The Battle of the Seine is a military engagement that is part of the Norse Invasion of Frankia. It depicts the confrontation between the Viking Army led by Ragnar and the Kingdom of West Francia. The event takes place in Season 4 Episode 7, The Profit and the Loss.
Prelude[]
A year after the successful Siege of Paris, Ragnar is eager once again to raid Paris. However, he is now apparently addicted to the "medicine" he receives from Yidu, and his judgement and sanity are not where they should be. King Harald and his brother Halfdan have arrived in Kattegat to join Ragnar on his next raid. They seek glory and fortune and have heard of Ragnar's previous successes. This time, Ragnar's sons Hvitserk and Ubbe will be joining the Viking fleet, having just received their arm rings marking them as men. They will not actually be fighting, but staying in the camp. The Viking fleet, comprised of one hundred to one hundred fifty longships is mustered and they set sail for West Francia once again.
Meanwhile, in Paris, the newly titled and married Duke Rollo is working alongside Count Odo to strengthen the defenses of Paris and the surrounding area. He uses his knowledge of Viking warfare to prepare the city for an attack. He urges Odo to build a fleet of ships similar to that of the Vikings' longships. He also orders the construction of two forts built on either side of the Seine River in order to prevent the Vikings from sailing upriver and reaching Paris. These forts would hide a huge metal chain that could be used to take out ships and block the river.
The Battle[]
The Viking fleet enters the mouth of the Seine River and prepares to move towards the ramparts of Paris, only to be met by Rollo and his Frankish soldiers on their newly constructed forts overlooking the river. As soon as the first Viking ships come within range, Frankish crossbowmen begin raining down bolts on their opponents.
Simultaneously, Ragnar has sent an ambush party of about two hundred fifty warriors, led by Lagertha, to attack the Franks on their rearguard fort. Only Lagertha and her warriors find themselves stuck in a muddy swamp. Rollo discovers the ambush group and directs dozens of his soldiers to go towards the advancing Vikings who are now easy prey for Frankish arrows and bolts. Many warriors are killed before the party manages to reach solid ground and form a shield-wall.
Back on the river, the huge metal chain has been raised, capsizing many ships. Chaos descends as hundreds of Vikings fall into the river and are killed by crossbow bolts or drown. Those who manage to reach the bank are cut down by the Franks. Rollo kills one of his own soldiers for cowardice and delivers an inspiring speech to his shaken men.
Lagertha's party continues advancing towards one of the forts, but the soldiers take on their shield-wall from the rear, taking out many of the Vikings and forcing the depleted group to retreat. The remaining warriors on the river also begin retreating, but many ships are trapped and their crews are put to the torch by the use of catapults throwing flaming projectiles.
Aftermath[]
The Vikings are forced to retreat, and Rollo returns to Paris a hero. The Franks sustained light casualties, and the forts proved to be strong assets. The Vikings on the other hand, took a heavy toll, with more than four hundred dead and at least twenty of their longships burned. This defeat leads to the end of the Norse invasion of Frankia. During the battle, the Viking encampment was destroyed and the majority of the people left in the camp were killed. Ragnar's leadership and decision-making abilities are called in doubt. A defeated and shamed Ragnar sails home and begins his decade of self-imposed exile.
