Rollo of Normandy, originally known as Rollo Sigurdsson, is Ragnar Lothbrok's older brother and the Duke of Normandy. He is the husband of the Frankish Princess Gisla, and the father of William, Marcellus, and Celsa. Prior to his marriage, Rollo was known as a fearsome Viking warrior, with an impulsive streak, and wrought with internal struggles.
Biography[]
Season 1[]
Rollo participates in the Norsemen-Balts Battle with his younger brother Ragnar. During the battles, Rollo fights with typical Viking viciousness. Sometime afterward, Rollo meets Ragnar and Ragnar's son Björn in Kattegat to attend The Thing. Upon meeting in Kattegat, Rollo congratulates Björn on his growth and in becoming a man. During The Thing, Björn will receive his arm ring, marking him as a man in Viking society. The three head to a tavern where Ragnar reveals a device to his brother which would keep a journey west, over open ocean, on a true course. He demonstrates how this device works, showing it to be a sun dial.
Rollo witnesses the execution of Eric Trygvasson. Rollo and Ragnar are shocked when after his execution, Earl Haraldson curses Eric, thus making it so that he will not be able to enter Valhalla. During the feast, Rollo tells Björn and Ragnar that Earl Haraldson was known for wanting Eric's land, hinting that this is the real reason why he sentenced Eric to death.
Rollo then accompanies Ragnar on the first raid to England, despite their ruler, Earl Haraldson, refusing to allow them to go. He makes no secret of his attraction to Lagertha, Ragnar's wife, and expresses his continuing sadness that she chose Ragnar over him.
During the raid of Lindisfarne's monastery in the Kingdom of Northumbria, Rollo walks in on Ragnar talking to a Christian named Athelstan. Rollo insists on killing him but Ragnar forbids it, declaring the monk is worth more alive than dead. Surprised, Rollo reminds his brother they are equals and attempts to kill Athelstan anyway. However, Ragnar pushes his brother back, causing Rollo to angrily chop the crucifix in the room to pieces, telling Athelstan that is how much he respects his God before storming off and leaving for the boats taking Athelstan, slaves, and treasures with them.
Unable to ignore the riches this unsanctioned journey has returned, Earl Haraldson has no choice but to agree to let these warriors undertake a second trip out. Rollo, Ragnar, and their crew land on the Northumbrian shores again. This time they are welcomed by a few Anglo-Saxon warriors, however, Rollo doesn't trust them and suggests that they kill them, and they do just that.
Rollo, his brother, and their crew sail out with Earl Haraldson’s permission, but also with Earl Haraldson’s spy and half-brother Knut. After the bloodshed on the beach, the Vikings choose the Sabbath to invade the town of Hexam and unleash a flood of violence and panic. Rollo spares an old, sick man, and gives him a glass of water to drink before taking the iron jug and cup. When Lagertha later kills Knut for trying to rape a Saxon woman and her, Ragnar falsely claims that he killed Knut so as to protect his wife and is put on trial by Earl Haraldson. Despite the Earl's attempts to bribe Rollo to turn against Ragnar, he testifies in support of his brother, who is then acquitted.
Earl Haraldson attempts to kill Ragnar and his family by attacking their farm, but they escape and go into hiding. As a way of finding them, Haraldson has Rollo captured and tortured to try and make him reveal Ragnar's location, but Rollo refuses, remaining steadfast.
When Ragnar learns that Haraldson has tortured his brother, he challenges the Earl to a trial by combat which the Earl accepts. When Ragnar wins the duel and kills Haraldson, the Earl's steward, Svein, yells for the other guards to kill Ragnar. At this, Rollo quickly throws an axe into Svein, killing him with satisfaction after he had been tortured by him. That night, at the celebratory feast in the Great Hall, Ragnar tells him that he does not need to swear his loyalty because he has already paid a high price, meaning the torture Rollo suffered. Nevertheless, Rollo insists on swearing loyalty to Ragnar and his family. He then quietly says to Ragnar, "How will we ever be equal now?"
Despite his treatment at the hands of Earl Haraldson's men, Rollo does not bear a grudge against the Earl's widow Siggy and daughter Thyri, and even vouches for them so that they do not have to leave Kattegat. Rollo then enters into a relationship with Siggy.
During the Battle of the Tyne in Northumbria, the Vikings are invited into the castle of King Aelle in order to negotiate. Ragnar offers to return the King's captured brother Aethelwulf of Northumbria and leave Northumbria in return for a ransom payment. Aelle agrees to pay the ransom, but adds the condition that one of Ragnar's men must become Christian first, so he can only negotiate and make peace with a fellow Christian. Although Ragnar and his men laugh and balk at this stipulation, Rollo agrees to do so, to the surprise of his companions.
Rollo is baptized in the river by the Northumbrian bishop and given the Christian name Rolf. Although Rollo has little understanding of the ceremony and does not take it seriously, Floki takes considerable umbrage at Rollo's action and berates him for offending their Norse gods. Though Rollo seems to remain as staunch a pagan as any of his comrades, Floki's rebuke still unsettles him. While helping fight off an ambush from the Northumbrian's, Rollo eagerly slays as many enemy soldiers as he can. He then yells at Floki "How many Christians have I killed!"
Rollo, Siggy, and her daughter join Ragnar and his family for the pilgrimage at Uppsala. During the festivities, Rollo engages in the customary riotous behavior, such as drinking, celebrating, and having sex with other women, much to Siggy's disapproval. Rollo insists that he will be a great man someday and that Siggy would regret leaving him just because he sleeps with other women. Siggy tells him that his brother Ragnar is negotiating with King Horik. She complains to Rollo that because of his feckless behavior, he was not invited to these negotiations and is missing out on an opportunity to raise himself and improve his position. Despite Rollo missing out on those discussions, Ragnar brings him along anyway on his mission to Jarl Borg, whom King Horik had asked Ragnar to negotiate with in order to settle a land dispute. Jarl Borg discerns that Rollo is jealous and resentful of Ragnar's success, and connives to divide the brothers against each other.
While Ragnar is away courting Princess Aslaug, Borg allows Rollo to stay at his hall and offers him lavish hospitality, such as food, wine, and the sexual use of any of his serving wenches. He flatters Rollo and suggests that he deserves to be greater than his brother. Borg promises that if Rollo fights with him against Ragnar and King Horik, then he will be a powerful and important person. After quietly considering these offers, Rollo agrees to join Jarl Borg against King Horik and fight against his own brother.
Season 2[]
Rollo fights with Jarl Borg against his brother Ragnar and King Horik. During the battle, Rollo critically injures Floki and kills Arne, impaling him with a spear and almost superhumanly lifting him skyward above the fray, although Arne's death struck Rollo with some guilt for striking down his former comrade. When Rollo is confronted by Ragnar for face-to-face combat, Rollo can not bring himself to fight his brother and surrenders, thereby ending the battle between the two forces. Ragnar, King Horik and Borg then strike an uneasy alliance to go on raids together in the West, and Rollo is taken captive, to be judged for his betrayal of the men from Kattegat. "Not that you'd care, brother," declares Ragnar coldly to his captive brother, "but your niece, Gyda, is dead."
Although the villagers want him to be sentenced to death, the Law-Giver, bribed by Ragnar with a piece of Saxon gold, announces that he has decided to spare Rollo, reasoning that if the Gods had wanted him dead, he would have died already in battle. Rollo indirectly apologizes to Ragnar by explaining that he merely wanted to step out of his brother's shadow, yet found no sunlight when he did. Humiliated, Rollo decides to leave Kattegat, although Siggy convinces him to stay.
Four years later, Rollo has descended into self-destructive behavior. He is found by Siggy sleeping outside in the snow, apparently more the worse for wear from drinking. She wakes him up by throwing cold water on his face. She tells Rollo that he has become a disgrace and that he should rot in Hel. She urges him to seek redemption of his honor by asking forgiveness from Ragnar and permission to be included in the next raid on England. Ragnar acknowledges that Rollo has suffered, but other people have suffered much more because of what he has done.
King Horik and Jarl Borg arrive in Kattegat to meet with Ragnar with regard to their planned raid of England. During the conclave, Ragnar publicly acknowledges and accepts Rollo back as his brother, but forbids him to go raiding with them. Rollo is grateful for Ragnar's forgiveness, but is disappointed at accepting his exclusion from the raid. At the feast in the hall of Earl Ragnar with Horik and Borg, Rollo is sitting solemnly with them. Jarl Borg, having been told King Horik does not want to raid with him, tries to lure Rollo back to his side but is only met with a punch in his face. As the Viking fleet sails down the fjord on its way to England, a frustrated Rollo watches from the clifftops, longing to be off raiding once more.
In Ragnar's absence, however, his decision to exclude Rollo turns out to be as prophetic as it is wise. With Jarl Borg also excluded from the raid due to Horik's mistrust, Kattegat is regarded by the angry Borg as easy pickings while Ragnar's off raiding England with almost all of his most capable warriors. With Borg's forces sailing up the fjord, Rollo quickly rouses himself from his frustration and self-pity to organize and mount a hurried but worthy defense of Kattegat. Jarl Borg ultimately captures Kattegat, but not as easily as he'd anticipated. Rollo's resistance, meanwhile, has bought him the time and opportunity to evacuate Ragnar's wife, Princess Aslaug, and young sons, saving them from Jarl Borg's wrath. Rollo leads his brother's family and Siggy to the shelter of a remote farm where they await the return of Ragnar.
During their exile, Rollo combs the area for warriors willing to fight Jarl Borg when Ragnar returns. Despite his futile efforts, Siggy is heartened to see Rollo finding purpose as a warrior and a man once more. Word, meanwhile, has reached Ragnar of Jarl Borg's treachery and of the flight of his family. Sailing back home with all possible haste, Ragnar is brought by Helga, Floki's wife, to the farmhouse where his family has found refuge. Reunited with his family, an angry Ragnar tells Rollo he wants to destroy Jarl Borg. Rollo, having in the past played the rash, impulsive warrior to his normally cautious and deliberate brother, reins his brother in, counseling him against the futility of an attack at present with so few warriors at their disposal. Unexpected help soon comes, however, when Lagertha, Ragnar's former wife, and Björn, his oldest son, now taller than Ragnar and as powerfully-built as Rollo, arrive at the head of a column of warriors.
Rollo is surprised and genuinely happy to see Lagertha once more, and seemingly not on the basis of his past desire for her. Rollo also is impressed at how tall and powerful Björn has grown, but observes that he still hasn't grown a proper beard. With an adequate force at his disposal, Ragnar can now properly plan to oust Jarl Borg from Kattegat. Ragnar, Björn, and two other men slip into the village by night, where they put to the torch the stores of grain set aside for the winter. With the onset of winter around the corner, the lack of winter grain makes Jarl Borg's grasp on Kattegat untenable. Angered at Ragnar's efforts, Jarl Borg and his forces ride out of Kattegat in pursuit, predictably. Having drawn Jarl Borg out, Ragnar's forces spring a trap. The ensuing battle is a victory for Ragnar, with Jarl Borg barely escaping with his life. In the wake of the engagement, Rollo compliments Björn on his fighting prowess. Ragnar, however, is quick to criticize his son for his recklessness, telling him he has much to learn. Ragnar and his allies return to Kattegat in triumph. Later, as Rollo is about to behead a captive as a sacrifice to Odin, Ragnar intervenes, handing the axe to Björn, who does the honors. Rollo seems surprised, but not chagrined. A messenger informs Ragnar that King Horik and his son barely escaped an attack from King Ecbert's forces.
When King Horik himself arrives in Kattegat, he wishes to attack Wessex again to punish King Ecbert. Ragnar and Rollo agree, but the earl wants to deal with Jarl Borg first. King Horik understands Ragnar's thirst for vengeance, but points out that they need Borg's men and ships if they are to go to Wessex again due to the losses they sustained during their last foray. He says that Rollo should go to Götaland to ask Jarl Borg to restore the alliance between himself, Ragnar and King Horik. At his departure from Kattegat, Siggy, King Horik and even Torstein, the man who wished Rollo to be executed earlier, wishes him success on his journey.
Arriving in Götaland, Rollo meets with Jarl Borg, delivering the proposal of resuming the alliance between Jarl Borg, Ragnar, and King Horik. Before agreeing, Jarl Borg consults with the skull of his late first wife. "What do you say, my love?" Borg asks the skull, kissing it intently. His new second wife, in the room, looks away. "You think I should go?" Turning to a bemused Rollo, Jarl Borg says, "She thinks I should go."
Rollo returns to Kattegat along with Jarl Borg. Jarl Borg confers with Ragnar while Rollo observes from a distance. During the night, Rollo, Torstein, and Floki lead a party that locks Borg's men inside the barn in which they'd been quartered, sets it aflame, and burns them alive. Bursting into Jarl Borg's sleeping chambers, they seize Borg and subject him to a brutal beating. When one of the men moves to attack Borg's pregnant wife Torvi, Rollo stops him. "That's not necessary," he tells him.
King Horik enters the Earl's hall to ask Ragnar what is going on. Rollo and the other men drag Jarl Borg inside and deposit him at Ragnar's feet. Ragnar says he cannot forgive Jarl Borg for what he has done to his family and will take revenge by carving a blood eagle on his back.
King Horik asks Ragnar to postpone the execution of Jarl Borg, as they still have no new ally to help them in their raids. Rollo asks Horik if Ragnar should reprieve Jarl Borg after all he has done, to which the King replies the execution might discourage and deter any possible allies from joining them. Rollo resents Ragnar constantly doing King Horik's bidding, to which Ragnar replies that Horik is the king.
A messenger from a possible new ally arrives. Later, Rollo tells Siggy that they've found a new ally, someone called Earl Ingstad. When they are having sex, Rollo starts to strangle Siggy, asking her why she has sex with King Horik. She tells him she does it for him, as King Horik and Ragnar are allies now but eventually will fight each other, and Rollo will have to choose between them. Jarl Borg is subjected to the blood eagle. Rollo watches along with the rest of the people of Kattegat.
Rollo, now fully redeemed by his defense of Kattegat and by his protection of Ragnar's wife and sons, is once more included in his brother's westward endeavors. He grows particularly close to his eldest nephew, Björn, taking it upon himself to spar with and train the younger warrior in preparation for the upcoming return to Wessex. At sea on the voyage back to England, he encourages and reassures Björn, ensuring him that he'll always be by his side.
Setting camp in Wessex, Rollo notices the tension between Ragnar and King Horik. Ragnar seeks to first approach King Ecbert in a spirit of diplomacy and cooperation, while King Horik wants only revenge and plunder. Rollo also notices Floki gravitating toward Horik. When an envoy, among them King Ecbert's son Aethelwulf, arrives at the Viking camp, Rollo instructs the men to set up a shield wall and narrow the passage into the camp in case it is a ruse. However, Ragnar accepts Aethelwulf's invitation to meet King Ecbert at his villa in a peaceful manner. King Horik, however, has no interest in diplomacy or negotiation, secretly sending a company of warriors under his son Erlendur into the forest to ambush Aethelwulf and his escort on their way back, intentionally sparing only Aethelwulf. As a result, the battle is inevitable. A frustrated Ragnar wants to approach their enemy with deliberation, but King Horik, disdaining such caution, leads them into a trap. When the Saxon forces are spotted, Horik insists on attacking head-on. King Ecbert, having studied the strategies of Caesar and the Roman legions of old, has drawn the Northmen onto a battlefield of his own choosing. The Northmen find themselves between multiple bodies of the allied forces of King Ecbert and King Aella. Assailed by coordinated attacks by both mounted cavalry and infantry, The warriors of Ragnar, Lagertha, and Horik suffer heavy losses before fighting their way out of the trap and into headlong retreat. During the fray, Rollo fights valiantly, killing many. Spotting Prince Aethelwulf, Rollo heads toward him with murderous intent, but ends up wounded, then trampled by horses. Unable to come to his aid, Ragnar and Björn are forced to flee the field without him.
In the battle's aftermath, the Saxon soldiers are finishing off wounded Viking warriors when Athelstan finds the gravely-wounded Rollo, saving him from a final spear-thrust. King Aella recognizes him as Ragnar's brother. King Ecbert, realizing Rollo's importance and potential use, orders him cared for. Later, back at Ecbert's villa, Athelstan goes to Rollo to look after him. Seeing Athelstan in his priestly attire, Rollo says King Horik was right about Athelstan betraying them, regretting his lack of adequate strength to kill him.
Rollo is later released by King Ecbert as part of an agreement with the Northmen that includes payment of gold and silver, 5,000 acres of good farming land in Wessex, as well as recruiting those Northmen willing to fight as mercenaries for Princess Kwenthrith in her efforts to rule Mercia. Ragnar sails home to Kattegat with his injured brother, where Siggy and a servant woman take care of Rollo's injuries. During his lengthy recovery, an increasingly-frustrated Rollo has been bedridden and barely able to stand much less walk. Siggy insists he not give up, saying she believes that he might still be useful. Before leaving, she places an axe within Rollo's sight.
Floki, angered and drunk, confronts Athelstan, claiming no one wants him in Kattegat and that it's his fault Rollo is going to die. Floki later gathers mushrooms in the forest and forces a weak, bed-ridden Rollo to consume them.
Later, Horik shows the "King's Sword" to his son and tells him his plan. He explains that if even one member of the Lothbrok family survives, the day will come when he will rise again and destroy their family. They discreetly invade Kattegat, killing several soldiers quietly but a large battle ensues as the alarm is raised and Ragnar's men realize they are under attack. A bedridden (but un-poisoned) Rollo is confronted by two of Horik's soldiers and, despite being barely able to stand, he reaches for his axe that Siggy left for him and bravely fights them.
Season 3[]
Rollo travels with Ragnar's expedition to England to claim their land in Wessex from King Ecbert and to get away from Siggy. After Ragnar agrees to Ecbert's request to aid Princess Kwenthrith in her bid to rule Mercia, Rollo accompanies the joint Viking and Wessex force in battle.
After participating in the first battle against King Brihtwulf, Rollo and Torstein consume some intoxicating mushrooms. While under the influence of the mushrooms, Rollo hacks the leg off of a captured Mercian soldier, saying that he just did not like the angle of the leg. Both Rollo and Torstein try to grope Princess Kwewthrith when she apparently flirts with them. Though appearing receptive at first, Kwenthrith ultimately refuses and slaps Rollo, angrily telling him "No!" Still, under the influence, Rollo and Torstein just laugh at her strange behavior.
In the preparation for the second battle against Prince Burgred's forces, Rollo helps the disabled Torstein to walk so that he can fight one last time and die in battle. After the victorious campaign in Mercia, Rollo exchanges some pleasantries with Prince Aethelwulf at the Viking-Wessex camp. When Floki chides Rollo for doing so, Rollo responds that they cannot be enemies with everyone at all times. Floki then taunts Rollo for fraternizing with Christians and becoming like them and suggests that Rollo's previous baptism in Northumbria has changed him, despite his denials.
Upon his return to Kattegat with the rest of the Vikings, Rollo learns of Siggy's death while she was saving Ragnar's sons. Rollo blames himself for Siggy's death, saying that he treated her poorly. As a result of his grief, Rollo drinks heavily and provokes fights with his fellow Vikings. His nephew Bjorn tries to discourage him from this drunken brawling, but ends up beating his uncle himself out of desperation and fear that his behavior will get him killed.
After this, Rollo asks the Seer about his fate. Overcome with regret and self-pity, Rollo says that he feels worthless and that he sees no point in staying alive. The Seer laughs and tells Rollo that if he knew what the Gods had planned for him, he would dance naked on the beach. He then tells Rollo the prophecy that "The Bear will be crowned by a Princess" and that he will be at the ceremony. Rollo does not comprehend what this is supposed to mean.
Rollo reveals to everyone that Athelstan no longer wears his arm-ring, which ends up leading Floki to kill Athelstan.
The raiding party arrives in Paris, getting ready for the greatest of all battles. Ragnar shocks Rollo and the other leaders when he decides to leave Floki in charge of the attack. Both the Vikings and Franks prepare for the siege as the Christians gather to pray for protection from the pagans camped just around the riverbed.
During the invasion of Paris, Rollo plays a vital role in motivating the rest of the Viking invasion, even when all hope appears lost. He goes so far as to kill one man because he hesitated to climb up the siege ladder. Upon gazing at the Princess Gisla, he resolves to go up Floki's ladders and fight himself. After maiming and killing several Parisian soldiers, he turns and makes eye contact with the Princess. This distraction allows the Parisian soldiers to knock him off balance and push away his siege ladder, throwing Rollo from the walls. Hitting the water, he appears to be dead. However, after the retreat, he comes to visit Ragnar, Lagertha, and a severely injured Bjorn, a sight upon which he declares to Ragnar that next time they will not make the same mistakes.
The Vikings make a second sneak attack on Paris the next night, with Rollo on the forefront fighting along with Lagertha. After Lagertha and her shield maidens infiltrate the city gates and open the outer doors, Rollo leads the main charge into the entrance. The Parisian soldiers release a spiked wheel which rolls through the tunnel, running over and impaling several Vikings. Rollo climbs over the wheel and lodges two spears into the floor which lock the wheel in place. However, the blocked wheel and dead bodies piled on it obstruct the Vikings from advancing through the tunnel. Since they are unable to get through, Rollo signals to fall back just in time, leaving a select few, including Earl Siegfried and Sinric, trapped behind the walls and captured. During this engagement, both Count Odo and Princess Gisla take notice of Rollo's actions. Later, Sinric is brought to the Vikings as a prisoner to communicate the Parisian commander's desire for negotiations. They turn to leave after an agreement to meet is made, and Rollo pulls Sinric back, cutting his ropes free and allowing him back into their camp. During the arranged meeting, Rollo turns up and bears witness to Ragnar's baptism.
The Parisians come to the Viking camp to deliver treasures in gold and silver as a bargain for them to leave and Rollo goes to tell a bedridden Ragnar, who declares that it makes no difference to him as he is dying. Floki approaches Rollo as he is walking and he agrees with him that Athelstan "Poisoned Ragnar's mind" and that they are now seeing the "Fruit of it". Immediately after Floki leaves, he is approached by Lagertha, who expresses her disbelief at Ragnar's baptism and mentions that Rollo himself was also baptized. Rollo declares that his own baptism did not change him and that the Gods protected him from the Christian magic, yet have refused to protect Ragnar, once again blaming Athelstan for this. Later, the Viking camp celebrates their treasures as Rollo stares into the distance and contemplates the Seer's previous prediction of his fate.
Upon Ragnar's death, Rollo goes to visit his coffin to "Speak" to him. Rollo proclaims that there is no point in denying that he has always resented Ragnar, but he finds it funny that the Gods took him first when they both thought that they favored him. Along with the other warriors, Rollo accompanies Ragnar's coffin to city gates of Paris for a "Proper Christian" burial and ceremony as Ragnar requested. They wait outside the gates while his body is taken inside. Before the ceremony can properly begin, Ragnar pops out of his coffin very much alive and takes the Princess captive, proceeding to exit the city with a knife to her throat, giving his warriors a chance to open the gates and for them to attack. We hear the Seer remind us that "Not the living, but the dead will conquer Paris" as Ragnar collapses and we see Rollo, Lagertha, Floki, and Kalf gaze upon him while congregating outside the city gate.
After the Viking force enters and sacks Paris due to the surprise attack, Ragnar decides that they should return home due to the approach of winter. However, since he plans that the Vikings should raid Paris again in the spring, he orders that their camp remain established outside the city until the rest return. Ragnar leaves it to Bjorn to relay these orders. Floki volunteers to remain and take charge of the winter camp, but Rollo rejects that proposal, saying that Floki has "No reason to stay." Bjorn then asks Rollo what reason he has to stay. Although Rollo does not answer the question and Bjorn appears suspicious of his uncle's intentions, he agrees to Rollo's request and appoints him in charge of the camp.
Aware that the Northmen have maintained a presence and are planning to raid again the next year, Emperor Charles sends a delegation to Rollo. The Emperor offers him a vast area of land in the Northern part of Frankia and the title of Duke, with the assurance that he will be "Very rich". Rollo maintains a stoic expression in the face of these offers until the envoy tells him that Emperor will also offer his reluctant daughter's hand in marriage. Rollo finally asks what he must do in return for all of this, which is that he must defend Paris from future attacks by his brother Ragnar. Rollo accepts and goes to the city to meet the Emperor. Upon arriving in the Emperor's throne room, the Princess declares she would rather be burned alive than be married to Rollo and suffer him ever laying a hand on her, saying that he is a pagan without a soul who is worse than a beast and makes her want to vomit. Apparently undeterred, Rollo greets the Princess and Emperor in their own language, accompanied by a grin.
Season 4[]
Count Rollo is married to the Princess Gisla and is settling into his new life of Frankish nobility. However, Gisla is still upset that she was forced to marry him against her will and is still disgusted by the former Norseman.
Later, a heavily crying Gisla is carried into their bedroom in preparation for their bedding. As Rollo removes his clothes, a handmaid steps in to remove Gisla's but she angrily shakes her off. Despite being amused by her defiant spirit, Rollo shouts everyone to leave the room. Realizing she doesn't want to make love to him, he mocks her by just going to sleep, amused by her attempt to murder him with a dagger.
Rollo receives a visit from Eirik. It seems the Viking left behind with him don’t think much of their nominal leader, who’s become a Frankish noble and a Christian. Rollo rides to the Viking encampment outside Paris, gives the signal, and a horde of hidden Frankish bowmen cut down every man, woman, and child.
Count Rollo makes an attempt to fit in by cutting his hair and dressing appropriately but continues to be mocked by his new wife Gisla. Later, Rollo and Count Odo are talking about how they can attack the Vikings. Rollo suggests building forts and pulling a chain across tipping the boats into the water to prevent the Vikings from sailing up the river.
During a feast, Rollo tries to approach his new wife at the table where she is sat alongside her father. However, she remains hating and cursing at him and when he tries to call her his wife in Frankish she throws a cup of wine at his face saying that she would never be his women and that she wants a divorce before storming off. Rollo left feeling angry and defeated jumps over the table and scares some of the Emperor's subjects before striding off into another room. Charles asks Odo to go find him and beg him to stay. Odo finds him and tries to explain, however it is very difficult for him to understand and so he suggests that someone should try to teach him how to speak the Frankish language.
The Papal legate from Rome arrives to deal with their divorce. Rollo begs her to reconsider and she indeed admits she felt touched by his loyalty and dedication to learn their language. He then gives her his Viking band to show his allegiance to her. Later they are shown making love passionately in their bedchamber. Gisla later gets a new haircut and starts to behave more lasciviously, even taking Rollo to a nearby room to have sex during the Christmas feast. Rollo tells Odo that they should build more boats and that he doesn't know his people better than he does.
Later, Rollo and Gisla are shown in their bedchamber as two servants come in and place food on the table. Rollo strokes her hair and talks about how he cannot wait to take control of his Northern lands at his own court. Gisla jumps in by saying that they still have business here, family business. She then goes on to say that her father needs him because he is the only strong man that she knows that can support and guide her father in the right direction. Rollo suggests that her father also has Count Odo to which Gisla bad-mouths Odo by saying that she doesn't like him nor does she trust him, she amusingly adds that he may die in battle, getting slain by an unknown assailant, thereby having Charles to rely more on Rollo. Rollo takes her hand and tells her that only a coward kills a man by stabbing him in the back to which Gisla then amusingly adds that, that is only what a Viking would do and that Rollo is no longer a Viking before seductively feeding her husband a piece of chicken.
Emperor Charles pleads with Rollo to not change sides, to not go back to his brother, to which Rollo promises that he will not betray the Emperor nor will he betray Paris and that he will most definitely not betray his wife to which Gisla joyfully smiles before saying that they will prevail. Once the rest of the ships arrive, the Vikings sail up river towards France and notice there's no sign of Rollo's camp. As the ships approach closer to Paris, they see Rollo waiting with his new French allies.
As the ships approach the forts, Rollo orders the Franks to raise a large metal chain between the forts, which capsizes Harald's ship. Lagertha's ground attack retreats and the Franks begin to light the Viking ships on fire. As the Viking ships retreat, Ragnar angrily yells to Rollo that he saved his life when everyone wanted him dead.
Later when the battle is won Rollo and Gisla take a stroll on the beach and to her dismay she is surprised to see women among the dead on the beach. Rollo then tells her about the shield-maidens specially Lagertha. When she asks if she will ever meet her Rollo answers "Maybe someday".
While sitting at the table with the Emperor and his wife. His wife excitedly announces her pregnancy to which they all make a toast to the first grandchild of the new Frankish/Viking alliance. Later, his wife accompanies him when he gains a new title and is awarded by the Emperor the Iron hand of Frankia. Charles proudly announces to his fellow-subjects that his daughter is carrying Rollo's child and gives then gives Roland the title of Duke. Later in bed, Rollo and Gisla start to discuss his new appointment and how dangerous it could be. The Vikings arrive in sight of Paris and slip the ships into the river. Ragnar replies he does not care about Paris, and that he is here for Rollo. As the Vikings sail for Paris, Ragnar mutters to himself that he must kill Rollo.
On the river, a fleet of Frankish ships approach the Vikings with Rollo leading the way. The Vikings and Franks battle on the river, with the Vikings defeating the first fleet of French ships. Rollo then leads his remaining ships into a bloody battle. Ragnar and Rollo begin to battle and come to a stalemate. Ragnar charges for Rollo, but is grabbed and thrown into one of the fleeing ships, as they sail away in defeat. Rollo comes back to Paris batted and bloody, but victorious. He is then greeted by his beloved wife and Charles who then crowns him Ceaser to which he is applauded for saving Paris.
Duke Rollo is first seen sat on his Normandy throne with his wife, Gisla and their three children William, Marcellus, and Celsa as his two nephews and the other Vikings enter the Palace. Rollo introduces his family to his nephews before one of the nannies takes the children away. Both Rollo and his wife are confused as to why they are here and so he asks his nephew Bjorn who replies saying "That he wants to go here" showing his uncle an old map of the Mediterranean sea. The only catch is that they have to sail through the Frankish coastline.
Later, Rollo tells Gisla that the only way he'll let them pass is if he can go with them. Gisla argues with him and tells him that he is no longer a Viking and that he renounced his heritage and embraced her world and her God. Gisla threatens that if she thought that her children were Viking she would kill them and herself which angers him. Rollo grabs his wife by the chin and tells her that everything she says is true. He then proceeds to tell her that he loves her and their children, but he cannot deny that part of him which is still Viking. Gisla, however, isn't having any of it and tells him that he isn't trying hard enough. Rollo backs away and tries to explain his feelings by talking about the thunder and how only she would hear thunder but he still hears the God Thor beating his hammer. Gisla shakes her head and walks away. She then swiftly turns around and throws an ornament from the table in her anger. As it smashes into pieces, she bitterly says that if he goes away, whether he lives or dies that him leaving her would probably be the end of them.
Rollo leaves his family behind and sets sail with Bjorn to find the Mediterranean sea. Bjorn still upset and angry about his uncle's betrayal has him tied up and thrown into the cold river, but no matter how upset he is he cannot kill him and instead has him pulled back out and thrown onto the boat. Rollo just laughs feeling amused as they carry on their journey.
Rollo, Bjorn, and the other Vikings finally reach Spain. Rollo explains that these people are Moorish and pray to the God Allah. As soon as the ship lands on the shore, Rollo and the fleet launch an attack and raid Algeciras beating, killing and raping the women. Rollo rapes a Moorish woman and it seems he is back to his old, selfish ways again. However, Rollo is later seen looking crestfallen and guilty as he and the other Vikings head back to the ship. At the very end of the episode, Rollo is seen standing with the rest of the fleet onlooking the Mediterranean sea.
As they enter the Frankish waters, Rollo is seen with his nephew Bjorn who asks him if this is his home to which Rollo replies that he doesn't know as he is still conflicted about his feelings. The Franks then come to escort Rollo back to the palace, but as he is about to aboard Rollo tells his fellow Vikings that he would like to make them an offer that if anyone from their homelands who want good, rich lands to farm can come and live in his Kingdom. Floki interrupts and says that Rollo is no longer apart of them to which Rollo replies that "things are changing. Only you won't accept it.". Rollo is then greeted by his son William who he picks up as his ship heads for the Normandy palace.
As he and his son enter the palace, he is greeted by his wife who kisses his hand and gives thanks to God that he is alive and well. His wife still upset that he abandoned her and their children asks the guards to leave her and Rollo alone to talk. As soon as they are alone she unleashes her pent-up anger, cussing at him in Old Frankish before slapping and punching him in the face, leaving Rollo stunned.
Season 5[]
Duke Rollo arrives in Kattegat with troops to support Ivar and King Harald in the Kattegat Civil War. Rollo does not participate in the battle. He informs Ivar that his help comes on the condition that Bjorn's life is spared. After Rollo and his army help Ivar defeat Bjorn and Lagertha in the Second Battle for the Kingdom of Kattegat, Lagertha and Bjorn are preparing their group to leave Scandinavia when Rollo surprises them in Hedeby. Rollo offers them safe passage into Frankia and also informs Bjorn and Lagertha that he is Bjorn's biological father. Bjorn replies that it doesn't matter because he is Ragnar's son. This leads to Bjorn almost killing him, but has a change of heart says he's not worth the time it takes to clean the blood off his axe. Lagertha then tells him that they will not be going with him to Frankia and Bjorn calls him a traitor. After that Rollo somberly says that they will never meet again.
After that Rollo returns to Ivar, and gives him Bjorn and Lagertha's location, in exchange for gold, silver, furs, tusks, pelts, precious stones, meat, silk, and 1,000 slaves and 500 of their best warriors. He also makes Ivar and Hvitserk swear on their arm rings to come to his aid if ever attacked. He then gives Bjorn and Lagertha's location to Ivar and is then seen sailing back to Frankia never to be seen again.
Personality[]
Rollo is known for being a fearsome warrior with an axe and an impulsive streak who is wrought with internal struggles. Throughout the whole Vikings series, he has been shown to be a bit of a hedonist. He strongly believes in his Gods, especially Thor and that bad things happen to him because the Gods are punishing him. Rollo is a very strong, ferocious warrior and a bloodthirsty conqueror who never backs down from a fight that even in a wounded state, Rollo's power and skill as a warrior is fearsome. However, at times he can be seen as being a bit of a lonely character who just wants to be loved and admired.
Rollo also has a love/hate relationship with his younger brother Ragnar due to everyone always putting Ragnar first. Everyone has always admired his brother and Rollo for once just wants to taste some of the limelight and to just get out of Ragnar's shadow. Throughout the series Rollo is constantly tempted to betray his brother for his own gain. This leads Rollo to become so impatient that his jealousy blinds him so much that he ends up betraying his brother for the second time, which leads to him and his brother eventually have a violent face-off. At the end of Season 3, he accepts the Franks offer to be made Duke of Normandy and marry the Emperor's daughter Gisla in exchange for defending Paris against his brother. The next time Ragnar tries to raid Paris in Season 4, Rollo's forces slaughter the Vikings. Rollo seems to have betrayed his brother for good.
Rollo often responds to negative events with excessive drinking binges. He notable has one after he returns to Kattegat to find out that Siggy died while he was gone. This leads to a massive drinking binge, after which, he picks a fight with Bjorn, who prompts trounces him in a fight in front of all his fellow warriors.
Although he renounced his Viking culture and beliefs, Rollo still has a part of him that mantains his Viking spirit. He tells to Gisla that can imagine Thor hitting his hammer in a storm with thunders. He even accepted Bjorn's request to give him safe passage with the condition of letting him to travel with them to the Mediterranean Sea, even after his wife told Rollo that their marriage would end if he left his territory and his family.
In season 5, Rollo has lost the ambitious and brave spirit that characterizes him. He's now a shell of his former self. Since he has become very important and raised his status and lands, he can no longer fight on the front-line like he used to in the past. This has made Rollo a depresive, melancholic man who is careless to what is happening around him. He even told to his nephew Ivar that he envies him because has the chance of fighting in a war, even if it's against his own brothers.
Relationships[]
Ragnar Lothbrok[]
Rollo is Ragnar's older brother and rival. As young men they both pursued a romantic relationship with Lagertha. Lagertha even going as far to have a sexual relationship with Rollo. Ragnar doesn't trust Rollo and this is not without merit. Rollo betrays Ragnar multiple times. While the two brothers love each other, Rollo’s increasing resentment of Ragnar’s fame, and Ragnar’s blindness to that resentment, lead to the tearing of their relationship and the Battle of the Brothers.
Rollo is more impetuous and less thoughtful than Ragnar, with a wild and impulsive streak. The fact that Ragnar's leadership inspires such devotion from others only increases Rollo's envy and insecurities, resulting in Rollo's allegiance becoming increasingly tenuous until is breaks altogether.
Quotes[]
“ | Up into the overturned keel. Clamber, with a heart of steel. Cold is the ocean's spray. When your death is on its way. With maidens you have had your way. Each must die some day! | ” |
“ | Hey! How many Christians did I kill, Floki?! How many?! Do you think Odin’s still angry with me now?! | ” |
–Rollo to Floki, A King's Ransom |
“ | I wanted to step out of your shadow... but when I stepped out of the doors, there was no sunlight. | ” |
–Rollo to Ragnar, Brother's War |
“ | I will not betray you. I will not betray Paris. And I will not betray my wife. | ” |
–Rollo to Emperor Charles, What Might Have Been |
Trivia[]
- Rollo or Hrólfr in Old Norse means "Famous Wolf."
- Rollo was the first Duke of Normandy. He founded the House of Normandy.
- Rollo's nicknames are "The Bear" or "Ganger" meaning "the walker."
- Clive Standen, the actor who plays Rollo, said that Rollo worships the Viking god Thor.
- Rollo's tattoos represent Sköll and Hatí, the sons of Fenrir. They can be seen chasing the sun and moon. Sköll chases the sun and Hátthese the moon. Fenrir is the wolf that will devour Odin during Ragnarök.
- In real life Rollo was born about a century later than he was in the show, in the mid-9th century.
Appearances[]
Season One Appearances | ||||
Rites of Passage | Wrath of the Northmen | Dispossessed | ||
Trial | Raid | Burial of the Dead | ||
A King's Ransom | Sacrifice | All Change |
Season two appearances | ||||
Brother's War | Invasion | Treachery | Eye For an Eye | Answers in Blood |
Unforgiven | Blood Eagle | Boneless | The Choice | The Lord's Prayer |
Season three appearances | ||||
Mercenary | The Wanderer | Warrior's Fate | Scarred | The Usurper |
Born Again | Paris | To the Gates! | Breaking Point | The Dead |
Season four appearances | ||||
A Good Treason | Kill the Queen | Mercy | Yol | Promised |
What Might Have Been | The Profit and the Loss | Portage | Death All 'Round | The Last Ship |
The Outsider | The Vision | Two Journeys | In the Uncertain Hour Before the Morning | All His Angels |
Crossings | The Great Army | Revenge | On the Eve | The Reckoning |
Season five appearances | ||||
The Departed Part 1 | The Departed Part 2 | Homeland | The Plan | The Prisoner |
The Message | Full Moon | The Joke | A Simple Story | Moments of Vision |
The Revelation | Murder Most Foul | A New God | The Lost Moment | Hell |
The Buddha | The Most Terrible Thing | Baldur | What Happens in the Cave | Ragnarok |