Louis the Pious

Since the rule of Emperor Louis I Blagochestovogo the main external threat to the Frankish States are attacks against Normans.

In the 810-s, while the Danish konungi were busy fight for the throne, the empire not been subjected to raids, and the arrival in 814 year Louis one of the applicants - Harald claque - allowed the emperor to obtain an ally of the Danish rulers. More than 40 years, Harald challenged the throne of the King of Jutland Horika I. Several times he came to Louis requesting assistance. Arriving in June, 826 years in Ingelgeym, Harald claque had influenced the decision of the Emperor, and be baptized this fall in Mainz, in the presence of the whole court, was baptized with his family and close. On this, the emperor began to send missions to the field are subject Harald claque, for Christianisation: in the 822 - 823 years in Jutland were sent Archbishop and Bishop of Rheims Ebbon Willer Bremen, but their successes have been very modest, but visited Jutland in 826 - 827 years St. Ansgaru managed to baptize a significant number of Danov.

Because of a new exile Harald Ansgar was forced to return, but at 829 - 831 years, he made a missionary trip to Tags (in Sweden), which also successfully preached Christianity. For the further Christianization of Scandinavia, on the initiative of the Emperor in the year 831 in Hamburg, was founded a new diocese, the first bishop of which was Ansgar.

With Louis began the practice of pious Frankish kings Norman konungam in the management areas in Frankish State: in 826, he granted Harald claque Ryustingen area on the river Weser.

Meanwhile, renewed the attack on the Normans land Frankish state. The main objectives of raids have been in the area of estuaries of major rivers in the northern part of the empire. The first such attack reported in the year 820, when Frankish troops coast guard managed to split the Norman army, looted the Flanders, but their fleet was able to balance a successful attack on Aquitaine.

In the future, success is always accompanied Norman. In doing so, attacked not only the rural areas of the country, but also big cities. Raids have been subjected to all the northern area of the empire: in the 824 was looted Nuarmunte Island (in the northern reaches of the river Seine), was devastated in 825 and Brittany Friesland, in the year 828, King of Jutland Horik I attacked Saxony. The attacks had been aggravated when the distemper occurred 830-834 years total disruption management empire, and troops were involved in clashes with the sons of Louis the pious. Already in the 830 year Norman attacked and plundered the island Nuarmunte nearby monasteries. From 834 to 837 a year annually Vikings plundered the great trading port Dorestad, the main point of contact of continental Europe with Britain. In the 835 was attacked Friesland in 837 was destroyed Antwerp, Mechelen and Doornik taken, and the island Vlahern (in the Scheldt estuary) has a support base Normans. In the year 838, led by Norman Hastinga burned AMBOISE. Thus, by the end of the board of Louis because of the inability of the authorities have resisted have been ruined by all the coastal areas of Saxony, Frisia, Flanders, and many northern Neystrii significantly weakened connection Frankish States from the British Isles.