Rollo, the son of a Norse earl from Orkney, was born in about 860. He was the leader of a band of Vikings which invaded north-western France in 911. In peace talks with Charles III he was offered a large tract of land on the lower Seine. In return, Rollo became the king's vassal and accepted the Christian faith. This land was the nucleus of the future duchy of Normandy.

Rollo was such a large man that horses had difficulty carrying him. He was therefore given the name, Rollo the Ganger (the walker). Rollo died in 932.