Synopsis
Rollo is a Viking leader, a powerful Danish duke at loggerheads with his brother Otto the king of Denmark, urged on by the sycophantic Torchy LaTorch, who then dies and leaves his two sons, Gurim and Rollo, leaving Rollo to be expelled and Gurim killed.
With his followers (known as Normans or northmen), Rollo invades the area of northern France, and besieges Paris. From the moonlit terrace of the royal palace, King Charles III gazes on the Princess Gisella, who is feasting with her father Rollo and his men. The voice of his brother, count of Lorraine, echoes from a deep cistern, where he is imprisoned by the king, who fears him. Gisella demands the head of the King's brother in a silver ewer, ignoring Charles's desperate alternatives, war with the Normans or with his own feudal vassals. The terrified king finally gives in. After a tense pause, the arm of the executioner rises from the cistern, offering the head to Rollo.
After he commits a number of other bloodthirsty deeds, he is lured into a private meeting with the beautiful Edith Roister, daughter of one of his French victims, who plots to murder him; as she hesitates, one Hamond Egz, Captain of the Guards and brother of another of Rollo's English victims, breaks in and murders her instead.
Concluding the Treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte, Rollo pledges feudal allegiance to the king and converts to Christianity. At the city gates, victory is celebrated in parade and dance, a ceremony observed by the King and Gisella. Gisella delivers a speech in praise of dancing. The Viking army plans to launch an invasion of England.
The plot is based loosely on the historical Rollo of Normandy and the foundation of the Duchy of Normandy.
Read more about this topic: Rollo Duke Of Normandy