General Notes

Based on "Histoire d'Ottar Jarl, Pirate Norvegien, Conquerant du Pays duBray, in Normandie, et de sa Descendince, by le Compte de Babineau,1879." This being a line as illustrious as that of the Conqueror, thoughnot so powerful, deserves some description. It was in 843 that theNorwegian Vikings established a settlement with a palisade defense inFrance and slew practically everybody in Nantes. Later their leader wascalled Ottar, Jarl or Earl, who came from the southern part of Norway. Hevisited King Alfred of England, told him of that far away land anddomain, of which he was proud to be the Jarl, or Yarl, also that he hadsailed far north to the North Cape. He served King Alfred occasionallyfrom 870, when he was probably baptized, to 901, when King Alfred died.Ottar was soon after warring with King Edward, Alfred's son, with his ownson, now a chief, with him. Men of Hereford and Gloucester defeated them.They took refuge on an island at Bristol, where they were isolated by theSaxons, but finally got away and gained the shore of France, entering theSeine to Pont de l'Arche. A dozen years later they got to the forests ofBeauvais, called Bray. But no Viking could lead a sedentary life. In 911,in concert with other chiefs of bands, landing on the east coast, theywere again defeated by the Saxons at Wodansfield, near the Severn, andOttar died on the battlefield, surrounded by his chiefs, and then agedprobably 86 years.