum ejus pædagogo Hastingo per omnia fraudulentissimo; ut, peregrina regna petens, exteras sibi armis acquireret sedes. Qui ideo Costa Ferrea vocabatur, quia non ei clypeus objiceretur, sed inermis in acie stans, armorum vim quamcunque sperneret illæsus; vehementissimis matris ejus venenis infectus. Hastingus vero a patria cum suo adolescente exsul proscriptus, missa legatione milites de finitimis provinciis animo leves, bellique cupidos, ad hanc expeditionem invitans, innumerabilem pugnantium tironum congregavit exercitum. Quid plura? fabricantur naves, innovantur scuta, resarciuntur thoraces, poliuntur loricæ et galeæ, acuuntur enses et lanceæ, omnique telorum apparatu accurate munitur exercitus. Inde vero statuto die pelago impelluntur naves, ad eas propere festinant milites, elevantur vexilla, librant ventis carbasa; vehuntur lupi pernices ad lacerandas dominicas oves. deo suo Thur humanum sanguinem libantes.

History of the Dukes of Normandy by William of Jumieges. By these and similar calamities, as we have said above, the Gauls were grievously afflicted for nearly thirty years, not without the guilt of those who had brought such miseries upon themselves. Then Hastein, desiring to raise his lord Björn to still higher estate, even to an imperial diadem, began to deliberate earnestly, together with his band of companions, how this might be accomplished. At last, having taken counsel, they crossed the billowing sea under sail, and resolved to seize Rome by a sudden and secret attack. But as a violent storm arose, they were driven by the wind to the city of Luni¹, which was so named on account of the grace of its beauty. The citizens, struck with alarm at the sight of so great a fleet, shut the gates of the city, fortified the ramparts, armed themselves with missiles, and exhorted one another to resist. When Hastein learned of their courage, he believed that this must be Rome. Then, with every effort, he began to consider how the city might be taken by stratagem. At length he sent to the bishop and count the instruments of his treachery, declaring that he had not come there of their own accord, but had wished to return home; that they desired peace, and would hereafter seek peace; and that he himself, being pressed down by a mortal illness, earnestly begged to receive the Christian faith from them. The bishop and the count, hearing this, were filled with joy, and made peace with the most wicked enemy of peace. And a mutual, free entrance into the city was agreed between both peoples.

His atque hujuscemodi calamitatum malis, ut prælibavimus, Galliis non absque piaculo quorumlibet per xxx fere annorum spatium lugubre detritis, Hastingus dominum suum ad altiora cupiens provehere de imperiali diademate cum agmine complicum cœ pit attentius tractare. Postremo, inito consilo velivolum permeantes mare, Romam deliberant clandestina irruptione obtinere. Sed nimia exorta tempestate, ad urbem Lunis dovolvontur, vento impellente, quæ pro sui decore hoc vocabatur nomine. Porro cives tanta attoniti classe, civitatis repagula portis inducunt, propugnacula et jaculis muniunt, atque semetipsos hortantur ad resistendum. Quorum audaciam Hastingus ut comperit, ratur hanc Romam fore, omni conatu cœpit attentare quo pacto possit eam dolo invadere. Denique episcopo et comiti suæ perfidiæ ministros dirigit, mandans non sua sponte illuc appulisse, sed suam repetere patriam voluisse: pacificos se esse, pacem deinceps quærere, et se lethali pressum langore, ab eis Christianum fieritsupplici prece deposcere. His episcopus et comes auditis, gaudio exhilarati, pacem cum nefandissimo pacis inimico firmant fitque communis utrique populo urbis ingressus.

Note 1. Luni is a town in north-west Italy on the Mediterranean Sea some two hundred miles north-north-east of Rome.

History of the Dukes of Normandy by William of Jumieges. At last the wicked Hastein is carried into the church. The cunning man is plunged into holy baptism, and emerges a most ravenous wolf. The bishop and the count receive him from the font to their own ruin, and he is carried back to the ship in the hands of bearers, anointed with chrism. After this, in the deepest part of the night, he puts on his coat of mail and is laid in the bier, signalling to the others to put on their armour beneath their tunics. Then an unbearable lamentation rises among the army, that Hastein, the newly baptised, has died. The shore of the sea resounds with mourning for so great a leader. Then he is brought out of the ship and carried to the church. The bishop puts on the sacred vestments, preparing to offer the holy sacrifice for the departed. The commendation of the soul is made, that the body, already buried, as it were, in the pit of sin and destruction, might be handed over to burial. But behold, he leapt from the bier and cut down the bishop and the count with his sword. Then, with wolfish fury, he and his men rushed upon the people. After these deadly deeds were done, the house of God was made a slaughterhouse: youths were butchered, old men massacred, the city laid waste, and the walls torn down to their foundations.

Tandem scelestus ad Ecclesiam fertur Hastingus, sacro baptismo mergitur homo versutus et exit rapacissimus lupus. Quem ad sui perniciem a fonte excipiunt episcopus et comes, hincque bajulorum manibus refertur ad navim chrismate delibutus. Post hoc, intempesto noctis medio, loricatus locatur in feretro innuens cæteris ut suas induerent loricas sub tunicis. Proinde fit intolerabilis luctus per exercitum, Hastingum obisse neophitum. Resonat maris litus tanti ducis excessu. Dehinc navi effertur, ad Ecclesiam bajulatus. Sacra vestitur antistes indumenta, sacrosanctam pro defuncto mactaturus hostiam. Fit commendatio animæ, ut corpus scelerum et perditionis in barathro jam sepultum tradatur se. pulturæ. Sed ecce prosilit de feretro, episcopusque et coinitem obtruncat gladio.Dehinc lupina rabie cum suis grassatur in plebe. His a funesto perpetratis, theatrum efficitur Dei domus, jugulantur juvenes, trucidantur senes, depopulatur civitas, diruuntur a fundamentis mœnia.

History of the Dukes of Normandy by William of Jumieges. After the destruction of that city had thus been accomplished, the pagans, discovering that they had by no means taken Rome, and fearing that they would gain nothing further, since by rumour the report of their wicked deeds had already reached Roman ears, they took counsel together about returning home. For Björn, the standard-bearer of all this ruin and leader of the armies, as he sought to return to his native land, suffered shipwreck, and scarcely made landfall among the English, many of his ships being lost beneath the waves. Thence he went on to Frisia, where he met his death. But Hastein, going to Charles¹, king of the Franks, asked for peace; and having obtained it, he received from him the city of Chartres as payment, and dwelt there. And thus Francia, for a time, drew breath again from the crashing storms of tumult; the sentence of vengeance due for such enormity of sins being held suspended, the clemency of the most merciful Christ having been appeased, He who, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, rules the world ineffably through all ages.

Hujus itaque peracta urbis subversione, comperientes pagani se Romam nullatenus cepisse, veriti ne ulterius [haud] quidquam proficerent, quippe cum Romanas aures fama volante, eorum profana opera jam ocupassent inito consilio de regressu disponunt. Nam Bier totius excidii singnifer, exercituumque rex dum nativum solum repeteret, naufragium passus, vix apud Anglos portum obtinuit, quampluribus de suis navibus submersis. Indeque Frisiam repetens, ibidem obiit mortem. Hastingus vero Carolum Francorum regem adiens, pacem petiit, quam adipiscensi urbem Carnotensem stipendii munere ab ipso accepit. Et sic Francia a, tumultuum fragoribus aliquandiu respiravit: sententia ultionis ob enormitatem scelerum debitæ suspensa, propitiata piissimi Christi clementia, cum Patre et Spiritu sancto mundum ineffabilliter regentis per sæcula.

Note 1. King Charles II of West Francia, 823-877. Carolingian. Known to history as 'le Chauve' i.e. 'the Bald'. He was a grandson of Charlemagne.

History of the Dukes of Normandy by William of Jumieges. Rollo, therefore, having taken possession of Rouen, began to consider with his followers how he might advance toward Paris, and, with a heart bent on violence, thirsted for the blood of Christians, like a wolf stirred by pagan fury. Launching their fleet, they sailed up the river Seine, and made a naval encampment at Hasdans, which is called Arches¹. Then Renaud, duke of all Francia, hearing of the sudden arrival of the pagans, came against them with a strong force of troops along the river Eure, sending ahead Hastein, who was still staying in the city of Chartres, along with other envoys, because of his skill in the Danish tongue. So Hastein came to them beside the riverbank, and addressed them with these words: "Alas, most valiant warriors! From what shores have you come here? What do you seek in this land? And what is the name of your leader? Tell us. We are messengers sent to you from the King of the Franks." To this Rollo replied: "We are Danes, ruling ourselves as equals. We have come to drive out the inhabitants of this land and to bring this country under our own authority. But you, who are you, who speak to us so boldly?" Hastein answered: "Have you ever heard of a certain Hastein, who, being exiled from your country and coming here with a great fleet, laid waste a large part of this kingdom of the Franks and reduced it to desolation?" Rollo replied: "We have heard. Hastein began as a good man, but ended all things badly." Then Hastein said: "Do you wish to submit to King Charles?" Rollo answered: "By no means. We will submit to no one; but whatever we gain by arms, we shall claim as our own right. If you wish, report this to the king, whose envoy you boast yourself to be."

Rollo igitur Rothomo potitus, de Parisiaca emersione corde versuto cum suis tractans, Christianorum sanguinem paganico instincto lupino more sitiebat. Qui classem solventes, Sequanæ fluvium sulcant, stationemque navium apud Hasdans, quæ Archas dicitur, componunt. Tunc Rainaldus totius Franciæ dux, agnito paganorum repentino adventu, cum valida exercituum virtute super Authuræ fluvium eis obvius processit; Hastingum qui adhuc in Carnotena urbe morabatur, ob peritiam linguæ cum aliis legatis præmittens. Veniens itaque Hastingus juxta aquæ decursum, talibus illos adorsus est verbis "Heu! inquit, robustissimi milites, quibus ab oris huc advecti estis, vel quid in hac regione quæritis, aut quo vester senior censetur nomine? edicito nobis. Francorum sane regis sumus legati vobis directi." Cui interroganti sic Rollo: "Dani, ait, sumus, æquali dominio fungimur. Terræ hujus colonos exturbare venimus, nostræ ditioni patriam subdere cupientes. Tu vero quis es, qui tam facete nobis loqueris? Ad hæc ille. "Audistis, inquit, aliquando de quodam Hastingo, qui a vestris partibus exsul cum multitudine navium huc adveniens, hoc Francorum regnum magna ex parte pessumdedit et in solitudinem redegit?" Cui Rollo: "Audivimus, inquit, Hastingus enim bono homine cœpit et cuncta malo fine complevit." Hastingus ad hæc: "Vultis, inquit, Carolo regi subdi? — Nequaquam, ait Rollo, alicui subjiciemur; sed quæcunque armis acquiremus, nostro juri vindicabimus. Regi cujus te legatum gloriaris, audita si vis renuntia."

Note 1. Pont-de-l'Arche, around 36km upstream of Rouen on the River Seine at the confluence with the River Eure. In 862 King Charles the Bald had built fortifications to prevent the Danes reaching Paris, as described in the Annals of Bertiniani, Part 3, Page 58: "Charles, their father, summoned all the leading men of his kingdom to assemble, around the Kalends [1st] of June, with many labourers and wagons, at the place called Pîtres [Pont-de-l'Arche], where on one side the Andelle and on the other the Eure flow into the Seine. There, by constructing fortifications in the Seine, he blocked the passage for ships ascending or descending the river on account of the Northmen."

History of the Dukes of Normandy by William of Jumieges. Hastein returned and reported all of these things clearly to the Duke [Renaud]. Meanwhile Rollo and his men built for themselves a fortification, raising a rampart of heaped up earth around themselves, leaving only one very large opening for a gate, which can be seen even to this day. The Franks, at daybreak, went to the church of Saint Germanus, and there, hearing Mass, received the Body and Blood of Christ. Then, riding forward, they came to the riverbank, where they saw the Danes and their ships behind the earthwork, and they attacked the wide entrance of the gate. The Danes, inside, lay low on both sides within the level space of the fort, covering themselves with shields, so that their numbers seemed very small. Rotland, standard bearer of Renaud, leading the vanguard of the army, rushed violently through the great gateway and began to fight them. But the Danes sprang up and in a moment killed Rotland and his followers. Renaud, Hastein, and the other counts, seeing all their men lying dead, turned their backs and fled in haste. When this was done, Rollo quickly sailed to the town of Meulan¹, seized it, destroyed it, and slew all its inhabitants with the sword.

Hæc Hastingus cuncta expedite suo refert duci. Interim Rollo et qui cum eo erant, fecerunt sibi munimen et obstaculum in modum castri, munientes se per gyrum avulsæ terræ aggere, locoque portæ relinquentes spatium prolixæ amplitudinis, quod apparet ad tempus usque istius diei. Franci vero diliculo venerunt ad ecclesiam sancti Germani, ibique missam audientes, participantur corpore et sanguine Christi. Abhinc equitantes, in ripa fluminis naves Dacosque in munimine avulsæ terræ videntes, amplum portæ aditum solum invaserunt. Daci vero intrinsecus hinc et inde per planitiem castri accubitarunt, atque scutis se cooperuerunt, ut parvissima putaretur summa eorum. Rotlandus signifer Rainaldi, cum acie quæ præibat exercitum, violenter per aditum miræ prolixitatis amplum super eos irruit et debellare eos cœpit. Daci vero exsurgentes, Rotlandum in momento interemerunt et ejus sequaces. Rainaldus et Hastingus, cæterique comites, illic cunctos mortuos considerantes, terga vertentes fugam expetiverunt hilares.Quibus peractis, Rollo navibus festine Mellenti municipium occupat. Quo subverso, omnes incolas gladio necat.

Note 1. Meulan-en-Yvelines, on the River Seine, around 120km upstream from Pont-de-l'Arche.

History of the Dukes of Normandy by William of Jumieges. Seeing, then, that he had found a suitable moment to deceive Hastein, Count Theobald¹ addressed him with these deceitful words: "Why, most renowned man, do you grow sluggish in idleness? Do you not know that King Charles wishes to have you put to death, because of the Christian blood you once unjustly shed? He remembers the wrongs you wickedly inflicted on him in those days, and therefore he has resolved to drive you out of the land. He also says that your hand is joined with the pagan Rollo's in destroying the Franks. But take counsel for yourself, lest you be punished without having taken counsel." At these words Hastein, frightened, immediately sold the city of Chartres to Theobald, and, with everything sold off, set out abroad and disappeared.

Considerans ergo Tetboldus comes se reperisse tempus opportunum ad decipiendum Hastingum, talibus verbis falso appetit illum: "Cur, inquit, insignissime vir, ignavia torpes? Ignoras regem Carolum te velle morte appetere, ob Christianorum sanguinem a te olim fusum injuste? Reminiscitur enim malorum quæ illi tunc improbe intorsisti, et ideo de terra te exterminare decernit. Manus etiam tua, ut ipse ait, cum Rollone pagano ad delendos Francos sentit. Qua de re in proximo pessime deleberis ab eis. Consule autem tibi, ne inconsultus puniaris," Quibus verbis Hastingus territus, confestim Carnotenam urbem Tetboldi vendidit, et distractis omnibus peregre profectus disparuit.

Note 1. Theobald, before 913-between 975 and 977. Count of Blois, Tours, Chartres and Châteaudun. He was known in French as 'le Tricheur' i.e. 'the Cheater'. He married, firstly, a woman of the Rorgonid family whose name is unknown with whom he had two children, one of whom, also Theobald, was killed at the Battle of Ermentrude; see Chapter 4.15. Sometime after the death of Duke William Longsword in 942 he married Luitgarde, daughter of Count Herbert II of Vermandois, William's widow, with whom he had three children: Hugh, Archbishop of Bourges, Odo, his successor and Emma, who married William IV, Duke of Aquitaine. She, Emma, is a great x 3 grandmother of Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine.