A photo of the Fruttuaria Abbey

Otto, Count of Maçon

Otto was the son of the King of Italy, yet lived in France. Kidnapped and saved, he warred with the King of France, inherited other titles and made a nuisance of himself.

A photo of the Château - Chateaudun, France

Theobald I of Blois

Theobald I, known as the Trickster, was a vassal of 10th Century West Frankish King Lothair. He is one of my maternal 27 x great-grandfathers.

A photo of the Cathedral at Chartres

The battle of Chartres

At the end of the 10th century, Frankish nobility faced a constant Viking threat. Here I explain the importance of the battle of Chartres and its connection to my family

A photo of Rouen Cathedral - Rouen, France

Rollo the Viking (Robert I of Normandy)

Robert, also known as Rollo or Rolf or Hrolf, was a Norwegian viking who ravaged the Loire valley. They called him “Hrolf the Walker” because he was so big no horse could carry him. So he walked everywhere.

The coat of arms of the House of Poitiers

William V, Duke of Aquitaine

William V, known as the Great, was a Duke of Aquitaine. He memorably refused the crown of a united Italy after realising the political situation on the peninsula was a mess.