Battle of Brissarthe

The Battle of Brissarthe was fought on 15 September 866 between the Franks and a joint Breton-Viking army near Brissarthe, Neustria. It was marked by the death of Robert the Strong, the Neustrian margrave, and Ranulf I, the duke of Aquitaine.

In 866, Salomon, Duke of Brittany, allied with Hastein (Hasting), a Danish chieftain, for an expedition into Anjou, Maine, and Touraine. In the course of the campaign, Le Mans was sacked. Robert, commander of the afflicted regions, assembled a large army to expel them. He was joined by Ranulf of the region of Poitou and Gauzfrid and Hervé of Maine.

The Frankish army succeeded in intercepting the Danes before they reached their boats on the Loire River. The Danes attempted to take refuge in a church, but the Franks besieged them. During the night, the Danes attempted to escape. During the ensuing battle, Robert was killed, Ranulf mortally wounded by an arrow, and Hervé injured. With the loss of their leaders, the Franks had to retreat.

In 867, Charles the Bald entered negotiations with Salomon and recognised him as King of Brittany. He conceded the Cotentin and possible the Avranchin to the Breton. Hastein continued to ravage the Loire Valley for many more years. He hit Bourges in 867, Orléans in 868, and Angers in 872. Charles appealed for assistance to Salomon.

Primary sources

*Regino of Prüm
*"Annales Bertiniani"