ABSTRACT
Chapter Three, “The Reign of Louis the Pious: New Designs, New Dangers,” examines the relationship between the Carolingians and their northern neighbors during the reign of Louis the Pious. Throughout his reign, Louis pursued a robust northern policy designed to establish Frankish hegemony in the North in a postconquest era. Key to this approach was the cultivation of the relationship with one branch of the emerging Danish royal dynasty, the family of Halfdan. The baptism of Harald Klak in 826 marked the culmination of these efforts, resulting in a new phase of cross-cultural communication through missions and benefiting both Frankish interests and those of Harald’s family as they sought to secure their place as kings among the Danes. Despite initial success, by the end of Louis’ reign, the Halfdan family were exiled to Francia, and political turmoil in Frankish lands unraveled much of Louis’ northern agenda. Nevertheless, the efforts of Louis and Harald Klak would have long-term ramifications for Franco-Norse interaction. Closing with the major raids of the 830s, this chapter demonstrates that these attacks represent a watershed moment, rooted both in the political and social ties developed throughout Louis’ reign and foreshadowing the Viking raiding that would typify Franco-Scandinavian interaction in the second half of the ninth century.
